UAE dominates Forbes list with 49 of Middle East's top 100 travel and tourism leaders
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)A total of 49 UAE-based leaders have secured places on the 2025 list of the Middle East's Top 100 Travel & Tourism Leaders compiled by Forbes Middle East. The ranking spotlights figures driving the most ambitious destinations, hotels, airlines, airports, and tourism initiatives, and reflects the sector's rapid momentum fuelled by government strategy, record investment, and bold vision.His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, topped the list for the fourth consecutive year. Other prominent UAE-based leaders in the ranking include Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism at DCT – Abu Dhabi, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group; Mohamed Abdallah Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral; Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports; Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General Elect of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Antonoaldo Neves, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, Elena Sorlini, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, and Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai.The UAE's dominance was followed by Saudi Arabia with 24 leaders on the list, Egypt with seven, Oman with five, and Jordan and Morocco with four each. Qatar and Bahrain each contributed three leaders, while Kuwait and Tunisia had one representative apiece—from Kuwait Airways and the Tunisian National Tourist Office, respectively.Forbes Middle East said it assessed candidates from both the public and private sectors based on organisational scale—measured by revenues, asset values, hotel keys, and passenger numbers—alongside professional achievements, experience, and overall impact on the industry.This year's list also spotlighted regional milestones, including Miral's announcement of the Middle East's first Disney theme park and resort on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, developed in partnership with The Walt Disney Company. The park will be the seventh Disney resort worldwide.
Other entries reflected a focus on heritage preservation and eco-tourism, such as projects led by Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Company, Boutique Group, the Royal Commission for AlUla, and newcomer ENVI Lodges.
Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
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