MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)

UAE-based companies accounted for nearly half of the entries on Forbes Middle East's Most Influential CMOs 2026 list, which featured 101 marketing leaders from 100 companies headquartered across the region.

The shortlisted companies are headquartered across eight Middle Eastern countries,  with 49 based in the UAE, 17 in Saudi Arabia, 16 in Egypt, and the remainder spread across Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan.

Emirati executives claimed 13 spots on the ranking, while Egyptians represented the largest nationality group overall with 21 executives, and Saudis ranked third with 12 entries.

The findings also showed the growing use of artificial intelligence across the region's marketing sector.

According to Forbes Middle East, 22.6% of surveyed companies have a fully documented and funded AI strategy embedded in their marketing operations, while 47.7% have partially implemented one. Only 5.44% reported having no formal AI strategy.

About 44% of respondents said that AI supports between a quarter and half of their marketing decisions, while 19% reported that the technology contributes to more than half of their decision-making.

Among the UAE executives featured on the list were Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the UAE Government Media Office; Maryam Al Shorafa, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at Ajman Bank; Ahlam Ali, Head of Communications and Media at ADNEC Group; and Mariam Al Badr, Vice President of Marketing, Brand and Communications at Abu Dhabi Airports.

Emirati representation also extended beyond UAE-headquartered companies, with Maryam Ahli featured in her role as Chief Marketing Officer at Saudi Arabia's Vision Bank.

Forbes Middle East said that the executives were assessed on factors including the size of their marketing budgets and teams, industry experience, campaign impact, departmental performance, social media engagement, public and industry involvement, and their use of technology and AI tools.

Full list of UAE-based executives:


1. Maryam Al Shorafa, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Ajman Bank (Emirati)
2. Ahlam Ali, Head of Communications & Media, ADNEC Group (Emirati)
3. Mariam Al Badr, Vice President of Marketing, Brand & Communications, Abu Dhabi Airports (Emirati)
4. Hind Seddiqi, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Seddiqi Holding (Emirati)
5. Tariq Al Mutawa, Director, Support Services, Salik Company (Emirati)
6. Alya Obaid Al Shamsi, Marketing & Corporate Communication Director, Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) (Emirati)
7. Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director, Marketing & Communications, UAE Government Media Office (Emirati)
8. Muna Al Ghurair, Group Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications, Mashreq (Emirati)
9. Reem Abdalla, Head of Marketing & Communications, Parkin Company (Emirati)
10. Samia Saeed Alameri, Internal Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility Head and Vice Chairperson of the Women's Council, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) (Emirati)
11. Omar Matar Al Mannaei, CEO & CMO, Emirates Auction (Emirati)
12. Noora Al Yousuf, Head of External & Internal Communications, Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) (Emirati)
13. Sahar Khan, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Bayut & dubizzle (American)
14. Mitin Chakraborty, Head of Marketing, Babyshop (Indian)
15. Tizian H. G. Raab, Vice President, Communications and Advisor to the Group CEO, Azizi Developments (German)
16. Rahul Kadavakolu, Group CMO, Aster DM Healthcare (British)
17. Suad Merchant, CMO, GEMS Education (Indian)
18. Ahmad Kheir, Director of Digital Marketing & E-commerce, FIVE Hotels and Resorts (Jordanian)
19. Atish Chhabria, Head of Digital Transformation, FIVE Hotels and Resorts (Indian)
20. Michael Rion, Chief Commercial Officer (Emirates Steel), EMSTEEL Group (Luxembourgish)
21. Naomi Mendez, CMO, Emirates Hospitality (Argentinian)
22. Vladimir Maximov, Chief Marketing & Corporate Communications Officer, Emirates Development Bank (EDB) (Russian)
23. Mahmoud Nsouli, Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) (Lebanese)
24. Brett David Stephenson, Executive Director of Marketing, Dubai Holding Real Estate (British)
25. Nurcan Bicakci Arcan, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, CPX (Turkish)
26. Elhame Bourani, Executive Director, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (French)
27. Roland Janssen, Senior Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing, Borouge International (Dutch)
28. Suzanne Abou Eid, Senior Director, Marketing & Communication, Bloom Holding (Dutch)
29. Oleg Kafarov, Vice President, Jetex (Russian)
30. Mehdi Aliouat, Group Head – Marketing & Communications, International Holding Company (IHC) (French)
31. Farah Al Alami, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, Global Fertility / Bnoon (Jordanian)
32. Mohamed Fathy, Group Marketing Manager, PRIME Health Holdings (Egyptian)
33. Wael Karbala, Group Marketing Director, 7 Management (Lebanese)
34. Anisha Sagar, Head of Marketing & Communications, Meydan Free Zone (Indian)
35. Dahlia Jabari, Group Chief of Brand & Growth, Mohamed & Obaid Al Mulla Group / American Hospital Dubai (Jordanian)
36. V. Nandakumar, Director, Global Marketing & Communications, Lulu Retail Holdings (Indian)
37. Abhinav Nair, Chief Growth Officer, Landmark Group / Styli (Luxembourgish)
38. Lena ter Laare, Director, Marketing & CSR, Transguard Group (American)
39. Tarek Fouad, CMO, Shorooq (Egyptian)
40. Ashish Parakh, Group Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Sobha Realty (Indian)
41. Christian Andersen, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Space42 (Danish)
42. Charbel Khoury, Group CMO, Reportage Group (Lebanese)
43. Firas Wahbeh, Chief Brand & Strategy Officer, BEEAH (American)
44. Sumit Srivastava, Chief Digital & Commercial Officer, Al Tayer Insignia (Canadian)
45. Benjamin Schroeder, Chief Communications Officer, Al-Futtaim (German)
46. Marwa Kaabour, Group Marketing & Corporate Communications Director, Al Masaood Group (Lebanese)
47. Caroline Takla, Marketing Manager, Al Maryah Community Bank (Mbank) (Egyptian)
48. Alyza Beg, Group Chief Marketing & Communications Officer / CEO of BORN28, Al Gurg Group (Pakistani)
49. Jacqueline Elboghdadi, CMO, ADNOC Distribution (Egyptian)
50. Lamia Hariz, Head of Branding, Marketing, Corporate Communications, ESG & Investor Relations, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) (Lebanese)