Meet the leaders turning sustainability ambitions into action across the region
- 145 entries across 17 sectors in the region’s largest companies.
- UAE-based leaders lead the ranking with 75 entries, followed by Saudi Arabia with 29, and 14 each from Qatar and Egypt
Dubai, UAE– October 18, 2026: Forbes Middle East has unveiled the fourth edition of its annual ranking, The Middle East’s Sustainability Leaders 2026, recognizing 145 executives advancing the region’s transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy. Across major industries, they are accelerating decarbonization, driving climate action, promoting innovation, and shaping the region’s long-term sustainability agenda.
The list spans 17 sectors: banks, development funds, energy and utilities, family businesses, financial services, food and agriculture, freezones, healthcare, investments and holding companies, manufacturing and industrials, oil and gas, real estate and construction, renewable energy, technology and telecom, transport and logistics, travel and tourism, and waste management. The UAE-based leaders lead with 75 entries, followed by Saudi Arabia with 29, and Qatar and Egypt with 14 each.
For this year’s ranking, Forbes Middle East reviewed questionnaires, sustainability and ESG reports, official disclosures, and recent performance metrics to assess listees on their measurable ESG commitments, adoption of sustainable technology, and alignment with regional Net Zero targets. Entries were ranked within each sector, with greater weight given to the measures most relevant to each sector.
Across the Middle East, companies are using automation and AI to improve resource efficiency, while extreme heat and water scarcity drive demand for efficient cooling, water reuse, and resilient food production. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reports that renewable energy capacity across Arab countries grew 28.9% to 53.1 GW in 2025
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) mobilized $31.1 billion in sustainable and transition finance in 2025, reaching 76% of its $136 billion target. Masdar’s operating projects generated 40.2 TWh of clean electricity that year, and in July 2026, it reached financial close on a landmark $6.1 billion project combining 5.2 GW of solar capacity with 19 GWh of battery storage. By June 2026, Saudi Energy had connected approximately 17.8 GW of renewable capacity to the national grid and energized 18 GWh of battery storage. In manufacturing, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) inaugurated the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling plant in 2026, lifting its total capacity above 400,000 tonnes annually.
Click here for the full list of the Middle East’s Sustainability Leaders 2026.
The Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders’ Summit 2026 will be held in Abu Dhabi on October 19-20. To find out more, click here.
The Middle East’s Sustainability Leaders 2026
| Sector | Top-Ranking Sustainability Leader |
| Banks | Hana Al RostamaniGroup CEO, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) |
| Development Funds | Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi Director-General, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) |
| Energy & Utilities | Jasim Husain Thabet Group CEO & Managing Director, TAQA Group |
| Food & Agriculture | Fawaz Aljasser CEO, Almarai |
| Investment & Holding Companies | Yasir Al-Rumayyan Governor, Public Investment Fund (PIF) |
| Financial Services | Mohammed AlardhiExecutive Chairman, Investcorp |
| Family Businesses | Ahmed Galal IsmailCEO, Majid Al Futtaim Holding |
| Healthcare | Shaista AsifCofounder & Group CEO, PureHealth Group |
| Manufacturing & Industrials | Yasser ZaghloulGroup CEO, NMDC Group |
| Oil & Gas | Amin H. Nasser President & CEO, Saudi Aramco |
| Real Estate & Construction | Talal Al DhiyebiGroup CEO, Aldar |
| Renewable Energy | Mohamed Jameel Al RamahiCEO, Masdar |
| Technology & Telecom | Masood M. Sharif MahmoodGroup CEO; CEO, etisalat; etisalat UAE |
| Transport & Logistics | Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeliDirector General, Integrated Transport Centre (ITC)—Abu Dhabi Mobility |
| Travel & Tourism | Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group |
| Waste Management | Khaled Al HuraimelVice Chairman & Group CEO, BEEAH |
| Freezones | Feryal AhmadiDeputy CEO & COO, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) |
About Forbes Middle East
Forbes Middle East is a licensed edition of Forbes for the Arab world, championing inspiring business journalism and entrepreneurial capitalism. Its online and social platforms break news covering billionaires, business, investment, technology, economy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and luxury lifestyles. The monthly magazine, featuring in-depth interviews with the Middle East’s most influential and innovative leaders, is published in print in English and Arabic, with digital versions available to both regional and global audiences online. Forbes Middle East extends the Forbes brand of journalism across the Arab world, conducting its own comprehensive research to publish original lists that adhere to strict methodologies. Its content attracts business leaders, investors, active and potential entrepreneurs, and a wide audience of ambitious and influential executives.
Media contact: Basma Aly Sadek – [email protected]