Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Forbes Middle East has recently issued its fourth version of the annual list of the top 100 CEOs in the Middle East region, which featured an elite of executives from all over the Arab World.

Topping this list, Saudi energy giant Aramco’s president and CEO, Amin Nasser ranked first for the fourth consecutive year reflecting Nasser’s impeccable leadership, solidifying his position as the leading executive in the region, as highlighted by Forbes ME’s annual list for 2024.

In addition to his role at Aramco, he serves on influential boards, including the international advisory board of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, the board of trustees of KAUST, and advisory councils for BlackRock, the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council, and JP Morgan.

This year’s list reflects a vibrant and diverse executive landscape, featuring leaders from 19 nationalities. Emiratis lead with 27 entries, Egyptians follow with 21, and Saudis with 14 entries. Collectively, these three nationalities account for 62 percent of the list, highlighting a positive trend in localizing executive roles within the Middle East.

The banking sector kept the lion’s share with 19 CEOs, illustrating its significant impact, while real estate, buoyed by recent growth, contributes 10 entries. Telecommunications also makes a mark with nine CEOs, and the top 10 positions span six different industries, showcasing a broad range of expertise.

The annual report further explained that many of these leaders have an impact that extends beyond traditional business measures. In the Middle East and North Africa region, where governments often hold significant stakes in major companies, CEOs must balance generating shareholder value with aligning their strategies with national interests.

Here is a listing of the 14 Saudi CEOs whose names were featured in FORBES top 100 CEOs:

1. Amin H. Nasser, President & CEO of Saudi Armco
2. Olayan Alwetaid, CEO of STC Group
3. Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM
4. Waleed Abdullah Al-Mogbel, Managing Director & CEO of Alrajhi Bank
5. Tareq Al Sadhan, CEO of Saudi National Bank (SNB)
6. Nadir Sami Al-Koraya,CEO of Riyad Bank
7. Fahad bin Mushayt, CEO of The Saudi Tourism Investment Company (ASFAR)
8. Sultan Sobhi Batterjee, CEO of IHCC
9. Abdullah Albader, CEO of Almarai
10. Abdullah Ali Al Khalifa, CEO of Alinma Bank
11. Obaid Alrasheed, CEO & Managing Director of arab national bank (anb)
12. Thamer AlMuhid, Group CEO & Managing Director of the Saudi Chemical Company Holding (SCCH)
13. Mutasim Alireza, CEO of Magrabi Hospitals & Centers Group
14. Meshaal Bin Omairah, Group CEO of Al Othaim Investment