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THE MIDDLE EAST'S TOP 100 ARAB FAMILY BUSINESSES 2024
Transformation through expansion and investment are keeping family businesses growing.
REINVENTING THE FUTURE
Caroline Fattal, Chair of the 127-year-old Fattal Group, is a rare example of a fourth-generation leader of a family business. With a new structure and non-family CEO in place at the Beirut-based group, she’s focusing on her NGO efforts and giving back.
SEAMLESS TRANSITION
Saad Alkhorayef, the chairman of the Saudi-based Alkhorayef Group, has been overseeing the family business since 2015. Representing the second generation, he is now seeking to ensure a smooth management handover for the family business, which yielded $1.3 billion in annual revenues in 2023.
Hungry for Growth
Fred and Gene Clark have devoured a fifth of the 18 billion industry by following the Amazon playbook. Now they’ve cooked up a plan for greater growth.
Year In Review: MENA Startups Struggle Despite Strong Headline Figures
Despite positive headlines, last year wasn’t a good one for MENA startups seeking funding
Gulf SWFs Invest Big In 2023
Here’s a look at some of the biggest deals by MENA’s most active sovereign wealth funds in 2023.
Meet The Richest Person On Each Continent
Here are the diverse faces of affluence from each corner of the world. Of the six billionaires listed, half have built their fortunes independently, earning them the label of self-made. Net worths are as of February 21, 2024, according to Forbes.
A Family Affair
LVMH chief Bernard Arnault is tightening family control—meet the five heirs.
The World's Most Valuable Sports Empires 2024
With last year's $6 billion purchase of the Washington Commanders, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment vaulted up the ranks of the most lucrative team portfolios-but they're still not No. 1.
MENA Businesswomen Leading The Sustainability Agenda
These five leaders are making sure that sustainability is top of mind for some key MENA companies.
MENA-Based Women From Forbes' 50 Over 50
These seven MENA-based female powerhouses appeared on Forbes' third annual 50 Over 50: EMEA list for 2024, proving that life's second half is also its most successful and rewarding.
Women Leaders Arab Women Who Made History In 2023
The world saw many Arab women achieve firsts in 2023. Here are six of them.
MENA's Most Powerful Businesswomen Leading: Family Firms
These ten MENA-based businesswomen have inherited the helm of some of the region's largest family conglomerates.
BIG PLANS - SAAD BIN ALI AL KHARJI
Saad bin Ali AI Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, aims to leverage the success of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to carve out a space for Qatar in a highly competitive regional tourism landscape, with the goal of boosting the tourism sector's contribution to GDP from 7% to 12% in 2030.
THE MIDDLE EAST'S 100 MOST POWERFUL BUSINESSWOMEN 2024
Despite challenges, female leaders are continuing to grow in numbers and influence.
MISSION POSSIBLE: NOOR SWEID
Noor Sweid, Founder and Managing Partner of Global Ventures, is overseeing assets under management of $300 million while investing in founders driven by purpose. As she makes moves to inspire and support homegrown entrepreneurs, she's leading the way for women in a male-dominated field.
BEYOND BORDERS - HEIKE HARMGART
Heike Harmgart, Managing Director for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has been overseeing an investment portfolio of $9 billion as of December 2023, since she assumed office four years ago. Now, she's amplifying the bank's impact amid regional challenges.
ALL ADDING UP: FAZEELA GOPALANI
Fazeela Gopalani, head of the global accountancy and finance association ACCA in the Middle East, is pushing further for female representation in the field while showing the next generation the benefits of an Al-supported career in finance.
THE $93 TRILLION WEALTH TRANSFER
BOOMERS AND THEIR ELDERS CONTROL $93 TRILLION, OR TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICA'S HOUSEHOLD WEALTH. FORBES 400 MEMBERS PHIL KNIGHT, CHARLES KOCH, BARRY DILLER AND HAROLD HAMM GIVE A MASTER CLASS IN HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR MONEY GOES TO CHARITY AND CHILDREN.
MOVING FORWARD
Faisal Albedah, Managing Director and CEO of SAL Saudi Logistics Services, took the company public in November 2023, leading it through the year's second-biggest IPO for Saudi Arabia, with a market capital of over $3 billion. Now, he wants to make the kingdom a global logistics hub, connecting East with West.
THE MIDDLE EAST'S TOP CEOS 2023
Localization and Growth Boost CEO Success In MENA
TURNING THE TIDE
Ahmed AI Shamsi, Managing Director and CEO of SWS Holding, is making moves to tackle the challenges of water scarcity while growing business. With the company having recently been acquired for $463.2 million, the CEO has his eyes on further investment.
Soy Sauce Scientist
Peggy Cherng built PANDA EXPRESS into the McDonald's of Chinese food by using her engineering background and big data to exponentially spice up sales-making her a multibillionaire along the way.
Confessions Of A Closed-End Fund Bargain Hunter
Retail buyers have a poor grasp of closed-end investment companies. That creates opportunities for Florida money man ERIK HERZFELD.
Snapshot: Climate Action Builds In MENA
COP28 wrapped up in Dubai in December, with participants confident that a number of impactful decisions and commitments had been agreed. However, many countries in MENA have been taking strides towards more sustainable economies for several years.
MENA's Top 20 TikTokers
Here are MENA's top TikTokers, according to TikTok Middle East, based on their impact and trends over the last year, including video creations, views, account growth, likes, and interactions. Numbers are as of December 13, 2023.
MENA's Serial Startup Founders
Startups in MENA raised a total of $2 billion across 376 deals in the first 10 months of 2023, according to Wamda, spanning various sectors. Here are some founders who have founded two or more, attracting both direct foreign investments and regional investors.
World's Top Venture Capital Investors Of 2023
These are the top five investors featured on Forbes' 2023 Midas List, from cryptocurrency investors to global capital managers.
Female Chiefs Making Historic Appointments In 2023
This year has seen some wins for gender diversity in leadership. These 10 notable companies appointed their first women CEOs in 2023, embracing a new era of inclusivity.
New Middle East CEOs 2023
These are some of the most notable Middle East-based CEO appointments in 2023.