Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed tops Forbes' 100 most powerful travel and tourism leaders for fifth consecutive year
The UAE dominates the list with 56 entries as the region's aviation sector shows signs of recovery; Dubai welcomed 869,000 international visitors in August 2026 alone
Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, topped the list of the region’s most powerful tourism and travel leaders for the fifth consecutive year, according to Forbes Middle East.
This year’s list includes 100 leaders who manage the largest airlines, airports, hotel groups, destinations, and travel services in the Middle East, across both the public and private sectors. The UAE leads the list with 56 entries, followed by Saudi Arabia with 18, and Egypt with 8.
The hotels and resorts sector topped the list with 50 entries, which is equivalent to half of the listed names, followed by the public sector with 14 entries, then the aviation sector with 11, and airports with 7. Sheikh Ahmed retains the first place on the list, followed by Hamad Al Khater, CEO of Qatar Airways Group, and then Aqeel Al Shaibani, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority.
In 2026, the sector faced challenges amid geopolitical tensions that caused disruptions to airspace and travel. The World Travel & Tourism Council projected a 14.5% decline in the region's travel and tourism GDP to $330 billion.
Meanwhile, the region's aviation sector has experienced severe disruptions this year, with demand for Middle Eastern airlines falling 60.8% year-on-year in March and 46.6% in April, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). However, this decline narrowed to 9.5% by July, indicating a gradual recovery in the region's major aviation hubs.
In August 2026, Dubai recorded its best monthly performance since February, welcoming 869,000 international visitors. The emirate's total visitor count for the first eight months of the year reached 6.97 million. During the same period, Qatar received 2.34 million visitors. Oman welcomed 2.15 million international visitors in the first seven months of 2026, showing little year-on-year change.
However, this slowdown coincides with continued investment in tourism infrastructure, aviation, hospitality, and destination development. The World Travel & Tourism Council expects the region to be the world's fastest-growing travel and tourism market until 2036, with an annual growth rate of 6.3%, boosting the sector's GDP to $605 billion.
Among the most notable developments in the sector is Miral’s continued development of the region’s first Disney theme park and resort on Yas Island in the UAE, along with the unveiling this year of new attractions at Warner Bros. World, inspired by the DC and Harry Potter brands.