UAE dominates Forbes rankings with 47 top real estate leaders
Dubai : The third edition of Forbes Middle East's Most Impactful Real Estate Leaders list has been released, featuring the developers and decision-makers reshaping the region's skylines and urban environments.
The list was assembled over a period of many months and determined by numerous different measures which comprise years of experience, cost of projects that have been completed and are under work, corporate financials such as total assets (where applicable) and income statements (once available), plus landbanks and the number of units too.
The full list is made up primarily of leaders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt (47 entries for the UAE, 21 for Saudi Arabia, 17 for Egypt) again highlighting the continued steering of real estate in these markets.
Taking first position for the second consecutive year is Hussain Sajwani, Founder and Chairman of DAMAC Properties. Under his leadership, DAMAC has further grown its global partnerships with Chelsea Residences in partnership with Chelsea Football Club being the latest one.
This is followed by Mohamed Alabbar, Founder and Managing Director of Emaar Properties in second place, and Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group CEO of Aldar in third. The three top leaders are all headquartered in the UAE, further cementing its status as the region's premier real estate hub.
The list features 11 billionaires with a total net worth of $39.4 billion, confirming the real estate sector remains one of the region's most potent engines of wealth generation.
A new era of strategic partnerships and branded developments are changing the game. One of the agreements that scored high in deals this year was an agreement between Qatari Diar, led by Chairman Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiya (7), and Egypt's New Urban Communities Authority for the development of Alam Al-Roum area on the Egyptian Mediterranean coast worth $29.7 billion. Elsewhere on the list, Binghatti Holding Chairman Muhammad BinGhatti (8th) unveiled Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti City, an $8 billion development project which covers over 10 million square meters in early 2026.
Included on the list is a diverse range of entities, from legacy companies to young upstarts. The oldest developer on the is Egypt's Madinet Master for Housing & Development, headed by President and CEO Abdallah Sallam, which was established in 1959. On the other end of the spectrum, the UAE’s ONE Development led by Founder and Chairman Ali Al Gebely is our youngest listee in 2023.
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