Forbes Middle East Unveils The Region’s Top Travel & Tourism Leaders

Press release

Published March 6th, 2022 - 07:29 GMT

Forbes Middle East Unveils The Region’s Top Travel & Tourism Leaders

Meet The Region's 50 Most Influential Heads Of Travel-Focused Businesses

Highlights

Forbes Middle East has revealed its inaugural ranking of the region's Top 50 Travel and Tourism Leaders

Forbes Middle East has revealed its inaugural ranking of the region's Top 50 Travel and Tourism Leaders, recognizing the industry heavyweights driving growth and creating opportunities for visitors and passengers to reconnect with the world.

Among the top five executives, four serve in the aviation sector, led by Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of the Emirates Group, who tops the ranking. Emirates recorded revenues of $6.7 billion in the first half of the 2021/22 financial year. Akbar Al Baker, Group CEO and Executive Board Member of Qatar Airways, and Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, complete the top three.

The leaders featured on this list represent nine countries in the region. The UAE reigns as the top country for regional headquarters, with 24 of the 50 executives based in the emirates. Saudi comes in second with 11 featured executives, followed by four from Egypt. Hotels and hospitality is the most represented sector with 26 entries, followed by aviation with 17, and tourism with seven entries.

From global agency representatives to sustainable development game-changers, the leaders on this list are spearheading growth in MENA. For example, in May 2021, Basmah Al Mayman, Regional Director for the Middle East at UNWTO, inaugurated UNWTO's first regional office in the Middle East in Riyadh. Meanwhile, Sandeep Walia, CCO Middle East of Marriott International, added 20 new properties to the region's portfolio in 2021 and is expected to open around 25 new properties this year. And the OMRAN Group, led by CEO Hashil Al Mahrouqi, announced in early 2022 it will be investing $62.3 million in opening a dusitD2 Naseem Resort.

To develop the list, Forbes Middle East looked at the size of the business—including revenues and the value of investments and assets—ownership of assets, and the experience, designation, and achievements of the business leader. All individuals had to be based in the Middle East.

Top 50 Travel & Tourism Leaders In The Middle East 2022

Country Breakdown

UAE

Saudi Arabia

Egypt

Qatar

Jordan

Kuwait

Oman

Algeria

Morocco

Top 10 Travel & Tourism Leaders In The Middle East 2022

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum

Country: UAE

Nationality: Emirati

Chairman and CEO, The Emirates Group

Akbar Al Baker

Country: Qatar

Nationality: Qatari

Group CEO and Executive Board Member, Qatar Airways Group

Paul Griffiths

Country: UAE

Nationality: British

CEO, Dubai Airports

Ibrahim Koshy

Country: Saudi Arabia

Nationality: Saudi

CEO, SAUDIA

Faisal Al Thani

Country: Qatar

Nationality: Qatari

Chairman, Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company (ARTIC)

Tony Douglas

Country: UAE

Nationality: British

Group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group

Jerry Inzerillo

Country: Saudi Arabia

Nationality: American

Group CEO, Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA)

Hesham Al Qassim

Country: UAE

Nationality: Emirati

CEO, wasl Asset Management Group

John Pagano

Country: Saudi Arabia

Nationality: Canadian

CEO, Red Sea Development Company

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor

Country: UAE

Nationality: Emirati

Founding Chairman, Al Habtoor Group

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.