The UAE tops Forbes list of leaders of the most influential real estate companies in 2026

Forbes Middle East announced its list of leaders of the most influential real estate companies in the region for the year 2026, noting that the data was collected over a period of months, based on a set of criteria, including: years of experience, the value of completed projects and those “under implementation,” and the company’s financial statements, including total assets and revenues (if available), in addition to the size of the land portfolio, and the number of real estate units owned by the company.
The Forbes Middle East list included 47 leaders of real estate companies from the Emirates, followed by Saudi Arabia with 21 leaders, then Egypt with 17 leaders. It also included 11 billionaires with a total wealth of $39.4 billion.
According to the list, the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Damac Properties”, Hussain Sajwani, topped the rankings for the second year in a row, as “DAMAC”, under his leadership, continued to expand its global partnerships, followed in second place by the founder and managing director of “Emaar Properties”, Mohammed Al-Abbar, and then the CEO of “Aldar Group”, Talal Al-Dhiyebi, in third place.
Forbes Middle East stated that the leaders of the real estate companies topping its list are from the UAE, which strengthens the country’s position as a leading center for the real estate sector in the region.
Forbes Middle East noted the increasing cooperation of developers with international brands, pointing to the launch of the “Binghatti Holding Company,” led by Mohamed Binghatti, which ranked eighth on the list, the “Mercedes-Benz Places – by Binghatti” project, worth $8 billion, on an area of ​​​​more than 10 million square meters.
Below are the leaders of the most influential real estate companies in the Middle East 2026


1 | Hussein Sajwani
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Damac Properties
Headquarters: UAE
Year of establishment: 2002

2| Muhammad Al-Abbar
Founder and Managing Director, Emaar Properties
Headquarters: UAE
Year of establishment: 1997

3| Talal Al-Dhiyabi
Group CEO, Aldar
Headquarters: UAE
Year of establishment: 2005

4| Hisham Talaat Mostafa
CEO and Managing Director, Talaat Moustafa Holding Group
Headquarters: Egypt
Year of establishment: 1970

5| Hisham Al-Qasim
CEO, Wasl Asset Management Group
Headquarters: UAE
Year of establishment: 2008

6| Khaled Al-Malik
CEO, Dubai Real Estate Holding
Headquarters: UAE
Year of establishment: 2002

7| Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Qatari Diar
Headquarters: Qatar
Year of establishment: 2005

8| Mohammed bin Ghatti
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Binghatti Holding
Headquarters: UAE
Year of establishment: 2008

9| PNC Menon
Founder, Sobha Group
Headquarters: UAE
Year of establishment: 1976

10| Bill O’Regan
Group CEO, Mudon Holding
Headquarters: UAE
Year of establishment: 2005