Forbes Middle East has unveiled its 2025 ranking of the region’s Top 101 Travel and Tourism Leaders, spotlighting executives who are steering innovation, growth, and sustainable practices across the sector.
Nine Egyptian figures secured their place on the list, underscoring the country’s renewed prominence in aviation, hospitality, and destination management. Their collective projects—spanning airlines, mega-resorts, and luxury hotels—are helping Egypt maintain its competitive edge as a cornerstone of Middle Eastern tourism.
Among them:
- Hisham Talaat Mostafa, CEO & MD, Talaat Moustafa Group
- Hamed El Chiaty, Founder, Travco Group
- Tarek El Sayed, CEO, Al Rayyan Tourism Investment
- Kamel Abou Ali, Founder, Pickalbatros Hotels & Resorts
- Ahmed Adel, Chairman, EgyptAir Holding Company
- Ahmed Shannan, Chairman, Air Cairo
- Hossam El Shaer, Founder, Sunrise Resorts & Cruises
- Mohamed Amer, CEO, El Gouna
- Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels
According to Forbes, these leaders are not only reshaping Egypt’s tourism offerings but also aligning with global priorities such as sustainability, digital transformation, and heritage preservation.
The Middle East Top 10: Powerhouses Driving Regional Tourism
The ranking reflects a diverse set of leaders managing state-backed projects and private ventures. The top 10 tourism leaders in the Middle East for 2025 include:
- Mohamed Al Mubarak – Chairman, Miral, UAE (Yas Island & Disney partnership)
- Amr Al Madani – CEO, Royal Commission for AlUla, Saudi Arabia
- Jerry Inzerillo – Group CEO, Diriyah Gate Development Authority, Saudi Arabia
- John Pagano – CEO, Red Sea Global, Saudi Arabia
- Hisham Talaat Mostafa – CEO, Talaat Moustafa Group, Egypt
- Hamed El Chiaty – Founder, Travco Group, Egypt
- Paul Griffiths – CEO, Dubai Airports, UAE
- Michael Michaelidis – CEO, Qatar Airways Holidays, Qatar
- Issam Galadari – CEO, Dubai Holding Real Estate (Hospitality arm), UAE
- Haitham Mattar – MD, IHG Hotels & Resorts Middle East, UAE
Their projects range from mega cultural destinations like Diriyah Gate and AlUla, to sustainable luxury resorts along the Red Sea and Abu Dhabi’s groundbreaking Disney World-style theme park on Yas Island, the first in the region and only the seventh globally.
Tourism experts point out that the competition among Gulf countries and Egypt is no longer just about attracting visitors but about defining global travel trends. According to Dr. Reem El Khoury, a tourism development analyst at AUC, “The region’s leaders are blending heritage and modernity, leveraging culture, entertainment, and sustainability as new anchors for tourism growth.”
Egypt’s representation in the top tier also signals resilience after years of headwinds—from global shocks to infrastructure strains. Industry insiders highlight that ongoing aviation upgrades, resort expansions, and eco-tourism initiatives will be pivotal in meeting Egypt’s 20-million visitor milestone in 2025.
