Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Included in Forbes' List of Middle East Sustainability Leaders for 2026

Forbes Middle East has named His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, President of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), to its 2026 list of Sustainability Leaders in the Middle East, in recognition of his role in leading the program’s development efforts and enhancing initiatives that contribute to achieving sustainable development and improving quality of life.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal has served as President of AGFUND since 2020, continuing the legacy of the program, which was established in 1980, is headquartered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and works to support development initiatives in collaboration with partners and development-focused institutions worldwide.

In addition to his presidency of AGFUND’s Board of Directors, Prince Abdulaziz chairs the program’s Supreme Council for Investments, the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development Committee, the Board of Trustees of the Arab Open University, the Board of Trustees of the Arab Woman Center for Training and Research, the Arab Council for Childhood and Development, and the Board of Trustees of the Abdulaziz bin Talal and Sara bint Saud Foundation for Human Development “Ahyaaha.” His Highness also oversaw the establishment in 2020 of the Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Waqf System, which operates through its development institutions and non-profit companies to empower the maternal and child care sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To date, its initiatives have reached approximately 50,000 mothers and children within the Kingdom.

This role extends to continuing the development legacy of the late Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, whose approach centered on empowering individuals and preserving their dignity through institutions and partnerships aimed at creating a sustainable impact on communities. Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal continues this approach through his responsibilities in development, charitable, and waqf institutions.

Since its establishment, AGFUND has supported 1,818 development projects in 172 countries, in collaboration with more than 500 development partners, as part of its efforts to expand the scope of comprehensive development and enhance access to basic services and resources for beneficiary groups and communities. In its latest semi-annual meeting, the Board of Directors approved the program’s strategy through 2030 and authorized funding for 15 new development projects.

The program focuses its work on several areas aligned with sustainable development priorities, including financial inclusion, open education, technological empowerment, social development, water and food security, and health. This reflects a shift toward supporting development solutions that respond to community needs, expand access to basic services, and strengthen communities’ capacity to achieve more sustainable development.

AGFUND also supports initiatives aimed at raising awareness about climate change and enhancing communities’ ability to adapt to its impacts, such as the “Green in Arabic” platform, which raises awareness of climate change issues and promotes environmental knowledge in Arabic. This platform was launched in partnership with the Arab Network for Non-Governmental Organizations.

The program participated in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, hosted in Riyadh, where it announced a global food security initiative aimed at supporting smallholder farmers and enhancing the sustainability of their contributions to agricultural production. The initiative attracted more than 30 entities, including governments, international organizations, private sector institutions, and research centers, to work on mitigating the impacts of drought and desertification and the risks of climate change on the agricultural sector.

The selection of Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal to Forbes’ list of the Middle East’s Sustainability Leaders for 2026 comes amid growing interest in the role played by development institutions in supporting sustainability through initiatives and programs that link social impact with economic development, and that help build more inclusive communities better equipped to face future challenges.