The United Arab Emirates has taken the lead in Forbes Middle East’s list of the most influential CEOs for 2025, with 32 leaders, followed closely by Saudi Arabia with 18 and Egypt with 16. Together, these nationalities account for 65% of the entire list, reflecting a slight increase from the previous year.
At the top of this year’s ranking is Amin H. Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco. He is followed by Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, who secured the second spot. The third position is held by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.
In fourth place is Syed Bukhari Shuaib, CEO and Managing Director of Ithmaar Holding, with Saad Al-Kaabi, Vice Chairman and CEO of QatarEnergy, rounding out the top five.
The 2025 ranking features CEOs from 18 different nationalities. In terms of sectors, banking and financial services dominate with 24 entries, followed by the energy and diversified sectors, each contributing 9 leaders. The top 10 CEOs operate across 6 different sectors, showcasing the diversity of executive leadership in the region.
This year, companies in the region are rapidly diversifying their economies and reducing their dependence on oil, with a clear trend towards investing in sustainable technology. The emphasis on artificial intelligence and sustainability stands out as a common theme in this year’s list, amid growing global climate challenges.