Forbes Middle East’s sixth annual Top 100 CEOs list spotlights the executives leading the region’s most impactful organizations. As architects of growth and transformation, these leaders are doing more than delivering business results — they are driving innovation, expanding global competitiveness, and helping shape the future of the Middle East’s economies.
To curate the ranking, Forbes Middle East took into account several metrics, including their impacts on the region, their country, and the markets they serve; their overall experience and time in their current role; the size of the company in terms of key financial metrics; achievements and performance of the CEO over the past year, along with the innovations and initiatives they have implemented.
Leading this year’s ranking is Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser, with ADNOC Group Managing Director and Group CEO Sultan Al Jaber at second place. Emirates Airline & Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum secures the third spot, followed by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Deputy Chairman and CEO Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah and International Holding Company (IHC) CEO and Managing Director Syed Basar Shueb, who rank fourth and fifth, respectively.
This year’s ranking, representing 21 nationalities, highlights the Middle East’s increasingly diverse leadership landscape. Emiratis lead the list with 31 executives, followed by Egyptians and Saudis with 15 and 13, respectively. Banking and financial services continue to dominate with 30 entries, followed by real estate and construction with eight. Notably, the top 10 CEOs all hail from GCC countries and represent five different industries, reflecting the sectors powering the region’s economic momentum.
As regional companies pursue growth beyond their home markets, diversification has become a defining element of corporate strategy. Strategic acquisitions continue to play a central role, with NMDC Infra’s January 2026 purchase of a 51% stake in Spain’s Lantania Aguas, marking NMDC Group’s first foray into Europe. In another landmark transaction, Emirates NBD acquired a 60% majority stake in India’s RBL Bank in June 2026 through a primary capital infusion of roughly $2.75 billion, further expanding its international presence.
Top 10 CEOs In The Middle East 2026
- Amin H. Nasser
Nationality: Saudi
President & CEO, Saudi Aramco
- Sultan Al Jaber
Nationality: Emirati
Group CEO & Managing Director, ADNOC Group
- Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Nationality: Emirati
Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group
- Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah
Nationality: Kuwaiti
Deputy Chairman & CEO, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC)
- Syed Basar Shueb
Nationality: Emirati
CEO & Managing Director, International Holding Company (IHC)
- Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi
Nationality: Qatari
Deputy Chairman, President & CEO, QatarEnergy
- Nasser Al Huqbani
Nationality: Saudi
CEO, Health Holding Company (HHC)
- Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa
Nationality: Qatari
Group CEO, QNB Group
- Waleed Abdullah Al-Mogbel
Nationality: Saudi
Managing Director & CEO, alrajhi bank
- Aflah Al Hadhrami
Nationality: Omani
Managing Director, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO)
Click here to view the complete Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East 2026 list.
