The United States leads with a record 902 billionaires, followed by China with 516 (including Hong Kong) and India with 205. Forbes calculated net worths using stock prices and exchange rates as of March 7, 2025.
In the Middle East and North Africa region, there are 38 Arab billionaires across nine countries in 2025, with a combined net worth of $128.4 billion. This marks a significant increase from 2024, when 29 MENA-based billionaires held a total wealth of $53.7 billion.
Saudi Arabia returned to the Forbes World’s Billionaires list after a seven-year absence, with 15 Saudi billionaires featured this year. Fourteen of them are new entrants, largely due to stakes in companies listed on the Saudi Exchange, which experienced a surge in IPOs following the COVID-19 period. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud is the richest Saudi and the wealthiest Arab globally, with a net worth of $16.5 billion.
The UAE also welcomed two new entrants: Hussain Binghatti Aljbori, founder and chairman of Dubai-based luxury real estate developer Binghatti Properties, and Hussain Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar, the region’s largest real estate company.
Saudi Arabia leads the Arab world with the highest number of billionaires, totaling 15 individuals worth $55.8 billion. The UAE and Egypt follow, with five billionaires each, holding $24.3 billion and $20.6 billion respectively.
The world’s top 10 richest Arabs in 2025, according to Forbes, are as follows:
- Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud
Net worth: $16.5 billion
Global rank: 128
Age: 70
Country: Saudi Arabia
Source of wealth: Investments
Industry: Finance and investments - Sulaiman Al Habib
Net worth: $10.9 billion
Global rank: 227
Age: 73
Country: Saudi Arabia
Source of wealth: Hospital group
Industry: Healthcare - Hussain Sajwani
Net worth: $10.2 billion
Global rank: 264
Age: 72
Country: United Arab Emirates
Source of wealth: Real estate
Industry: Real estate - Nassef Sawiris
Net worth: $9.6 billion
Global rank: 289
Age: 64
Country: Egypt
Source of wealth: Construction and investments
Industry: Construction and engineering - Naguib Sawiris
Net worth: $5 billion
Global rank: 717
Age: 70
Country: Egypt
Source of wealth: Telecom
Industry: Telecommunications - Abdulla Al Futtaim and family
Net worth: $4.7 billion
Global rank: 767
Age: 85
Country: United Arab Emirates
Source of wealth: Auto dealerships and investments
Industry: Automotive - Abdulla bin Ahmad Al Ghurair and family
Net worth: $4.6 billion
Global rank: 789
Age: 96
Country: United Arab Emirates
Source of wealth: Diversified
Industry: Diversified - Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani
Net worth: $3.9 billion
Global rank: 929
Age: 65
Country: Qatar
Source of wealth: Investments
Industry: Finance and investments - Emad Al Muhaidib
Net worth: $3.8 billion
Global rank: 948
Age: 68
Country: Saudi Arabia
Source of wealth: Diversified
Industry: Diversified - Essam and Sulaiman Al Muhaidib
Net worth: $3.6 billion each
Global rank: 1,015
Ages: 66 and 70
Country: Saudi Arabia
Source of wealth: Diversified
Industry: Diversified
