Forbes Middle East’s Top CEOs 2024 list highlights standout leaders from various industries. This year, nine CEOs from Qatari companies have earned recognition for their exceptional achievements.
These leaders have made a significant impact, guiding their companies through challenges and driving important changes. Their success showcases the growing influence of Qatar’s business sector on the global stage.
As Qatar continues its remarkable ascent on the global economic stage, several key industries stand out as pillars of this growth, driving innovation and diversification. Among them, Qatar Insurance, Qatar Energy, and Qatar National Bank (QNB) have emerged as major contributors to the country’s economic growth and pride of the nation in the past decade. These entities exemplify the dynamic nature of Qatar’s economy, each playing a vital role in shaping its future.
Here are the 9 CEOs featured in the Forbes Middle East Top CEOs 2024 list, presented in no specific order:
Salem Al Mannai
Designation: Group CEO
Company: Qatar Insurance Group (QIC Group)
Nationality: Qatari
Sector: Insurance
Website: QIC Group
LinkedIn: Salem Al Mannai
Notable Achievement:
Salem Al Mannai has led QIC Group to a remarkable turnaround, transforming a $325 million net loss in 2022 into a $169 million profit in 2023. Under his leadership, the group’s revenues reached $2 billion, and he played a pivotal role in launching Qatar’s Third Financial Sector Strategy with the Qatar Central Bank in 2023. This initiative aims to position Qatar as a leading hub for financial services innovation.
Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi
Designation: Deputy Chairman, President & CEO
Company: QatarEnergy
Nationality: Qatari
Sector: Energy
Website: QatarEnergy
LinkedIn: Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi
Notable Achievement:
Under Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi’s leadership, QatarEnergy secured a monumental $6 billion deal with China State Shipbuilding Corporation for 18 ultra-modern LNG vessels. He also launched the “North Field West” project in February 2024, which aims to increase Qatar’s LNG production capacity by 85% to 142 million tons per annum by 2030.
Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa
Designation: Group CEO
Company: QNB Group
Nationality: Qatari
Sector: Banking
Website: QNB Group
Notable Achievement:
Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa has overseen a 4% growth in QNB’s assets to $338.2 billion and an 8% increase in net profit to $4.3 billion in 2023. He also extended QNB’s fintech partnership with Ooredoo in May 2024 to foster digital innovation in Oman, reflecting his commitment to enhancing financial services through technology.
Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida
Designation: CEO
Company: Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)
Nationality: Qatari
Sector: Financial Services
Website: QFC
Notable Achievement:
Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida has significantly expanded the QFC’s platform, registering 505 new companies in the first half of 2024 and bringing the total to over 2,200 firms. He also launched Qatar’s Digital Assets Lab, a pioneering initiative in Digital Ledger Technology, enhancing Qatar’s position in the financial services sector.
Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo
Designation: Group CEO & Managing Director
Company: Ooredoo Group
Nationality: Qatari
Sector: Telecommunications
Website: Ooredoo Group
LinkedIn: Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo
Notable Achievement:
Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo has driven significant growth at Ooredoo Group, with revenues of $1.6 billion and total assets of $15.6 billion reported in Q1 2024. He spearheaded a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA in June 2024 to leverage generative AI and advanced computing, positioning Ooredoo at the forefront of digital innovation and hyperconnectivity.
Abdulrahman Bin Fahad Al-Thani
Designation: Group CEO
Company: Doha Bank
Nationality: Qatari
Sector: Banking
Website: Doha Bank
LinkedIn: Abdulrahman Bin Fahad Al-Thani
Notable Achievement:
In the first half of 2024, Abdulrahman Bin Fahad Al-Thani led Doha Bank to achieve $118.8 million in net profits and $29.1 billion in assets. He also launched a new mobile banking app, which now processes nearly 89% of transactions, reflecting a strong focus on digital transformation.
Abdullah Al-Sulaiti
Designation: CEO
Company: Nakilat
Nationality: Qatari
Sector: Logistics
Website: Nakilat
Notable Achievement:
Abdullah Al-Sulaiti has overseen the expansion of Nakilat’s fleet, which includes one of the world’s largest LNG shipping fleets. He secured a long-term charter agreement with QatarEnergy for 25 LNG vessels in March 2024 and continues to lead Nakilat’s growth in the logistics sector.
Bassel Gamal
Designation: Group CEO
Company: Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB)
Nationality: Egyptian
Sector: Banking
Website: QIB
Notable Achievement:
Bassel Gamal guided QIB to a 6.6% increase in net profits, reaching $1.2 billion in 2023. He also spearheaded the issuance of a $500 million sukuk in November 2023, demonstrating his strategic leadership in expanding QIB’s financial instruments and services.
Tarek El Sayed
Designation: CEO & Managing Director
Company: Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company (ARTIC)
Nationality: Egyptian
Sector: Travel & Tourism
Website: ARTIC
LinkedIn: Tarek El Sayed
Notable Achievement:
Tarek El Sayed has expanded ARTIC’s portfolio to over 35 hotels across multiple regions. In November 2023, he secured a franchise agreement with IHG Hotels & Resorts to rebrand a New York hotel to Crowne Plaza, enhancing ARTIC’s global footprint and market presence.
To see the full list of the Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East for 2024, click here.