More than a dozen prominent nationals who head up Qatar’s sports, finance and culture hubs have been ranked in the 100 Most Powerful Arabs 2015 list by Gulf Business.
Seven of the 15 Qataris in the index made it to the top 50, including familiar faces Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary general of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organizing committee (11th); Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways (21st); and Sheikha Al Mayassa Al Thani (29th), chairperson of Qatar Museums.
Al Thani’s mother and chairperson of Qatar Foundation, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, follows close behind at 34th.
To arrive at the list, GB ranked business people of Arab descent according to various spheres of influence, including financial capital, human capital, expansion plans and personal fame levels.
Politicians and royalty were excluded unless they had an “unassailably strong leaning towards corporate activity,” such as Qatar’s Minister of Energy &Â Industry, Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada (27th).
Qatar list
This appears to be the first time so many nationals from Qatar have made it to the list, which has ranked Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed bin Talal as the most powerful Arab in the world for the fourth year running.
Given Saudi Arabia’s size, the index stated that it wasn’t surprising that most of the entrants on the list originate from the kingdom (about 28 percent).
Notably, however, the UAE came second with 25 percent, and Qatar third, at 15 percent.
Here’s the full list of Qataris:
Thoughts?
Congrats to all
How inspiring…
I am glad Sheikha Moza was there!
She has done a lot of good for the country and has helped in education programs throughout the Middle East 🙂
she absolutely is 🙂
That is one dumb list.. What did they do Google each name and count the number of hits?
Where is the CEO of QP.. Editors at Dohanews … Arabic writers in local Arabic papers… Some newspaper cartoonist have greater influence than those listed !!!
They simply listed the names of individuals heading the most powerful entities or most profitable ones in QATAR with no real thought in terms of who really are those influential individuals controlling those power positions ..
Here is my list..
They missed off the guy that runs the karak shop in Doha Jadeed as well….
I don’t think you get it. You started commenting for the sake of it, you took the throne from MIMH.
No I don’t get it.. Please help explaining the list
I am not positive but sometimes these lists are determined primarily by wealth,and then the impact in certain areas.Al Fardan sells Ducati Panigale 1199 Superbikes,so I would place that service way up there.
Editors at Dohanews LOOL!
QF is a charity organization sir!
I do not believe it has anything to do with influence (besides economical)…”Gulf Business”… so yes, there would be something in there that has to do with profit and power in terms of economic growth, diversity, innovation, profit, etc.
If you are speaking about social and political influence then it would be a completely different list.
Interesting to see Mr. Al Thawadi as the most powerful Qatari ahead of other big names (from ruling family or ministerial ranks).
looks like someone pulled this list out of their @$$
I would have thought Hassan Al Thawadi’s boss, the Managing Director for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy might be just a bit more powerful than him.
Mohammed Al Hedfa has not been at Diar for at least two years. Khaled Al Sayed is the Group CEO. Bad google work.
Omar Almana isn’t hands on with the business anymore, his sons are much more influential.
Get your interpretation right Doha News … Saudia has a population of 28m and 28% of the list … Qatar has a population of 2.2 m and 15% … Therefore Qatar is by far proportionately the most represented nation … and even more so if we count indigenous population ratio as there are 20 m Saudis and 300,000 Qataris
Exactly.
Great point
Bassem Youssef on the list at number 78 – Wallah hard to take the list seriously after seeing that!
http://gulfbusiness.com/lists/top-100-powerful-arabs-2015/#.VOorxvmUe7V