The region’s business landscape is being reshaped by a new kind of influence, one driven not only by boardroom decisions, market performance or company scale, but by the ability to build communities, spark conversations and move audiences at speed. In an era where social reach can amplify strategic vision, the region’s most dynamic founders, executives and creators now operate at the intersection of business leadership and digital impact.
In this special feature, Gulf Business spotlights a selection of the UAE’s most recognisable business voices, individuals who command sizeable followings, shape public perception and increasingly drive regional dialogue across sectors such as beauty, real estate, technology, retail, aviation and lifestyle. These picks, referred below as Social Icons, have been ordered from biggest to smallest social media following, providing readers with a clear sense of the scale and reach each leader brings to the conversation.
Alongside these editorial picks, you will also find a series of extended full page profiles highlighting other key business personalities, referred below as Boardroom Icons, contributing to the evolution of the region’s economy. Together, they present a holistic view of influence in 2025, part entrepreneurial grit, part digital visibility and part strategic leadership.
This is not simply a list of who is popular. It is a look at who is shaping conversations, inspiring the next generation and driving the Gulf’s business narrative forward.
Boardroom Icons
Adel Mardini
Visionary leader in global luxury aviation and hospitality
Hussam Baghdadi
COO, Arabian Automobiles, operating under AW Rostamani Group
Zaid S Al Khayyat
MD and board member, Al Khayyat Investments (AKI)
Ankur Aggarwal
Chairman and founder, BNW Developments
Alexander Lozben
IT entrepreneur and founder, INTERHASH
Capt (Dr) Pradeep Singh
Founder and chairman, Aethon Group and Karma Developers
Vivek Anand Oberoi
MD and co-founder, BNW Developments
Feliks Vartanov
Entrepreneur and investor
Kabir Mulchandani
Chairman and chief executive, Five Holdings
Rishi Kishor Gupta
Regional director, Middle East and Africa, Nothing
Harshvardhan Singh
Head of strategic partnerships and PR, automotive division of AA Al Moosa Enterprises
Social Icons
Huda Kattan
Founder, Huda Beauty (57.5 million followers on Instagram)
Khalid Al Ameri
Emirati storyteller and entrepreneur (8.5 million followers on Facebook)
Karen Wazen
Entrepreneur and fashion personality (8 million followers on Instagram)
Hatem Dowidar
Group CEO, e& (363k followers on LinkedIn)
Zeina Khoury
President and chief growth officer, Zed Capital Real Estate (1.3 million followers on Instagram)
Fahed Ghanim
CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle (80k followers on LinkedIn)
Mohamed Alabbar
Founder, Emaar Properties (437k followers on Instagram)
Hussain Sajwani
Founder and chairman, DAMAC Properties (178k followers on Instagram)
Paul Griffiths
CEO, Dubai Airports (102k followers on LinkedIn)
Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi
Group CEO, Miral (42k followers on Instagram)
Issam Kazim
CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (36.8k followers of LinkedIn)
Karim Gharbi
Musician and tech entrepreneur (1.5 million followers on Instagram)
Dariush Soudi
Investor, author and speaker (3 million followers on Instagram)
Dr Bu Abdullah (Yaqoub Mousa)
Chairman, Bu Abdullah Group (50.7k followers on Instagram)
