Forbes Middle East has announced its list of the most influential real estate leaders in the region for 2026, highlighting a strong presence from the United Arab Emirates, which ranked first in terms of the number of leaders included in the classification.

The list featured 47 real estate leaders from the UAE, followed by Saudi Arabia with 21 leaders and Egypt with 17. This reflects the prominent position the UAE has gained in the regional property development sector, as well as the scale of activity led by its companies across existing and new projects.

Forbes Middle East explained that the list was prepared based on data collected over several months, using a set of criteria that included years of experience, the value of completed projects and projects under development, and available financial data for companies, including total assets and revenues. The criteria also included the size of land portfolios and the number of real estate units owned by each company.

Hussain Sajwani, founder and chairman of DAMAC Properties, topped the list for the second consecutive year, as the company continued under his leadership to expand its global partnerships and strengthen its presence across several markets.

Mohamed Alabbar, founder and managing director of Emaar Properties, came in second place, while Talal Al Dhiyebi, group chief executive officer of Aldar, ranked third. This placed the top positions on the list in the hands of leaders of UAE-based real estate companies.

Forbes Middle East noted that the strong presence of UAE real estate leaders reinforces the country’s position as a major hub for the property sector, especially as UAE companies continue to launch large and diverse projects targeting different segments of investors and buyers.

The list also pointed to the growing trend of cooperation between real estate developers and international brands, a direction that can be seen in several recent projects. Among these is the “Mercedes-Benz Places by Binghatti” project, launched by Binghatti Holding under the leadership of Muhammad BinGhatti, who ranked eighth on the list.

The project is valued at around $8 billion and covers an area of more than 10 million square meters, reflecting the growing presence of branded real estate projects in the UAE market.

This year’s Forbes Middle East list also included 11 billionaires, with a combined wealth of $39.4 billion, underscoring the significant economic weight represented by real estate leaders in the region.

The UAE’s lead in this list reflects the continued strength of the country’s real estate market, as well as the role of major companies in supporting growth through quality projects, strategic partnerships, and experienced leadership that helps strengthen the UAE’s position on the global real estate map.