MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Six Emiratis have been named in Forbes Middle East's 2025 30 Under 30 list, an achievement that showcases the UAE's growing pipeline of young talent shaping advances across various sectors, including science, climate diplomacy and sustainability. The country is also home to nearly a third of the entrepreneurs who made the rankings.
This year's list features 113 individuals across 90 business entries, representing 24 nationalities and residing in 18 countries. While Egyptians lead the rankings overall, the UAE stands out as the single largest host country, with 34 of the honourees currently based there.
The selection process combined open nominations with a market scan across the Middle East and North Africa. Candidates were then evaluated on both qualitative and quantitative criteria, including industry influence, innovation, funds raised, awards, revenues, scale of impact and future potential. Final selections were reviewed by an external panel of judges.
Among the Emiratis recognised this year is Safiya Alhashmi, 25, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at NYU Abu Dhabi, where she leads the Khalil Lab. Alhashmi co-developed a patent-pending photoreactor technology that destroys PFAS "forever chemicals" at the molecular level. The system achieves a 99.8% elimination rate without generating secondary pollutants and has already been licensed for commercial use by Coflux Purification.
Another honouree in the engineering sector is Jawaher Alameri, 28, who leads the Laser Systems Engineering division at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII). Alameri has developed a patent-pending cooling solution for high-power fibre lasers, improving performance and durability across applications ranging from manufacturing and medicine to telecommunications and defence.
In the biomedical field, Noora Almarri, 27, a researcher and cofounder of BioHarv, was recognised for her work in bioelectronics and space-tested medical technology. Her analogue signal-sensing circuits were tested aboard the UAE's Light-1 CubeSat mission, while her startup is developing a battery-free cardiovascular implant that enables real-time monitoring without external power. This technology is advancing toward pre-clinical trials, and Almarri has filed a US patent for BioHarv.
The list also includes Fatima Alshamsi, 28, who works alongside Mira Mousa, 28, through a strategic collaboration between Khalifa University and KU Leuven. Using artificial intelligence tools, the two researchers are developing novel immunotherapies for diabetes by identifying genes linked to vascular complications. Their work has been published in leading scientific journals, including Nature and ScienceDirect.
Emiratis are also gaining recognition for climate leadership and social impact. Ahmed bin Abdulrahman Al Ghardaqa, 29, was named for his role as a diplomat and senior legal advisor to the COP28 Presidency and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One of the youngest senior officials within the COP28 leadership, he has led national negotiations under the UN climate framework and advises on the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, while also heading the Arab Youth Council for Climate Change.
Completing the Emirati cohort is Sara Alameri, 29, a sustainability advocate and former diplomat who represented the UAE at COP26, COP27 and COP28. Through her podcast Sustainability Across Generations and a high-impact digital campaign launched in 2024, Alameri has reached millions online, helping translate climate and sustainability issues for younger audiences.