Mohamed Alabbar, Founder and Managing Director of Emaar Properties tops the Forbes Middle East ‘Most Impactful Real Estate Leaders’ list, with total assets of $37.3 billion as of the end of September 2023. Emaar Properties is one of the largest publicly-listed real estate companies by assets in the GCC. 

 

Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi-based Aldar Properties has been placed second, with $19.3 billion total assets as of September 2023. NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr is in the third place. 

 

The developers featured on this list represent nine countries in the region. The UAE leads with 33 companies on the list, six of which are in the top 10. 23 are headquartered in Saudi Arabia, followed by 20 in Egypt. 

 

Building for the future

The list spotlights the 100 innovation-driven regional developers building for the future. The ranking was developed based on the company’s financials, the value of projects completed, projects under construction, the reputation of project delivery, and the size of the landbank and units held by the developer. 

 

Operating for over 118 years, Egypt’s Heliopolis Company for Housing and Development is the oldest entry. Founded in 1906, CEO and Managing Director Sameh El Said was appointed to his current position in August 2023. In the first nine months of 2023, the company recorded total assets worth $146.7 million and revenues worth $12.9 million. In contrast, Bahrain’s Infracorp, led by CEO Majed Abdulla Al Khan, is the youngest listee established in 2022. It amassed $26.9 million in net profits and had total assets of $1.6 billion, by the end of September 2023. 

 

Top 10 Most Impactful Real Estate Leaders in The Middle East 2024

 

Mohamed Alabbar

Founder & Managing Director, Emaar Properties 

Country: UAE

Established: 1997

 

Talal Al Dhiyebi

Group CEO, Aldar Properties

Country: UAE

Established: 2005

 

Nadhmi Al-Nasr

CEO, NEOM 

Country: Saudi Arabia

Established: 2019

 

Hesham Al Qassim

CEO, Wasl 

Country: UAE

Established: 2008

 

Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah

CEO, Qatari Diar 

Country: Qatar

Established: 2005

 

Hussain Sajwani

Founder & Chairman, DAMAC Properties

Country: UAE

Established: 2002

 

David Grover

Group CEO, ROSHN Group 

Country: Saudi Arabia

Established: 2020

 

Naaman Atallah 

Group CEO, Nakheel

Country: UAE

Established: 2001

 

Hisham Talaat Moustafa

CEO & Managing Director, Talaat Moustafa Group Holding  

Country: Egypt

Established: 1970

 

PNC Menon

Founder & Chairman, Sobha Realty  

Country: UAE

Established: 1976. --TradeArabia News Service