MBZ among world’s 100 most influential

Every year Time magazine shares a list of the 100 most influential figures of the year. The annual list is divided into five categories ranging from: Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, Icons and Titans. This isn’t the first time an Arab figure makes it to this prestigious list. To name a few, late Iraqi architect was on the list back in 2010, Tunisian scholar and Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef made the list back in 2013.

This year the list, announced on April 17, includes quite a few influential figures from the Middle East representing the region and the one to have bagged all the headlines here was none other than His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Having been born and raised in Dubai, I have always felt UAE is my home and everyone living here, like me, will take pride in seeing the great leader on this list. And as an Egyptian, what makes me doubly (or triply, should I say) delighted is the inclusion of my fellow countrymen - Liverpool and national football player Mohamed Salah and Oscar winner Rami Malek.

As an expat, we often miss out on many things back home - like cherishing our heritage and sharing prized moments with family but news like these make us feel more connected. Personally, I never felt any less Egyptian ever but to see Mo Salah, as his fans call him, and Rami, up amongst the world’s 100 most influential figures, make me very proud – both as a resident of UAE and an Egyptian.

It was also a great day for Arab women around the world, with two Middle Eastern women on the global power list – Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain Alhathloul and Radhya Al-Mutawakel, Yemeni human rights defender and co-founder and chairperson of Mwatana Organisation For Human Rights. So now you know why I am five times happier than I was last week!