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Top 100 most powerful Arabs 2019

In the 12 months between last year’s list and this year’s ranking we have witnessed the rise and fall of fortunes in various ways. Some people’s reputations have flourished while others have been sullied; some companies’ profits have grown while others have dived; and some long-standing members of the Arab world’s business community have started to give way to their younger counterparts.

In this year’s collection of powerful and influential individuals we have a heady mix of consolidation and breakthrough. Some of the most recognisable names on our list have strengthened their grip on their particular industry, while others have emerged from relative obscurity to make an impact on the world – be it economically, socially, or otherwise.

There are 12 new arrivals on the 2019 list, with the highest placed debutant taking 19th position, and the lowest just making the cut in 100th place.

In total 37 people placed higher this year than last, while 35 placed lower and 16 stayed in the same position.

As usual we have not included members of royal families or government ministers, unless they have an overt presence in the business world.

Read on to find out exactly who has risen and fallen, who has joined the list and how power is being exercised by Arabs around the world.

Rank Name Title Origin Company Industry
1 HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum Chairman UAE Emirates / Emirates NBD Diversified
2 HE Khalid Al Falih Chairman KSA Aramco Energy
3 Carlos Slim Helu Honorary chairman Lebanon America Movil Telecoms
4 Yousef Abdullah Al Benyan Vice chairman and CEO KSA SABIC Industry
5 Joseph Safra Chairman Syria Safra Group Finance
6 HE Mohamed Alabbar Chairman UAE Emaar / Noon.com Real estate / retail
7 HE Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak CEO, Chairman UAE Mubadala Investment, City Football Group Diversified
8 HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Abdulaziz Al Saud Chairman KSA Kingdom Holding Company Finance
9 HE Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair CEO UAE Mashreq Finance
10 HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber Director general and CEO, Chairman UAE ADNOC, Masdar Energy
11 HE Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani Executive director and CEO UAE Investment Corporation of Dubai Finance
12 Amin Nasser President and CEO KSA Aramco Energy
13 HE Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem Chairman and CEO UAE DP World, Virgin, Hyperloop One Logistics / transport
14 HE Abdulla Al Habbai Chairman UAE Dubai Holding / Meraas Diversified
15 HE Noura Al Kaabi Chairwoman UAE Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi / twofour54 Media
16 HE Reem Al Hashimy Director general UAE Dubai Expo 2020 Diversified
17 HE Essa Kazim Chairman / Governor UAE Dubai Financial Market / Bourse Dubai / DIFC Finance
18 Mohamed bin Issa Al Jaber Chairman and CEO KSA MBI International Diversified
19 Saeed bin Muhammad Al Ghamdi Chairman KSA National Commercial Bank Company Finance
20 Lubna Olayan Deputy chairwoman and CEO KSA Olayan Financing Company Finance
21 Mohamed Salah Footballer Egypt Liverpool FC Sport
22 HH Reema bint Bandar Al Saud VP/President KSA Planning and Development General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia/ Saudi Federation for Community Sports Sport
23 Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman Al Omar Governor KSA Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority  Diversified
24 HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak Chairman, CEO UAE Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority , Aldar Properties Diversified
25 HE Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg Managing director UAE Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group Diversified
26 Majid Al Futtaim Founder UAE Majid Al Futtaim Diversified
27 Mohammed Alshaya Executive chairman Kuwait MH Alshaya Retail
28 HE Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri Deputy project manager, Chairwoman UAE Emirates Mars Mission, UAE Council of Scientists Science and technology
29 Khalaf Al Habtoor Chairman UAE Al Habtoor Group Real estate
30 Huda Kattan Founder Iraq-US Huda Beauty Culture and society
31 Abdulhamid Mohammed Saeed Group CEO UAE First Abu Dhabi Bank Finance
32 Mohammed bin Abdullah El Kuwaiz Chairman KSA Saudi Capital Market Authority Finance
33 Sheikh Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al Rajhi Co-founder KSA Al Rajhi Bank Finance
34 Omar K Alghanim CEO Kuwait Alghanim Industries Diversified
35 Fadi Ghandour Co-founder and executive chairman Jordan Wamda Capital Finance
36 Mahmood Hashim Al Kooheji CEO Bahrain Mumtalakat Finance
37 Zainab Salbi Founder Iraq Women for Women International Culture
38 HH Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer Co-founder and chairman KSA Almarai FMCG
39 Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah Chairman/President Mauritania Emirates Fatwa Council/Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies Culture and society
40 Mohamed Mansour Chairman Egypt Mansour Group Diversified
41 HE Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi Director general UAE UAE Space Agency Science and technology 
42 Nayla Hayek Chairwoman / CEO Lebanon-Switzerland Swatch Group / Harry Winston Inc Retail
43 Bader Al Kharafi Director/ Vice-chaiman and CEO Kuwait MA Al Kharafi & Sons / Zain Kuwait Diversified
44 Saleh Al Abdooli CEO UAE Etisalat Telecoms
45 Mohammed bin Mahfoodh Alardhi Executive chairman / Chairman Oman Investcorp / National Bank of Oman Finance
46 Ali Rashid Lootah Chairman UAE Nakheel Real estate
47 Mohammed Al Barwani Chairman Oman MB Holding Energy
48 DJ Khaled producer Palestine Rap artist and record producer Culture and society
49 HE Hesham Al Qassim CEO UAE wasl Asset Management Group Real estate
50 Khaled bin Saleh Al Mudaifer CEO and president KSA Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) Industry
51 Mazin Al Nahedh Group CEO Kuwait Kuwait Finance House Finance
52 HE Hamad Buamim President and CEO UAE Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Diversified
53 Nassef Sawiris CEO / Executive chairman Egypt OCI / Aston Villa FC Industry / sport
54 Hussain Sajwan CEO and chairman UAE Damac Real estate
55 Ronaldo Mouchawar CEO Syria Souq.com Retail
56 Mohamed Al Hammadi CEO UAE Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation Energy
57 Ala’a Eraiqat CEO UAE Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Finance
58 Haifaa Al Mansour Filmmaker KSA Culture and society
59 Naguib Sawiris Chairman Egypt Orascom Telecoms
60 Ahmad Al Shugairi Activist and media personality KSA Media
61 Mishal Kanoo Chairman Bahrain-UAE Kanoo Group Diversified
62 Faisal Al Bannai Founder and managing director UAE DarkMatter Group Science and technology
63 Badr Jafar CEO UAE-Iraq Crescent Enterprises Diversified
64 Rania Mahmoud Nashar CEO KSA Samba Financial Group Finance
65 Rami Malek Actor Egypt-US Culture and society
67 Omar Abdulrahman Footballer UAE Al Hilal FC Sport
66 Nasser Sulaiman Al Nasser Group CEO KSA Saudi Telecom Company Telecoms
68 Turki bin Abdul Mohsen Al Asheikh President KSA Saudi General Sports Authority Sport
69 Elie Saab Fashion designer Lebanon Culture and society
70 Nemat Shafik Director Egypt London School of Economics Education
71 Suhail Salim Bahwan Chairman Oman Suhail Bahwan Holding Group Diversified
72 Issad Rebrab CEO Algeria Cevital Diversified
73 Osman Sultan CEO UAE du Telecoms
74 Dr Amina Al Rostamani Director UAE AW Rostamani Group Diversified
75 Gigi and Bella Hadid Models Palestine-US Culture and society
76 Othman Benjelloun Chairman and CEO Morocco BMCE Bank Finance
77 Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO UAE flydubai Aviation
78 Joelle Mardinian Founder and CEO Lebanon Joelle Group Culture and society
79 Abdulla Jassem Kalban CEO and managing director, UAE Emirates Global Aluminium Industry
80 Mohammed Abu Ghazaleh Chairman and CEO Palestine-US Fresh Del Monte FMCG
81 Mohammed Assaf Singer Palestine Culture and society
82 Munib Al Masri Chairman Palestine Edgo Group Diversified
83 Hoda Kotb Media personality Egypt-US Media
84 Nabil Habayeb President and CEO Lebanon-US GE Middle East, North Africa and Turkey Industry
85 Jassim Al Seddiqi CEO UAE Abu Dhabi Financial Group Finance
86 Issam Kazim CEO UAE Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing Tourism
87 Linda Sarsour Activist Palestine-US Culture and society
88 Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi Secretary general UAE Emirates Red Crescent Society Culture and society
89 Adwa Al Dakheel Founder and CEO KSA Falak Business Hub Diversified
90 Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch Founder and CEO Morocco Aksal Group Retail / real estate
91 Mohammed Al Amoudi Owner KSA-Ethiopia MIDROC Diversified
92 Hala Gorani Media personality Syria Media
93 Raha Moharrak Adventurer KSA Culture and society
94 Muna Abu­Sulayman Media personality KSA Media
95 HE Fatima Al Jaber COO UAE Al Jaber Group Diversified
96 Shaikha Al Bahar Deputy group CEO Kuwait National Bank of Kuwait Finance
97 Ahed Tamimi Activist Palestine Culture and society
98 Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi Founder UAE Burjeel Art Foundation Culture and society
99 Ahmad Ashkar Founder and CE Palestine Hult Prize Foundation Culture and society
100 Abdulaziz Al Sowailim Chairman and CEO KSA EY Middle East and North Africa Diversified

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