6 Kuwaitis Among the Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East

Six Kuwaiti chief executive officers made it to Forbes’ list of the 100 most powerful CEOs in the Middle East for 2026. The ranking was based on five key criteria: the CEO’s impact on the region and the country in which they operate, the markets they oversee, the CEO’s overall experience, and the duration of their current tenure. These were followed by company size in terms of revenue, assets, and market capitalization, the CEO’s achievements and performance in the previous year, and the innovations and initiatives implemented by the CEO.

Among Kuwaiti CEOs, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Saud, CEO of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, ranked first in Kuwait and fourth in the region. Khalid Al-Shamlan, CEO of Kuwait Finance House, and Essam Al-Saqer, Vice Chairman and CEO of National Bank of Kuwait Group, ranked second in Kuwait and 14th in the Middle East.

Bader Al-Kharafi, Vice Chairman and CEO of Zain Kuwait Group, ranked third in Kuwait and 36th in the Middle East. Sheikh Adana Nasser Al-Sabah, CEO of Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO), ranked fourth in Kuwait and 56th in the region. Ahmed Al-Eidan, CEO of Kuwait Oil Company, ranked fifth in Kuwait and 78th in the region.

Forbes stated that the role of CEOs in the Middle East is no longer limited to leading companies through traditional approaches; today, they are required to steer their organizations amid rapid technological transformations, geopolitical uncertainty, and a changing financial market landscape.

The magazine noted that its sixth annual list of the Middle East’s most powerful CEOs highlights executive leaders who have delivered strong financial performance and contributed to supporting economic development and resilience.

The list includes 102 executive leadership positions held by 100 individuals, representing 21 nationalities. Emiratis top the list with 31 CEOs, followed by Egyptians with 15, and Saudis with 13. The listed CEOs are based in eight countries in the region, with 49 in the UAE, 18 in Saudi Arabia, and 11 in Qatar.

The list spans 29 sectors, with banking leading with 30 participants, followed by real estate and construction with eight participants.