Saudi Arabia has emerged as the top destination for billionaires in the Arab world, with 15 Saudis featured on the Forbes 2025 World’s Billionaires list. Their collective net worth stands at $55.8 billion, which accounts for 43.4% of all Arab billionaire wealth.
Prince Alwaleed Leads the Arab Billionaires
Topping the list for both Saudi Arabia and the Arab region is Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, whose wealth is estimated at $16.5 billion. Other notable Saudis include Sulaiman Al-Habib (healthcare, $10.9 billion) and business magnates Emad and Essam Al-Muhaidib, worth $3.8 billion and $3.6 billion respectively.
Surge in IPOs Fuels Billionaire Boom
The increase in Saudi billionaires is largely driven by a rise in initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Saudi Exchange post-pandemic. Fourteen new Saudi billionaires have joined the list as a result of these capital market developments, indicating strong investor activity and economic expansion.
Arab Billionaire Numbers and Wealth Climb Sharply
Across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the total number of Arab billionaires has climbed to 38, up significantly from previous years. Their combined net worth now totals $128.4 billion, compared to just $53.7 billion last year.
UAE and Egypt Also Feature Prominent Names
The UAE follows Saudi Arabia with five billionaires, including real estate leader Hussain Sajwani ($10.2 billion) and newcomers Hussain Binghatti Aljbori and Hussain Mohamed Alabbar. Egypt also has five representatives, led by construction mogul Nassef Sawiris with $9.6 billion.
Industries Shaping Arab Wealth
The Arab billionaires come from diverse sectors like real estate, healthcare, automotive, telecom, and investments. Notable names include Abdulla Al-Futtaim (automotive, $4.7 billion) from the UAE and Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani (investments, $3.9 billion) from Qatar.
Global Billionaire Landscape Hits New Records
On a global scale, the total number of billionaires has reached an all-time high of 3,028, with a combined net worth of $16.1 trillion. The United States leads with 902 billionaires, followed by China and India.
Tech Titans Dominate the Global Rich List
Elon Musk remains the world’s richest person with $342 billion, followed by Mark Zuckerberg ($216 billion), Jeff Bezos ($215 billion), Larry Ellison ($192 billion), and Bernard Arnault ($178 billion). These five alone represent over $1.1 trillion in wealth, highlighting the dominance of technology and luxury sectors.
