Eight of Kuwait’s leading business executives have been named among CNBC Arabia’s Top 100 Business Leaders for 2026, recognizing their leadership, corporate performance, and contributions to shaping the region’s economy and business landscape.
The prestigious list highlights influential chairpersons, founders, and chief executives driving innovation, growth, and long-term value across the Middle East. Kuwait’s representatives were selected based on measurable achievements and leadership performance.
The Kuwaiti leaders featured on the list are:
- Issam Al-Sager, CEO of the National Bank of Kuwait
- Khaled Al-Shamlan, Group CEO of Kuwait Finance House
- Elham Mahfouz, CEO of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait
- Bader Al-Kharafi, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of Zain Group
- Mohammed Al-Osaimi, CEO of Boursa Kuwait
- Barathan Pasupathi, CEO of Jazeera Airways
- Waleed Al-Shuraiaan, CEO of Mabanee
- Hanadi Al-Saleh, Chairperson of Agility
CNBC Arabia based its selection on five key criteria: financial performance, economic impact, innovation, corporate governance, and resilience and sustainability.
The evaluation assessed each leader’s ability to deliver growth, maximize shareholder value, strengthen their industry, promote transparency, and maintain strong performance across different economic cycles.
To qualify, candidates were required to lead a company headquartered in the region, or with significant regional operations, for at least one year, with documented operational and financial performance, whether the company is publicly listed or privately owned.
The 2026 ranking spans 11 major sectors, including banking and investment, energy and utilities, technology and artificial intelligence, real estate, healthcare, retail and consumer goods, logistics and trade, telecommunications and media, manufacturing, aviation and transportation, and financial technology, underscoring the diversity and growing influence of business leadership across the region
