President and CEO of Saudi Aramco topped the ranking of Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs 2024

Forbes Middle East has revealed its fourth annual list of the Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East, recognizing the chiefs accelerating achievements and successes of the companies they lead.

To develop this ranking, Forbes Middle East evaluated the CEOs using various metrics, including the individual’s accomplishments and implemented innovations over the past year, size of their company, and their impact on their firm and the wider industry. Only CEOs of companies headquartered in MENA were considered.

Amin H. Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco, topped the ranking. ADNOC Group’s Sultan Al Jaber and Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Deputy Chairman, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, rounded up the top four spots. The top five have retained their ranking since last year, with the exception of IHC’s Syed Basar Shueb who jumped from ninth to fifth place.

The 2024 cohort consists of listees from 19 nationalities. Emiratis reign with 27 entries, followed by Egyptians with 21 and Saudis with 14. Together, the three groups make up 62% of the ranking, indicating the positive trajectory for localization in C-suite management. The banking sector has the most entries, with 19, followed by real estate with 10, reflecting the boom in the sector over the last two years. Among the top 10 alone, six different industries are represented.

Pursuing innovation and efficiency, several leaders on this list have launched new ventures to diversify their impact. This year, Abdulrahman Al Hatmi’s Asyad Group announced the establishment of Hafeet Rail, as well as inaugurated the Asyad Container Terminal in the Port of Duqm, Oman. Whereas Said Zater’s Contact Financial Holding launched a new financing program aimed at financing electric vehicles. Industrials giant Aluminum Bahrain’s Ali Al Baqali introduced EternAl, a low-carbon aluminum line with 30% and 15% recycled products in May.