Forbes Middle East Reveals The Middle East's Top CEOs 2021

Press release

Published March 7th, 2021 - 11:39 GMT

The Middle East's Top CEOs 2021.

Highlights

Forbes Middle East has released its first annual "Top CEOs in the Middle East" ranking, recognizing the executives making significant contributions to the region's economies.

Forbes Middle East has released its first annual "Top CEOs in the Middle East" ranking, recognizing the executives making significant contributions to the region's economies. The inaugural list celebrates the visionary executives who are strategically spearheading growth, both in the workplace and their industries. At a time where the only certainty is more uncertainty, these business leaders are demonstrating that agility and adaptability are the keys to survive and thrive. Some are scaling large family businesses; others are responsible for government-owned companies.

The 100 CEOs represent 24 nationalities and 21 sectors. Saudi nationals dominate the list with 18 entries, followed by Emirati and Egyptian leaders with 16 entries each. Combined, these three groups make up half of the ranking.

Four out of the top five are from the region's COVID-resilient oil & gas industry: Aramco's Amin H. Nasser, who is #1; ADNOC Group's Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber; Kuwait Petroleum Corporation's Hashem Hashem; and Sonatrach's Toufik Hakkar. With 29 listees, the banking and financial services sector contributes nearly a third of the ranking. Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Group CEO of Qatar National Bank, stands as the Middle East's top banking and financial services executive. Notable newcomer, Hana Al Rostamani, ranks 19th on the list. The Emirati began her role as FAB's new Group CEO in late January 2021, having previously served as deputy group CEO and head of personal banking.

Forbes Middle East assessed the size of the CEO’s company using various measures, the individual's accomplishments over the past year, and their impact on their firm and the wider industry.

Top 10 CEOs In The Middle East 2021

Amin H. Nasser

Nationality: Saudi

President & CEO, Saudi Aramco

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber

Nationality: Emirati

Group CEO, ADNOC Group

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum

Nationality: Emirati

Chairman & CEO, Emirates Group

Hashem Hashem

Nationality: Kuwaiti

Deputy Chairman & CEO, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation

Toufik Hakkar

Nationality: Algerian

Chairman & CEO, Sonatrach

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi

Nationality: Qatari

Deputy Chairman, President & CEO, Qatar Petroleum

Yousef Abdullah Al-Benyan

Nationality: Saudi

Vice-Chairman & CEO, SABIC

Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa

Nationality: Qatari

Group CEO, QNB

Paul Griffiths

Nationality: British

CEO, Dubai Airports

Osama Mounier Mohamed Rabi

Nationality: Egyptian

Chairman & Managing Director, Suez Canal Authority

Background Information

Forbes Middle East

Forbes Middle East has a license for copy rights and distribution rights in the MENA region from Forbes Media, U.S.A. Under the guidelines standardized amongst all Forbes titles, the magazine features analysis and expert reporting related to the finance and business world, as well as investment opportunities in the Arab region. Forbes Middle East puts together its lists based on the criterion of neutrality, authenticity, commitment to the methodology of scientific research, and the quality of standards set globally by Forbes through its extensive experience in this field.

Forbes Middle East also serves as a guide for businessmen and decision makers by providing them with information and statistics necessary for making the right decisions. Thus, the magazine becomes the guiding compass for investments in the region. Through its wide network of press correspondents the magazine also works toward covering all the economic fields and issues concerning the Arab region.