Forbes Middle East has released its 2025 ranking of the most powerful travel and tourism leaders in the region, spotlighting 101 influential figures driving growth, innovation, and sustainability across both public and private sectors.
Among the notable inclusions are nine Egyptian leaders, recognized for their executive leadership in aviation, hospitality, resort development, and destination management. These leaders oversee high-impact projects that continue to position Egypt as a pivotal player in regional tourism:
Hisham Talaat Mostafa, CEO and Managing Director, Talaat Moustafa Group
Hamed El Chiaty, Founder, Travco Group
Tarek El Sayed, CEO, Al Rayyan Tourism Investment
Kamel Abou Ali, Founder, Pickalbatros Hotels & Resorts
Ahmed Adel, Chairman, EgyptAir Holding Company
Ahmed Shannan, Chairman, Air Cairo
Hossam El Shaer, Founder, Sunrise Resorts & Cruises
Mohamed Amer, CEO, El Gouna
Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels
The list is more than just a ranking—it offers a comprehensive snapshot of the travel and tourism ecosystem in the Middle East, covering leadership across key sectors such as airlines, airports, luxury hospitality, cultural destinations, and travel services. It includes executives from both government-backed initiatives and private enterprises that are redefining the future of regional tourism.
One standout example featured in the report is the Miral–Disney partnership to develop a Disney World-style resort on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi—the first of its kind in the Middle East and only the seventh Disney-branded resort globally. Forbes also highlighted projects that focus on heritage preservation and eco-tourism, such as Diriyah Gate, Boutique Group, the Royal Commission for AlUla, and Envie Lodges.
Leading the 2025 list is Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, followed by Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, and Badr Al Meer, CEO of Qatar Airways Group.
In terms of national representation, the United Arab Emirates leads with 49 executives based in the country, followed by Saudi Arabia with 24, Egypt with 9, Oman with 5, Jordan and Morocco with 4 each, Qatar and Bahrain with 3 each, and Kuwait and Tunisia with one representative each—namely Kuwait Airways and the Tunisian National Tourism Office.
Forbes evaluated candidates based on several weighted criteria, including company size and performance (such as hotel rooms, visitors, revenues, and fleet size), geographic footprint, ongoing expansion, executive role and influence, asset ownership, and landmark achievements in 2024 and 2025.
Egypt’s strong presence on the list not only highlights the leadership of its executives but also reflects the country's ongoing efforts to modernize its tourism infrastructure, diversify its offerings, and attract international investment in the sector.
Source: MENA
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