Emiratis dominate Forbes top 100 Mideast CEOs list

Emiratis dominate this year’s Forbes Middle East’s list of the “Top 100 CEOs” with 19 entries.

Combined, the top three nationalities --- Emiratis, Saudis and Egyptians --- made up 50 per cent of the ranking. With 27 CEOs, banking and financial services is the most represented sector. Eight entrants work in telecom, and seven head energy and logistics companies. Four of the top five leaders work in energy.

Heads of Saudi Aramco, Adnoc, and Emirates Group make up the top three spots in the list of 100 CEOs representing 26 nationalities in the region.

Other prominent nationalities in the prestigious list include Egyptians with 16 entries, and Saudis with 15. Combined they managed revenues of over $1 trillion in 2021. Their companies are currently collectively worth more than $5 trillion.

“Regardless of the economic environment, market conditions, and other factors, it is the CEO who bears most of the responsibility for the success or failure of the company they lead. This is becoming more apparent in the Middle East, where corporate governance has been improving for several years,” Forbes Middle East said in a statement.

Topping the CEO list is Saudi Aramco's Amin H. Nasser, who led the company to become the world's most valuable by market value again, surpassing Apple. Adnoc's Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber placed second as the firm took three of its subsidiaries – Adnoc Drilling, Fertiglobe, and Borouge – public, with Borouge's $2 billion IPO becoming Abu Dhabi's largest-ever IPO.

Rounding up the top three is Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates Group. All three maintained their rankings for the second consecutive year.