Today's Edition
TALAH TURK (ABU DHABI)
Within the ever-evolving Middle Eastern business arena, CEOs rooted in the UAE wield unparalleled influence. Forbes' third annual compilation of The Middle East’s Top CEOs for 2023 is characterised by the dominance of 23 Emirati leaders.
The names on Forbes’ highly anticipated list, which came out on January 3, represent 22 nationalities. UAE nationals took the lead with 23 entries, closely followed by Egyptians with 19, and Saudis in third place with 18.
Notably, the banking sector took centre stage with 17 entries, followed by real estate and construction in second place with 14 entries, and telecommunications with 9.
According to Forbes, these 100 leaders managed revenues exceeding $1 trillion in 2022, and their combined corporate entities are valued at over $5 trillion — a resounding celebration of their leadership and impact on the global stage.
Below are Forbes Middle East’s top Emirati CEOs for the year 2023:
- His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum: Chairman & Chief Executive at Emirates Airline & Group - Aviation
- Sultan Al Jaber: Group CEO & Managing Director at ADNOC Group - Energy
- Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem: Group Chairman & CEO at DP World - Logistics
- Syed Basar Shueb: CEO & Managing Director at International Holding Company (IHC) - Investments
- Hana Al Rostamani: Group CEO at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) - Banking
- Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer: Managing Director & CEO at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) - Utilities
- Jasim Husain Thabet: Group CEO & Managing Director at TAQA Group - Utilities
- Abdulnasser Bin Kalban: CEO at Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) - Industrials
- Talal Al Dhiyebi: Group CEO at Aldar Properties - Real Estate & Construction
- Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi: Group CEO & Managing Director at AD Ports Group - Logistics
- Mansour Mohamed AlMulla: CEO & Managing Director at EDGE Group - Defence
- Ala'a Eraiqat: Group CEO at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB Group) - Banking
- Fahad Al Hassawi: CEO at du - Telecommunications
- Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi: CEO at Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) - Energy
- Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi: Group CEO at Emirates Steel Arkan (ESA) - Industrials
- Ali Al Hashemi: Group CEO at Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) - Telecommunications
- Shadi Malak: CEO at Etihad Rail - Transportation & Logistics
- Arif Amiri: CEO at Dubai International Financial Centre Authority - Free Zone
- Rashed A. Al Ansari: Group CEO at Al Ansari Financial Services - Financial Services
- Ahmed Al Shamsi: Managing Director & CEO at Sustainable Water Solutions Holding Company (SWS Holding) - Utilities
- Khalid Al Marzooqi: CEO at National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) - Utilities
- Raja Al Mazrouei: CEO at Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) - Insurance
- Michael Lahyani: CEO and Founder at Property Finder - Real Estate & Construction
Further demonstrating the country’s formidable business environment, 18 other CEOs on the Forbes list are non-Emirati nationals based in the UAE.
