Abisola SalahuArab billionaires represent a significant concentration of wealth, with fortunes built across real estate, healthcare, telecom, investments, and diversified conglomerates. Based on the Forbes Middle East ranking of the World’s Richest Arabs, the combined wealth of Arab billionaires surpassed $137.3 billion for the first time—a 7% increase from 2025.
The number of billionaires fell from 39 to 36, meaning the ultra-rich are getting richer as wealth concentrates among fewer individuals. Saudi Arabia remains the most represented country with 11 billionaires holding a combined $49 billion. This list identifies the ten richest Arabs in the world.
TOP 10 RICHEST ARABS IN THE WORLD
1. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud – $19.9 Billion
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud remains the richest Arab in the world for the second consecutive year. His wealth surged from $16.5 billion in 2025 to $19.9 billion in 2026. A significant portion of this growth is attributed to his investment in SpaceX, which along with platforms X (formerly Twitter), xAI, and Starlink, has grown to a combined value of $9.2 billion.
He also holds major stakes in Four Seasons Hotels, Rotana, and Snap Inc. through his investment firm Kingdom Holding. The Saudi prince is known for his high-profile investments and philanthropy, having pledged to donate his entire fortune to charitable causes. His business empire spans hospitality, media, technology, and financial services.
2. Hussain Sajwani – $15.3 Billion
Hussain Sajwani ranks as the second-richest Arab in the world, with a fortune of $15.3 billion. He is the founder and chairman of DAMAC Properties, one of the Middle East’s largest luxury real estate developers.
Sajwani founded the company in 2002 and built it into a major player in Dubai’s property market, developing thousands of residential units, commercial spaces, and luxury hotels. His business interests extend beyond real estate to include hospitality, retail, and capital markets.
The Emirati billionaire is also known for his philanthropic work and his close ties to political and business leaders across the region. His son, Abbas Sajwani, is the youngest Arab billionaire at 26 with a net worth of $1.9 billion.
3. Sulaiman Al Habib – $10.2 Billion
Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib ranks third with a fortune of $10.2 billion, built through his healthcare empire. He is the founder of the Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, one of the largest private healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region. The group operates hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies across the Middle East, providing comprehensive medical services.
Al Habib, a physician by training, transformed his medical practice into a publicly traded healthcare giant. His wealth has grown significantly as the demand for private healthcare in the region continues to rise. He remains actively involved in the strategic direction of the group.
4. Nassef Sawiris – $9.6 Billion
Nassef Sawiris ranks fourth among the richest Arabs with a fortune of $9.6 billion. He is a member of Egypt’s prominent Sawiris family, which has built a diversified business empire spanning construction, telecom, and investments. Nassef Sawiris is the CEO of OCI N.V., a global producer of nitrogen fertilizers and industrial chemicals.
He also holds significant stakes in Adidas, the German sportswear giant, and is the chairman of Aston Villa Football Club in the English Premier League. His business acumen and strategic investments have made him one of the most influential Egyptian businessmen on the global stage.
5. Naguib Sawiris – $5.6 Billion
Naguib Sawiris, brother of Nassef, ranks fifth with a fortune of $5.6 billion. He is a telecom magnate who built his fortune through Orascom Telecom, which he grew into one of the largest mobile network operators in the Middle East and North Africa. After selling Orascom to VimpelCom in 2011, he diversified into mining, construction, and media.
He is the executive chairman of Orascom Investment Holding and has interests in gold mining through La Mancha Resources. Naguib Sawiris is also known for his political activism and his high-profile business dealings across the region.
6. Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani – $5.2 Billion
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, former Prime Minister of Qatar, ranks sixth with a fortune of $5.2 billion. He served as Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister from 2007 to 2013 and played a key role in shaping the country’s foreign policy and economic development.
His wealth is derived from diversified investments through his family office and his holdings in various Qatari and international businesses. He remains an influential figure in regional politics and business, with interests spanning real estate, financial services, and hospitality.
7. Abdulla Al Futtaim & family – $4.8 Billion
Abdulla Al Futtaim and his family rank seventh with a combined fortune of $4.8 billion. They control the Al-Futtaim Group, one of the largest privately held family businesses in the Middle East. The conglomerate was founded in the 1930s as a trading company and has grown into a diversified empire spanning automotive distribution (including Toyota and Honda), retail (IKEA and Marks & Spencer), real estate, and financial services.
The group operates in more than 20 countries across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The Al-Futtaim family is one of the most prominent and respected business families in the UAE.
8. Abdulla bin Ahmad Al Ghurair & family – $4.5 Billion
Abdulla bin Ahmad Al Ghurair and his family rank eighth with a fortune of $4.5 billion. He is the founder of Mashreq Bank, one of the oldest and largest private banks in the UAE. The Al Ghurair family’s business interests span banking, real estate, construction, and retail through the Al Ghurair Group.
The family has a long history of philanthropy, with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education supporting thousands of Arab students in pursuing higher education. Their business empire has been a cornerstone of Dubai’s economic development for decades.
9. Mohamed Mansour & family – $4.0 Billion
Mohamed Mansour and his family rank ninth with a fortune of $4.0 billion. He is a prominent Egyptian businessman and politician who served as Egypt’s Minister of Transport from 2006 to 2009. The Mansour family controls the Mansour Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in automotive distribution (General Motors), retail, and financial services.
The group is one of the largest private companies in Egypt and operates across the Middle East and Africa. Mohamed Mansour is also known for his philanthropic work and his involvement in international business organizations.
10. Najib Mikati – $3.8 Billion
Najib Mikati ranks tenth with a fortune of $3.8 billion. He is a Lebanese billionaire who has served as Prime Minister of Lebanon multiple times. His wealth is primarily derived from Investcom, a telecom company he co-founded with his brother Taha Mikati, which was sold to South Africa’s MTN Group in 2006 for $5.5 billion.
Through their investment vehicle M1 Group, the Mikati brothers hold interests in telecom, real estate, and aviation, including a stake in Beirut’s landmark Four Seasons Hotel. Najib Mikati remains an influential figure in Lebanese politics and business.
COMPARISON TABLE
| Rank | Name | Country | Net Worth | Source of Wealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud | Saudi Arabia | $19.9B | Investments (Kingdom Holding) |
| 2 | Hussain Sajwani | UAE | $15.3B | Real Estate (DAMAC Properties) |
| 3 | Sulaiman Al Habib | Saudi Arabia | $10.2B | Healthcare (Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group) |
| 4 | Nassef Sawiris | Egypt | $9.6B | Investments, Construction |
| 5 | Naguib Sawiris | Egypt | $5.6B | Telecom, Investments |
| 6 | Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani | Qatar | $5.2B | Diversified Investments |
| 7 | Abdulla Al Futtaim & family | UAE | $4.8B | Automotive, Retail (Al‑Futtaim Group) |
| 8 | Abdulla bin Ahmad Al Ghurair & family | UAE | $4.5B | Banking (Mashreq Bank) |
| 9 | Mohamed Mansour & family | Egypt | $4.0B | Diversified Investments |
| 10 | Najib Mikati | Lebanon | $3.8B | Telecom |
KEY INSIGHTS
Record Combined Wealth: For the first time, the combined wealth of Arab billionaires surpassed $137.3 billion, a 7% increase from 2025.
Fewer Billionaires, More Wealth: The total number of Arab billionaires fell to 36 (from 39 in 2025), yet their collective wealth grew, meaning the ultra-rich are getting richer.
Saudi Arabia Dominates: Saudi Arabia remains the most represented country, with 11 billionaires holding a combined $49 billion.
The Youngest Billionaire: Abbas Sajwani (son of Hussain Sajwani), at just 26 years old, is the youngest Arab billionaire, with a net worth of $1.9 billion from his own real estate venture, AHS Properties.
CONCLUSION
The richest Arabs in the world represent a diverse group of individuals whose fortunes span real estate, healthcare, telecom, and diversified investments. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud leads the list for the second consecutive year, his wealth boosted by strategic investments in SpaceX and other technology ventures.
Hussain Sajwani and Sulaiman Al Habib represent the new generation of self-made billionaires in the Gulf, building fortunes in real estate and healthcare respectively.
The Sawiris brothers of Egypt demonstrate the enduring power of family business dynasties, while the Al Futtaim and Al Ghurair families of the UAE represent the old guard of Gulf merchant families. With combined Arab billionaire wealth surpassing $137 billion for the first time, these individuals will continue to shape the economic landscape of the Middle East and beyond.