Prime Highlights
- Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser ranked first in Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs list.
- Banking and financial services led the ranking with 30 executives.
Key Facts
- Forbes Middle East’s 2026 ranking features 100 CEOs from 21 nationalities across the region.
- The top 10 CEOs all come from GCC countries and represent five different industries.
Background
Saudi Aramco President and Chief Executive Officer Amin H. Nasser has secured the top position in Forbes Middle East’s sixth annual Top 100 CEOs ranking, which recognises the region’s most influential business leaders. ADNOC Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer Sultan Al Jaber ranked second, while Emirates Airline and Group Chairman and Chief Executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum took third place.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah ranked fourth, followed by International Holding Company Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Syed Basar Shueb in fifth place.
The annual ranking reflects the growing diversity of leadership across the Middle East, featuring executives from 21 nationalities. The Emiratis had the largest number of CEOs at 31, followed by Egyptians at 15 and Saudis at 13.
The banking and financial services sector was still the leading industry with 30 CEOs on the list, followed by the real estate/construction industry at eight. The top 10 CEOs all represent GCC countries and come from five different industries, highlighting the sectors driving the region’s economic growth.
Forbes Middle East said the selected executives are helping shape the region’s future by leading innovation, improving competitiveness and delivering business growth across key industries.
The rankings were based on several criteria such as influence of each leader in the region and the market environment, professional experience, tenure in the current position, size of the organization, financial performance, as well as recent accomplishments. Additionally, the criteria included the innovations and strategies developed under the leadership of these individuals.
The last 10 places in the list were occupied by executives from QatarEnergy, Health Holding Company, QNB Group, Al Rajhi Bank and Petroleum Development Oman.
