Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
Forbes Mideast reveals region’s top travel, tourism leaders
Forbes Middle East has released its 2025 list of the Middle East's Top 100 Travel and Tourism Leaders, with the UAE having the highest number of leaders. The list includes representatives from ten countries.
Forbes Middle East has released the 2025 edition of its signature list spotlighting the Middle East’s Top 100 Travel and Tourism Leaders, highlighting the individuals spearheading the region’s most ambitious destinations, hotels, airlines, airports, and tourism initiatives.
Executives on this year’s list represent 10 countries across the region. The UAE is home to 49 leaders, followed by 24 in Saudi Arabia, seven in Egypt, and five in Oman.
Jordan and Morocco each have four representatives, while Qatar and Bahrain have three each. Kuwait and Tunisia are represented by one leader each: Kuwait Airways and the Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT), respectively.
Among the 101 listees, 15 are Emiratis, 14 are Saudis, and nine are British, making up the top three nationalities.
This year’s ranking reflects the powerful momentum building across the sector, driven by bold vision, government strategy, and record-breaking investments.
To curate the list, Forbes Middle East evaluated leaders across the public and private sectors based on the scale of their organisations—measured by revenues, asset values, hotel keys, and number of passengers—as well as their experience, achievements, and overall impact on the tourism landscape.
All ranked individuals are based in the Mena region.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman & Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, tops the 2025 list for the fourth consecutive year.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the group recorded $39.6 billion in revenues—a 6% increase compared to the previous year—and holds $49.7 billion in assets.
He is followed by Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, and Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Group CEO of Qatar Airways Group, who round off the top three.
Tourism leaders across the region have helped usher in a new era of historic firsts. In June 2025, Bander Almohanna, CEO and Managing Director of flynas, led the company to complete a $1.1 billion IPO, becoming the first airline to list on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul).
In April 2024, Fernando Eiroa, CEO of Dubai Holding Entertainment, launched the world’s first Real Madrid-themed park, Real Madrid World.
In May 2025, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, announced the development of the region’s first Disney theme park and resort in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company; marking the seventh Disney resort globally.
In Morocco, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy, oversaw the creation of the country’s first tourism project bank, featuring 200 investment-ready templates.
Top 10 Travel & Tourism Leaders In The Middle East 2025:
1. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Country: UAE
Nationality: Emirati
Chairman & Chief Executive,
Emirates Airline & Group
2. Fahd Hamidaddin
Country: Saudi Arabia
Nationality: Saudi
CEO, Saudi Tourism Authority (STA)
3. Badr Al-Meer
Country: Qatar
Nationality: Qatari
Group CEO, Qatar Airways Group
4. Saleh Al Geziry
Country: UAE
Nationality: Emirati
Director General for Tourism, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)
5. Fatim-Zahra Ammor
Country: Morocco
Nationality: Moroccan
Chair, MNTO; SMIT
6. Raed Alidrissi
Country: Saudi Arabia
Nationality: Saudi
CEO, MATARAT Holding
7. Hesham Al Qassim
Country: UAE
Nationality: Emirati
CEO, Wasl Group
8. Humaid Al Dhaheri
Country: UAE
Nationality: Emirati
Managing Director & Group CEO, ADNEC Group
9. Mohamed Al Zaabi
Country: UAE
Nationality: Emirati
Group CEO, Miral
10. Paul Griffiths
Country: UAE
Nationality: British
CEO, Dubai Airports -TradeArabia News Service