Cover Story: Arab Power List 2021

The complete list of the top 100 Arab movers and shakers in the latest edition of our annual list

It’s hard to describe the year we have faced. The Covid19 pandemic has shattered economies and livelihoods on one hand and yet, on the other, it has also transformed and revolutionised technologies and ways of living and working. Accordingly, since the 2020 list was published, we have seen huge shifts in the fortunes of several business stalwarts on the Gulf Business Arab Power List. While some leaders have managed to steer their companies to not just survive the tough year, but also emerge successful, others have played a key role in driving philanthropic efforts to support the vulnerable during the crisis. Yet others have innovated to take a leap out of this world – quite literally.

This year’s list also welcomes 28 new entrants, including eight from Qatar. We also lead the list this year commemorating a certain group for the enormous power they have yielded. Receiving the special mention – ahead of number one – are the countless number of frontline heroes who saved and protected lives – sometimes at the cost of their own.

METHODOLOGY

Gulf Business looked at the events of 2020 and judged each individual case on the basis of four criteria: financial capital, human capital, expansion plans and personal fame levels.

In general, Gulf Business has excluded politicians and royalty, unless the contenders have a strong leaning towards business activity. We have included Arabs from across the world.