The Abdul Latif Jameel group, led by Chairman Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, takes the top spot in the Forbes Middle East Top 100 Family Businesses 2026 list.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE dominate the list this year, with 32 and 31 companies, respectively. Qatar follows with 10 entries, including two in the top 10.
The list spotlights the region’s most influential dynasties navigating transformation and innovation while preserving generational wealth.
To compile this ranking, Forbes Middle East evaluated companies that are owned or managed by Arab families. The selection was based on several factors, including the size and value of their assets, business performance, recent activity, company age and legacy, and the breadth of their geographic and sector diversification, Forbes Middle East said.
The GCC continues to dominate the ranking, with GCC-based companies together accounting for 86 entries. The list also captures businesses from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, and Algeria.
The Abdul Latif Jameel Group made headlines in 2025 when it expanded its international mobility business by entering seven new markets: the UK, Australia, Italy, Poland, the UAE, South Africa, and Iraq.
Al-Futtaim comes in second place led by Vice Chairman & CEO Omar Al Futtaim. Notably, Egypt’s Mansour Group remains the only non-GCC-based conglomerate in the top 10.
While many listees were founded before the 1950s, including Oman’s Towell Group (1866), the oldest on this year's list, others are newer entities born of strategic mergers, restructuring, or the consolidation of family investments. Morocco’s O Capital Group and Saudi Arabia’s Al Nahdi Family Office reflect this evolution.
This year’s list reflects not just scale, but momentum. In 2025, Qatar’s Power International Holding secured two infrastructure contracts in Syria worth $11 billion, Egypt’s Hassan Allam Holding reported a record $7.2 billion backlog, and Saudi Arabia’s Zahid Group completed the $1.3 billion privatisation of Barloworld. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Alghanim Industries launched ultra-fast EV charging operator Barq, while the UAE’s AW Rostamani Group introduced the all-electric smart #5 SUV in 2026.
Top 10 Arab family businesses in the Middle East 2026:
1| Abdul Latif Jameel, Country: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore, Established: 1945
2| Al-Futtaim, UAE, Established: 1930
3| Mansour Group, Egypt, Established: 1952
4| DAMAC Group, UAE, Established: 1982
5| Olayan Financing Company (OFC), Saudi Arabia, Established: 1947
6| Al Ghurair, UAE, Established: 1960
7| Power International Holding (PIH), Qatar, Established: 2011
8| Al Faisal Holding, Qatar, Established: 1964
9| Al Ghurair Group, UAE, Established: 1960
10 | SEDCO Holding, Saudi Arabia, Established: 1976
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