Meet the Power Players Behind the Region’s Mega Projects and Urban Transformation
- UAE-based leaders reign with 42 entries, followed by 21 in Saudi Arabia and 16 in Egypt.
- DAMAC Properties’ Hussain Sajwani tops the ranking.
- Five billionaires appear on the list, collectively worth $19.3 billion.
Dubai, April 16, 2025: Forbes Middle East has revealed its 2025 ranking of the region’s 100 Most Impactful Real Estate Leaders, spotlighting the developers and decision-makers transforming the region’s skylines. The list was compiled based on each leader’s years of experience, the value of completed and ongoing projects, company financials including total assets and revenues where available, and the size of landbanks and number of units held.
The UAE dominates this year’s ranking with 42 leaders of companies headquartered in the country, followed by Saudi Arabia with 21 entries and Egypt with 16. Claiming the top spot is Hussain Sajwani, Founder and Chairman of DAMAC Properties. In February 2025, DAMAC announced the pricing and settlement of its $750 million senior unsecured three-and-a-half-year Reg S Sukuk—its largest to date. Sajwani’s net worth has doubled over the past year, rising from $5.1 billion in March 2024 to $10.2 billion as of March 2025.
Mohamed Alabbar, Founder and Managing Director of Emaar Properties, ranks second, followed by Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group CEO of Aldar Properties, in third place. All three of the top leaders are based in the UAE, reinforcing the country’s position as a leading real estate hub in the region.
Besides Sajwani, four other billionaires – as recognized by Forbes as of March 2025 – appear on this year’s list: Emaar Properties’ Mohamed Alabbar with an estimated fortune of $2.3 billion, Sobha Group’s PNC Menon with an estimated fortune of $3.4 billion, FIVE Holdings’ Kabir Mulchandani at $2.2 billion, and Palm Hills Developments’ Yasseen Mansour with a net worth of $1.2 billion. Combined, the five billionaires control an estimated fortune worth $19.3 billion.
The list spans a diverse group of companies, from legacy institutions to ambitious newcomers. Bahrain’s Kanoo Real Estate, managed by the CEO Mohamed Abdulelah Al Kooheji stands as the oldest developer on the list, having been established in 1890. The UAE-headquartered ONE Development, led by Founder and Chairman Ali Al Gebely, is the youngest listee, established in 2024.
To continue the conversation on the future of real estate, Forbes Middle East will host its flagship ‘Building The Future Summit’ in Abu Dhabi on May 26–27, 2025, followed by the summit’s first edition in Tripoli on May 29–30, 2025.
Top 10 Most Impactful Real Estate Leaders In The Middle East 2025
1 | Hussain Sajwani
Founder & Chairman, DAMAC Properties
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 2002
2 | Mohamed Alabbar
Founder & Managing Director, Emaar Properties
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 1997
3 | Talal Al Dhiyebi
Group CEO, Aldar Properties
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 2005
4 | Hisham Talaat Moustafa
CEO & Managing Director, Talaat Moustafa Group Holding (TMG Holding)
Country: Egypt
Established: 1970
5 | Khalid Al Malik
CEO, Dubai Holding Real Estate
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 2002
6 | Hesham Al Qassim
CEO, Wasl Group
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 2008
7 | Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiya
Chairman, Qatari Diar Real Estate
Investment Company
Country: Qatar
Established: 2005
8 | Muhammad BinGhatti
Chairman, Binghatti Developers
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 2008
9 | PNC Menon
Founder, Sobha Group
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 1976
10 | Rizwan Sajan
Founder & Chairman, Danube Properties
Country: U.A.E.
Established: 2014
Click here to view the complete list of The Middle East’s Most Impactful Real Estate Leaders 2025.
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]