Showcasing resilience, reinvention, and regional dominance across generations
- Saudi Arabia and the UAE dominate, with 33 and 32 companies, respectively.
- Saudi Arabia’s Al Muhaidib Group and Abdul Latif Jameel top the list.
- Sustainability and innovation are at the heart of the strategies of these leading families.
Dubai, May 12 2025: Forbes Middle East has unveiled its annual ranking of the Top 100 Arab Family Businesses for 2025, spotlighting the region’s most influential dynasties navigating transformation and innovation while preserving generational wealth. To compile this ranking, Forbes Middle East evaluated companies that are owned or managed by Arab families. The selection was based on several factors, including the size and value of their assets, business performance, recent activity, company age and legacy, and the breadth of their geographic and sector diversification.
GCC-based families continue to dominate the Arab family business landscape. This year, Saudi Arabia leads with 33 entries, followed closely by the UAE with 32, and Qatar with eight. Collectively, these countries account for over 73% of the ranking.
The Al Muhaidib Group, headquartered in Saudi Arabia and led by Group Chairman Sulaiman Al Muhaidib, takes the top spot, rising from eighth place last year. The group made headlines in February 2025 when the Public Investment Fund acquired a 30% stake in its subsidiary, Masdar Building Materials. Returning to second place is Abdul Latif Jameel, spearheaded by Chairman Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, while the Al-Futtaim, helmed by Vice Chairman and CEO Omar Al Futtaim, rounds out the top three. Notably, Egypt’s Mansour Group remains the only non-GCC-based conglomerate in the top 10.
Two newcomers have entered the top 10 elite cohort this year: Power International Holding and Al Faisal Holding, both based in Qatar, reflecting the growing economic influence of Qatari family businesses.
While many listees were founded before the 1950s—including some with 19th-century origins—others are newer entities born of strategic mergers or spin-offs. Morocco’s O Capital Group and Saudi Arabia’s Sultan Holding Company exemplify this trend, showcasing how legacy families continue to evolve and consolidate to meet modern demands.
Sustainability and innovation are at the heart of several family firms’ strategies. Alghanim Industries introduced electric vehicles to Kuwait, and AW Rostamani Group brought EVs to the UAE, signaling a regional shift toward cleaner energy solutions.
Click here to view the complete list of the Top 100 Arab Family Businesses 2025.
Top 10 Arab Family Businesses In The Middle East 2025
1| Al Muhaidib Group
Country: Saudi Arabia
Established: 1946
2| Abdul Latif Jameel
Country: Saudi Arabia
Established: 1945
3| Al-Futtaim
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 1930
4| Mansour Group
Country: Egypt
Established: 1952
5| DAMAC Group
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 1982
6| Olayan Financing Company (OFC)
Country: Saudi Arabia
Established: 1947
7| Majid Al Futtaim-Holding
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 1992
8| Al Ghurair
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 1960
9| Al Faisal Holding
Country: Qatar
Established: 1964
10 | Power International Holding (PIH)
Country: Qatar
Established: 2011
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]