< Previous40 Vol. 23/06, June 2022 $1.2bn Shurooq’s investment in the Maryam Island project – a mixed-use development located in downtown Sharjah q Shurooq seeks to show the many faces of Sharjah to residents as well as travellers from around the world by creating authentic experiences that respect the environment and promote sustainability” Facilitating the growth of busi- nesses across sectors, in addition to strengthening Sharjah’s status as a key investment, tourist and trade destination in the region, as the acting CEO of The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Ahmed Al Qaseer plays a key role in Shurooq’s efforts to achieve world-class projects and boost efforts to foster national and foreign investments into Sharjah. He also oversees the operational execution and the management of all multi-sectoral projects under Shurooq’s portfolio, including its tourist and heritage destinations across Sharjah. In 2006, Al Qaseer joined Al Qasba Development Office as the business development manager and later in 2008, was promoted to the role of director of business development. A key member of the team, Al Qaseer helped steer Al Qasba to transform into the well-liked leisure and tourism destination it is today. Underpinned by his highly successful track record with Al Qasba, Al Qaseer was instrumental in the establishment of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in 2009. Later, he assumed the responsibility of managing Shurooq’s properties in addi- tion to its leasing, sales and operations. as well as its operations, sales, and leasing, as the director of property management. He soon was promoted as the chief operating officer of Shurooq, and was made respon- sible for the operational execution of Shurooq’s portfolio of destinations and projects. Shurooq’s latest projects At Arabian Travel Market 2022, five projects by Shurooq were launched, including The Chedi Al Bait boutique extension, The Najd Al Meqsar Village overlooking Khorfakkan. The Lux Al Jabal Resort, a 187,000 m2 project, which will be on the slopes of the Soueifa mountain. Also, the Lux Al Bridi Resort in Al Dhaid, scheduled for a 2023 opening, in addition to the Nomad by Mysk; a collection of 20 fully-equipped trailers which will be located on Al Hamriyah Beach. AHMED AL QASEER Acting CEO SHUROOQ TOURISM AND INVESTMENT MOST INFLUENTIAL ARABS 2022 /arabianbusiness.com 41 PHILANTHROPY An international businessman and global investor, HRH Prince Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud has steered Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) to become one of the world’s foremost value investment firms internationally renowned for its interest in both high performance global brand and strategic regional interests. Based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, KHC was founded in 1980, publicly traded since 2007, and is known for its diversified portfolio of global powerhouse brands and high performance regional investments. A few of its interna- tional investment segments include mobility solutions, digital technology and social media (Lyft, Careem, JD.com, Twitter), media and entertain- ment (NewsCorp, 21st Century Fox, Euro Disney S.C.A., Time Warner), and finance (Citigroup, Saudi Fransi Bank). KHC also has ownership or interests in luxury hotels and hospitality management, including the George V in Paris, the Plaza Hotel in New York and London’s Savoy Hotel. Global hotel brands include the Fairmont Raffles, Movenpick, Swissotel and Accor, while in KSA, real estate interests include the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh and investments in petrochemicals with Tasnee; education, healthcare with Kingdom Hospital, as well as aviation (NAS Saudi Arabia). Alwaleed Philanthropies For over three decades, Alwaleed Philanthropies has worked on support- ing initiatives in four key areas, which includes empowering women and youth; bringing cultures together; providing vital disaster relief; and lastly, developing communities, especially in the education, health, and infra- structure sectors. Known as ‘philanthropy without boundaries’, the group has supported and initiated projects in over 164 countries irrespective of race, religion, or gender. According to its official website, over $4bn has been spent on social welfare, with over 1,004 completed projects, span- ning over 189 countries. $4bn The amount Alwaleed Philanthropies spent in providing social welfare around the world q It is my responsibility to take advantage of my position to make the world a better place” PRINCE ALWALEED BIN TALAL AL SAUD Chairman KINGDOM HOLDING COMPANY (KHC) Founder and chairman ALWALEED PHILANTHROPIES / MOST INFLUENTIAL ARABS 2022MOST INFLUENTIAL ARABS 2022 / 42 Vol. 23/06, June 2022 Dr Ahmed Shalaby, PhD is the president and CEO of Tatweer Misr, a leading real estate devel- opment company is Egypt and a found- ing member of its board of directors, a position he held since mid-2014. Draw- ing on his extensive planning and busi- ness management experience, Shalaby supervises the day-to-day operations of the company, including the business development and the strategic planning for Tatweer Misr’s projects. In addition to his work with Tatweer Misr, Shalaby is also a profes- sor of Architecture and Urban Development at the Department of Architectural Engineering at Cairo University, as well as a former visit- ing assistant professor at the Department of City and Regional Plan- ning at Cornell University, USA. Shalaby also holds several prestigious positions including being co-chair of the Real Estate committee at the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham), vice-chairman of the Real Estate Export Council, and board member at the Egyp- tian-Emirati Business Council. Diverse experience An established engineer in the field of architecture, urban development and a real estate expert in his own right, Shalaby has over 25 years of experience as an architecture consultant and in developing and manag- ing real estate portfolios in Egypt. Prior to the inception of Tatweer Misr, he has held several prom- inent positions; he worked for the Egyptian Ministry of Housing, Util- ities and Urban Communities as a technical advisor to the minister, whilst working with Al Fawares Holding where he was responsible for real estate investments. After that he spent a year working at El Mostakbal for Urban Devel- opment, where he held the position of advisor to the chairman. During his time with El Mostakbal, Shalaby played an integral role in the devel- opment of Mostakbal City; one of the largest mixed-use urban develop- ments in the New Cairo area. AHMED MOHAMED SHALABY President and CEO TATWEER MISR 61 The number of cities Egypt aims to develop as part of the country’s 2052 vision q Since our establishment, we were able to develop successful and pioneering projects as a result of extensive expertise, teamwork, and a network of business partners who enabled us to achieve this reputation” CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATEarabianbusiness.com 43 / MOST INFLUENTIAL ARABS 2022 Considered an international pioneer in the manufacturing of traditional men’s clothes, as well as textiles and readymade clothes in KSA and the Arab Gulf countries, Ajlan bin Abdul Aziz Alajlan has steered the Group on an upward trajectory of growth and expansion. Established originally as a textile business in 1979, a segment where it remains a key player in the Middle East region, Ajlan & Bros is also considered to be one of the biggest investment and commercial groups in the Kingdom. With its main office located in Riyadh, today, it employs over 10,000 people in 10 countries across 70 companies. With 40 years of work spanning across the commercial, industrial and investment fields, Ajlan also holds several positions/memberships including chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federation of GCC Chambers; chairman of the Feder- ation of Saudi Chambers; and the chairman of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He is also a member of the Council of Riyadh Region; member of the Board of Directors of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology; member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Export Development Authority, as well as is a member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi-American Business Council. Others include chairman of Economy and Development Committee in the Council of Riyadh Region; chairman of Dispute Resolution Commission, that arise between Chambers in the Council of Saudi Chambers, in addition to the chairman of the Develop- ment Initiatives Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers. A diversifi ed portfolio In line Vision 2030, Ajlan & Bros Holding Group has embarked on signif- icant diversification both regionally and globally as reflected in the company’s investments in real estate in Saudi Arabia, Europe, Asia, the US, and China. One of the largest real estate owners in Saudi Arabia, Ajlan & Bros has launched several commercial, housing, and industrial projects throughout different cities of the kingdom. 10,000 The number of staff employed by Ajlan & Bros Group in 10 countries across 70 companies q Ajlan & Bros is considered to be one of the biggest investment and commercial groups in the kingdom” AJLAN ALAJLAN Chairman AJLAN & BROS DIVERSIFIED44 Vol. 23/06, June 2022 MOST INFLUENTIAL ARABS 2022 / A key figure in the global aviation industry, Akbar Al Baker’s vision and commitment enabled the transformation of Qatar Airways to trans- form from a small regional carrier into one of the world’s leading airlines in just 20 years. Today, Qatar Airways flies one of the most state-of-the-art fleets serv- ing over 130 destinations across six continents. Al Baker is also CEO of several divisions of Qatar’s national airline, in addition to Qatar Aircraft, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Aviation Services, and ADubai-based lifestyle conglomerate operat- ing in 17 countries and 13 diverse industries, Alain Bejjani has been instrumental in transform- ing the business to be ‘fit-for-purpose’ and sustainably serve the 560m customers visiting its desti- nations annually. Since the start of his tenure as CEO since February 2015, Bejjani has taken the company from strength to strength, increasing its geographic footprint, profits, revenues, and employment. Amplifying its position as the leading private- AKBAR AL BAKER Chairman QATAR AIRWAYS GROUP ALAIN BEJJANI CEO MAJID AL FUTTAIM (MAF) TRANSPORTRETAIL Qatar Executive, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Aircraft Catering Company, Qatar Distribution Company, Qatar Duty Free and Internal Media Services, to name a few. Born in Doha, Al Baker is a graduate in Economics and Commerce and worked at various levels in the Civil Aviation Directo- rate before being made responsible for launching Qatar Airways in 1997. In April 2022, Qatar Airways launched Qverse, a virtual reality experience for visitors to the airline’s website and boasts the first global airline to launch a MetaHuman cabin crew, in the form of a 3D human model named Sama. It was developed using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, the world’s most advanced real- time 3D creation tool, and MetaHuman Creator, a cloud-based app for creating high-fidelity digital humans. Al Baker has a private pilot’s license and is also the chair- man of Qatar Tourism. ly-owned conglomerate across the region, he has firmly positioned MAF for long-term growth and success. With several key achievements under his helm, he launched the MAF School of Analytics & Tech- nology, a platform for lead- ership in understanding, predicting and responding to customer preferences. A trained lawyer, he was also the vice president of Legal and head of Business Development for MAF Properties, which is the company’s largest operating business. With a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Law and a Master’s degree in Civil and Corporate Law from Univer- sité Paris-Est Créteil, Bejjani was selected as co-chair of the World Economic Forum 2020 Stewardship Board for the MENA region. 43,000 The number of staff employed by MAF in the regionarabianbusiness.com 45 Amin H. Nasser leads the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals enterprise, and the largest provider of crude oil to global markets. Also a member of the compa- ny’s board of directors, his career span in Saudi Aramco is across four decades, during which he has held several lead- ership positions. One of these positions includes his role as senior vice president of Upstream in which he steered Saudi Aramco’s largest capital investment program in its integrated oil and gas portfolio. The company under Nasser’s leadership is now building on its upstream leadership position with key investments and joint-venture partnerships in the Kingdom by bolstering its presence in the downstream and chemicals segments of the petroleum value chain. He is also heading Saudi Aramco’s ambitions to create cleaner energy and products through investments in promising technologies, including renewable energy applications, next-generation fuel-engine interfaces, crude oil-to-chem- icals processes and entrepreneurial start-ups aimed at cleaner energy solutions. Nasser is also leading industry-wide efforts to minimise green- house gas emissions, such as the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI). A champion of Saudi youth advancement and development Actively engaged in the advancement of people through education and training, Nasser champions the advancement and development of Saudi youth and is an active supporter of the company’s Young Leader’s Advi- sory Board (YLAB), a program which connects Saudi Aramco leadership with its young professionals. With a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engi- neering from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; in 2020, he received The Chemists’ Club Kavaler Award by ICIS, and was named as Energy Intelligence’s Energy Executive of the Year. He is also a member of the International Advisory Board of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals; the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council (IBC), the Board of Trustees of the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology; the JP Morgan International Council, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Presidential CEO Advisory Board. $2.43 trillion The value of state-owned Saudi Aramco, according to data from Refi nitiv AMIN NASSER President and CEO SAUDI ARAMCO ENERGY / MOST INFLUENTIAL ARABS 2022 q The world is running with less than 2 percent of spare capacity. Before Covid the aviation industry was consuming 2.5 million bpd more than today. If the aviation industry picks up speed, you are going to have a major problem” MOST INFLUENTIAL ARABS 2022 / 46 Vol. 23/06, June 2022 As the VP and GM for emerging markets within Micro Focus, Anas Jwaied oversees a region encompassing over 100 countries across MEA and also, Eastern Europe (CEE), Israel, Russia, CIS and Brazil. With 27 years of key management roles leading diverse teams within the tech- nology sector across four continents, and having held several executive positions at Hewlett Packard and Hewlett Packard enterprise, Jwaied was entrusted during the 2017 spin merger (of HPE and Micro Focus) with the role of managing director for Micro Focus MEA. Just some of Jwaied’s core expertise includes Software and Enter- prise IT business, sales leadership and management, professional service and support, channel and alliances, OEM, General, P&L management, HP leadership roles across Europe, Middle East & Africa, and account management and technical sales. From February 1995 to January 2000, Jwaied was the business manager of the HP Software Network and System Management and later moved to Software Sales and Business manager, MENA, from February 2000 to October 2001. He quickly rose the ranks as he was appointed as regional sales director of HP Software, Middle East in from 2001 to 2007 and then as the VP of Sales Software, MEMA region and vice president of HP Soft- ware, Alliances and Channel Business, EMEA region with a dual role as head of HPE software, Central Eastern Europe and Israel (CEE&I) region, Hewlett Packard enterprise. With over two decades of digital transformation successes with corporate enterprise, commercial, small, and medium business, Jwaied has robust knowledge for go-to-market strategies and in driv- ing long-term sustainable growth plans. With a wealth of strong lead- ership skills and a proven track record of board market and sales expe- rience of delivering and executing highly effective solutions, Jwaied does not manage; rather he coaches sales excellence. ANAS JWAIED VP and GM Emerging Marketing MICRO FOCUS TECHNOLOGY 25+ Anas Jwaied’s years of experience in leadership positions q Anas Jwaied oversees a region encompassing over 100 countries across the Middle East & Africa (MEA), Eastern Europe (CEE), Israel, Russia, CIS and Brazil” arabianbusiness.com 47 / MOST INFLUENTIAL ARABS 2022 President of Henkel in India, Middle East and Africa and the corporate senior vice president of the Laundry & Home Care High Growth Region (Middle East/Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America), Ashraf El Afifi joined Henkel Egypt in 1992 as a brand manager in his home country and worked his way through the ranks on an upward trajectory. At just age 34, he was appointed as the managing director of Henkel Egypt. El Afifi has been with Henkel for 30 years in various roles and countries, including two assignments in the Henkel headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany. In the role of regional president for IMEA since 2010, El Afifi was the first leader from an Emerging Market to be promoted to the top management level within Henkel in 2011. A graduate from the Amer- ican University in Cairo in 1991, El Afifi also attained several certifi- cates from leading international business schools including Harvard Business School and INSEAD. Henkel’s presence in the region In addition to his IMEA role, El Afifi is heading the Henkel Laundry and Home Care businesses in Latin America and Asia Pacific. As part of his combined responsibilities, El Afifi oversees over 25 countries with a large scope of cultural and business diversity. Over the past decade, he has contributed to reinforce the company’s presence in the IMEA region which has grown significantly to reach almost $2bn revenue in 2021. In line with Henkel’s Purpose, in 2019, Henkel partnered with Dubai Municipality’s Children’s City to launch a perma- nent science lab for children in Dubai. As a partner of the cultural program of the German Pavilion at Expo 2020, Dubai Henkel worked towards motivating children to become resilient problem solvers and innovative thinkers. In addi- tion, Henkel has led sustainability initiatives in Egypt, including recycling and clean living in collaboration with the renowned organ- isation, Plastic Bank. ASHRAF EL AFIFI President HENKEL IMEA Corporate senior vice president – Laundry & Home Care – High Growth Region (Middle East/Africa, Asia Pacifi c and Latin America) $21.5bn Henkel’s organic sales in fi scal 2021, according to a company report INDUSTRY q Over the past decade, El Afi fi has contributed to reinforce the company’s presence in the IMEA region which has grown signifi cantly to reach almost $2bn revenue in 2021” MOST INFLUENTIAL ARABS 2022 / 48 Vol. 23/06, June 2022 Executive board member, shareholder and director at AW Rostamani Group, Dr. Amina Al Rostamani is also the COO of the group, over- seeing its HR, IT and strat- egy functions. Also heading the group’s properties divi- sion, she is the CEO of AWR Properties. She is also active across several boards in other sectors, some of which include her roles as non-executive board members at HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, Al Jalila Foundation, Sandooq Al Watan, Dubai Chambers, Dubai Media Council, and Areej Mohsin Haider Darwish embarked upon her career with MHD LLC in 1994, and has had an upwardly steady corporate career trajectory since then. Through metic- ulous planning, sound leadership, determination, and foresight, under Darwish’s leadership, the business has grown to new heights. An inspiration to industry peers, she leads the organisation’s diverse operations in Oman and is a beacon of women empowerment. She credits her leadership skills and success to her father, AMINA AL ROSTAMANI Board member and director AW ROSTAMANI GROUP (AWR) AREEJ DARWISH Chairperson MHD ACERE DIVERSIFIEDDIVERSIFIED Ajman University’s Board of Trustees; in addition to her role as an advisory board member at Tharawat Family Business Forum. With degrees at both the Bachelor and Master levels, as well as a PhD in Engi- neering from George Wash- ington University, Wash- ington DC, Al Rosatamani is a recognised expert on wireless technologies, and her work has been published in several leading journals and publications. A conglomerate of 14 companies across seven distinct sectors, this includes leading multinational brands in travel and consul- tancy, automotive, logistics, retail, real estate, construc- tion, and information tech- nology. This family-owned business was launched in the 1950s in Dubai, and today, AWR Holding have grown to become one of the most progressive and innovative business houses in the region, defined by its core values: excellence, integrity and commitment. Mohsin Haider Darwish and carries his legacy forward by raising MHD Group to greater levels of success. For Darwish, growth is at the top of every agenda and her vision for MHD LLC includes expand- ing their footprint into new sectors by forging new part- nerships and bolstering relations with their busi- ness partners. Currently chairperson of Areej Vege- table Oils & Derivatives SAOC & Duqm United Logistics, she is also a board member of Muscat Univer- sity, Unicef Leadership Circle & Dar Al Atta. Aligned with Oman Vision 2040, for the future, Darwish is exploring possi- bilities of further diversifica- tion and believes in contin- uing the quest for excellence by preparing themselves to keep pace with the fast- paced business environ- ment. MHD LLC has been the recipient of several awards, including Menaa Award for Best Corporate Brand Award in 2019.arabianbusiness.com 49 / MOST INFLUENTIAL ARABS 2022 With considerable expertise in devel- oping and produc- ing branded entertainment, media content, documen- taries and animation, Ayman Jamal’s first full animation film was driven by Jamal’s passion for storytelling and sharing Bilal, which narrates a story about faith, hope and cour- age. Bilal drew enormous applause and gained recog- nition and awards world- wide since its release in 2016 and the film won Best Inspiring Movie on Anima- tion Day at Cannes. His ulti- mate goal is to present real Spearheading the growth of Ooredoo Group, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo is the managing director and CEO of Oore- doo Group since November 2020 and a board member of Ooredoo Group since 2011. Prior to his current role, he served as deputy under-secretary for Budget, Treasury and Financial affairs at the Ministry of Finance. Also a board member at Accor SA since 2015, Fakhroo also served as the co-head of Mergers and Acquisitions at Qatar Invest- ment Authority. With a rich and diverse portfolio of AYMAN JAMAL Founder and producer BARAJOUN ENTERTAINMENT AZIZ FAKHROO Group managing director and CEO OOREDOO MEDIATELECOMS heroes to the world, heroes that history has forgotten in order to inspire all mankind and present a new direction for animation movies appealing for all genera- tions. Under Jamal’s crea- tive ingenuity, Barajoun has developed its own style for lighting and texturing that differentiates it from other studios. Based in Dubai, Bara- joun was created from a juxtaposition of art and innovative technologies with storytelling. As a lead- ing animation and visual effects studio, Barajoun covers an entire spectrum of animation and CGI production, from concept design to final render output. Underpinned by a goal to contribute to the development of the film- making industry in the region, Barajoun is the first animated studio of its kind in the Middle East. Jamal was included as one of the top 10 filmmakers in the Arab world in the May 2016 issue of Variety Magazine. experience, in March 2021, he was appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums as well as a Board member of KATARA Hospitality. Also, Fakhroo was appointed on the Board of Commissioners of Indosat in December 2021. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from ESLSCA University, Egypt, in Busi- ness Administration. An award-winning international communica- tions company operating across the MENA and Southeast Asia, Ooredoo is a Qatari multinational tele- communications company headquartered in Doha, Qatar. Serving consumers and businesses in 10 coun- tries, with a consolidated customer base of over 121 million subscribers, in 2021, Ooredoo Group witnessed noteworthy deals, including a $750m telecommunication tower deal with Edge Point Indo- nesia as well as the $6bn merger with CKK Hutchin- son in Indonesia.Next >