Meet nine Qatari CEOs named in Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs 2024 list

Published: 17 August 2024

Emiratis top the list with 27 CEOs, followed by Egyptians with 21, and Saudis with 14

NT Bureau
Doha

Forbes Middle East has announced the list of the Top CEOs for 2024, spotlighting the most influential and impactful leaders from companies and institutions across the region.

This year’s ranking is particularly notable for the inclusion of nine CEOs based in Qatar, underscoring the country’s growing influence in the global business landscape.

The list contains the top 100 CEOs from the Middle East.

The list includes 100 business leaders from 19 different nationalities. Emiratis top the list with 27 CEOs, followed by Egyptians with 21, and Saudis with 14. This ranking reflects a growing trend towards locali-zation, as most major companies are headed by local CEOs. The banking sector dominates the list with 19 leaders, followed by the real estate sector with 10 leaders, reflecting the boom that the sector has witnessed over the past two years.

The list emphasizes the significant achievements and successes of these leaders, with a focus on sec-tors such as energy, banking, telecommunications, and real estate.

Among the nine Qatari leaders, two have secured positions in the prestigious top 10.

The following Qatari CEOs are in the list:

At #4 on the list is Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, the Vice Chairman, Managing Director, and CEO of Qatar En-ergy. Al-Kaabi, who has led QatarEnergy since 2014, has been pivotal in the company’s expansion, in-cluding a major $6 billion partnership with China State Shipbuilding Corporation in 2024 to create 18 ad-vanced LNG carriers.

Ranked at #10, Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa, the Group CEO of QNB Group, has been instrumental in the bank’s growth. Since joining QNB in 1996 and taking on a leadership role in 2018, Al-Khalifa has overseen the bank’s expansion, with assets reaching $338.2 billion by 2023

Other notable Qatari CEOs featured on the list include Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo of Ooredoo Group at #36, who has steered the telecommunications giant through its operations across 10 countries while embracing cutting-edge technologies like generative AI.

Bassel Gamal, the Group CEO of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), secured the #59 spot for his role in the bank’s continued financial growth and the launch of a significant $500 million sukuk in 2023.

At #64, Abdulrahman bin Fahad Al-Thani, the Group CEO of Doha Bank, has been recognized for his leadership since October 2023, guiding the bank to a net profit of $118.8 million in the first half of 2024.
Abdullah Al Sulaiti, CEO of Nakilat, is ranked #70, celebrated for managing one of the world’s largest LNG fleets and entering long-term agreements with QatarEnergy in 2024.

Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, CEO of Qatar Financial Centre, is positioned at #78, with a notable achieve-ment of adding over 500 firms to the center by mid-2024.

Tarek El Sayed, Managing Director & CEO of Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company (ARTC), takes the #80 spot for his role in expanding ARTIC’s global hotel projects.

Finally, Salem Almannai, Group CEO of Qatar Insurance Company (QIC), is ranked #82, credited with the company’s financial turnaround in 2023 and efforts to establish Qatar as a hub for financial services innovation.

The 2024 Forbes Middle East list of Top CEOs not only reflects the dynamic leadership within Qatar but also highlights the broader trends of growth, innovation, and strategic partnerships that are shaping the future of the Middle East.