Ahmed Galal Ismail

Ahmed Galal Ismail leads one of the Middle East’s most influential companies as CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding. With assets exceeding $19bn and a workforce of 43,000 across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the group has become a dominant force in shopping malls, retail and leisure.

Ismail’s nearly two-decade tenure at Majid Al Futtaim has seen him rise through senior leadership roles, including CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties and Majid Al Futtaim Ventures, overseeing major segments from malls to cinemas, leisure, consumer finance and lifestyle brands. Before joining in 2007 as VP of Strategy, he held positions at Procter & Gamble in Egypt and Germany, followed by Booz Allen Hamilton, where he advised companies across retail, media and transportation.

Under his leadership, Majid Al Futtaim is executing a Dhs5bn transformation of its flagship Mall of the Emirates. The ambitious ‘Mall of New Possibilities’ project will add 20,000 sqm of new retail space, introduce 100 new stores, and launch four entertainment offerings by late 2026. More than Dhs1.1bn has already been allocated to key upgrades.

Beyond the UAE, Ismail is steering Majid Al Futtaim’s strategic expansion in Egypt. In April 2025, the company inaugurated Junction, its first business park in the country. Located next to the Mall of Egypt in West Cairo, Junction represents a EGP15bn investment, spanning 129,000 sqm with 13 office buildings, retail, dining and LEED-certified sustainable infrastructure. The project is expected to generate over 8,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Ismail also oversees the group’s push into AI-powered retail media through Precision Media, which now operates 212 digital screens across 25 Carrefour hypermarkets, offering dynamic, sensor-based advertising solutions in partnership with Publicis Media Middle East.

Ismail holds an MBA with distinction from London Business School and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the American University in Cairo. He serves on several boards, including the Arab Investment Bank, and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council.