Saudi, UAE nationals, residents nominated for WEF young global leaders programme

One Emirati and three Saudi nationals are among a group of 100 artists, business leaders, public servants and entrepreneurs under the age of 40 invited to join the World Economic Forum’s 2018 class of young global leaders.

Among those nominated are Abu Dhabi Environment Agency secretary general Razan Al Mubarak (pictured), Banque Saudi Fransi managing director and CEO Rayan Fayez and the first woman to chair Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange Sarah Sahimi.

Saudi publication Arab News’ editor-in-chief Faisal Abbas, UAE-based Aster DM Healthcare’s executive director Alisha Moopen and UAE-based Magrabi Optical’s chief development officer Tamer N Makary are other notable inclusions from the Gulf.

They were nominated “because of their creativity and innovation; their ability to build bridges across cultures and between business, government and civil society; and their pioneering work in arts and culture, business, design, energy, health, public policy, sustainability and technology”, the WEF said.

The group are invited to join the organisation’s community under a five-year programme designed to challenge them to make a stronger impact as leaders.

Current members include heads of government, Fortune 500 companies Nobel Prize and Academy Award winners and UN Goodwill Ambassadors.

Over half of the 2018 class are women and the majority are from emerging economies, with two Egyptians, one Jordanian and one Palestinian also making the list.

Middle East and North Africa nominees

• Faisal Abbas (M) is editor-in-chief of Arab News, Saudi Arabia.
• Razan Al Mubarak (F) is secretary general of the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi (EAD), United Arab Emirates.
• Sarah Al-shuhaimi (F) is the first woman to chair Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange and is CEO and member of the Board of NCB Capital, Saudi Arabia.
• Riad Armanious (M) is CEO of Eva Pharma, Egypt. A philanthropist and entrepreneur, he turned his family’s small business into one of the region’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical manufacturers.
• Reem Fadda (F) is an internationally recognised art curator based in the Palestinian Territories.
• Rayan Fayez (M) is managing Director and CEO of Banque Saudi Fransi, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest banks.
• Reem Khouri (F) is founder and CEO of Kaamen, Jordan. She runs a social enterprise that supports organisations in designing their economic and social contracts with society.
• Tamer N Makary (M) is chief development officer at Magrabi Optical, an eyewear chain based in the United Arab Emirates. He is also vice president of the Africa Eye Foundation, an NGO promoting better eyesight, and founder of Ethica Partners, which helps businesses with social impact.
• Alisha Moopen (F) is executive director of Aster DM Healthcare, United Arab Emirates. She oversees 85 clinics and focuses on initiatives for village development, ranging from small children to women’s education. She is also a trustee and active member of the Aster DM Foundation, working with children with congenital heart disease.