7 Kuwaitis Among the 'Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East'

A Persistent and Notable Presence in Forbes Lists

Kuwaiti figures, whether individuals or corporate entities, have not been absent from the magazine’s rankings in the world’s most prominent publication this year. Following the release of 11 rankings by Forbes Middle East, the latest being yesterday’s “Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East,” and preceding that, the “Top 50 Asset Managers in the Region This Year,” as well as lists of the largest real estate companies, family businesses, and other rankings highlighting the competition and accumulated efforts to secure Kuwait’s competitive position.

Top CEOs in the Middle East 2026

The magazine noted that the role of the CEO in the Middle East is no longer limited to leading companies through traditional approaches. Today, CEOs are required to lead their organizations amidst rapid technological transformations, geopolitical uncertainty, and a changing financial market landscape.

Forbes Middle East revealed its sixth annual list of the strongest CEOs in the Middle East, highlighting executive leaders who achieved strong financial performance and contributed to supporting economic development and resilience.

The list included 102 executive leaders distributed across 100 companies, representing 21 nationalities. Kuwait was represented by seven leaders from 29 sectors, with the banking sector holding the largest share with 30 positions, followed by the real estate and construction sector with 8 positions. These Kuwaiti leaders are:

**Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah**

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation announced the selection of its Vice Chairman and CEO, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Saud, as the highest-ranked CEO in Kuwait and fourth in the Middle East on the Forbes list. Al-Saud continues his presence among the elite executive leadership in the region for the fourth consecutive year, maintaining his place among the top 10 CEOs in the Middle East. This achievement reflects the sustained leadership excellence and institutional impact achieved by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation at both the regional and international levels.

**Issam Al-Saqer**

Issam Al-Saqer, Vice Chairman and CEO of National Bank of Kuwait Group, ranked as the strongest CEO in the Kuwaiti banking sector, placing third in the same ranking across the Middle East. Forbes based its selection for the list on the achievements and performance of CEOs in the previous year, as well as the innovations and initiatives they implemented, their impact on the region and the countries they operate in, the markets they oversee, and the size of the companies they lead.

**Khaled Al-Shamlan**

Khaled Al-Shamlan became CEO of the Group in January 2025, after serving as CEO of Kuwait Finance House – Kuwait since August 2023. Kuwait Finance House operates in 10 countries through more than 600 branches and employs over 18,000 staff. In the first quarter of 2026, the Group recorded a net income of $713.8 million and total assets valued at $141.9 billion. In January 2026, Kuwait Finance House issued $1 billion in unsecured senior sukuk with a five-year maturity.

**Bader Al-Kharafi**

Bader Al-Kharafi assumed his current position in 2017. During the first quarter of 2026, Zain Group recorded significant results. The partnership between Zain, Ooredoo, and TASC has made further progress toward creating the largest telecommunications tower company in the Middle East region. Al-Kharafi also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Stock Exchange, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Group, and Vice Chairman of National Investments Company. He also founded BNK Holding.

**Adana Nasser Al-Sabah**

Adana Nasser Al-Sabah, CEO of Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO), was featured on the main Forbes list. The company holds investments in the financial services, petrochemicals, food, media, real estate, education, healthcare, and logistics sectors, with more than 60 subsidiaries spread across over 24 countries. Al-Sabah serves as Chairperson of the Board of Directors for OSN Group, the Kuwaiti Jordanian Bank, and United Education Company, which she founded through the American University of Kuwait in 2003.

Ahmed Al-Eidan

The list also included Ahmed Al-Eidan, CEO of Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), who assumed the role of CEO in 2022. KOC’s primary mandate is the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas within Kuwait. The company expanded its non-associated gas production by operating the Jurassic 4 and 5 production facilities, each adding an output capacity of 160 million cubic feet of gas per day and 50,000 barrels per day of light oil.

Dounia Sultan

The list also featured Dounia Sultan, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of KEO International Consultants, who has been with the company since 1985. She became CEO in 1991 and later assumed the roles of Chairperson and CEO in 2016. The company has grown from a single office into an international consulting firm with 14 offices across the Middle East and Europe. In April 2026, KEO expanded into the data center sector to leverage its infrastructure capabilities.