THE INAUGURAL LIST · 2026

The 50

Fifty outstanding Arabs recognised across ten fields of achievement. The inaugural digital edition of The Arab Awards.

This inaugural list begins with fifty honourees. The 2026 panel decision in December will expand the list to one hundred.

Business & Enterprise

I · 01–05

Carlos Slim Helú

Chairman · Grupo Carso

Mexican-Lebanese telecom magnate. Among the world's wealthiest individuals.

Naguib Sawiris

Chairman · Orascom

Egyptian billionaire. One of Africa's most prominent business voices.

Mohamed Alabbar

Founder · Emaar Properties

Emirati developer behind Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall.

Lubna Olayan

Olayan Financing Company

Saudi business leader. Among the most influential Arab businesswomen.

Mohamed Mansour

Chairman · Mansour Group

Egyptian-British billionaire. Diversified industrial group spanning automotive, retail, and finance.

Film & Television

II · 06–10

Rami Malek

Actor

Egyptian-American actor. Oscar winner for Bohemian Rhapsody. Star of Mr. Robot.

Nadine Labaki

Filmmaker

Lebanese filmmaker. Oscar-nominated for Capernaum. Cannes Jury Prize winner.

Mohamed Diab

Director

Egyptian filmmaker. Directed Moon Knight for Marvel/Disney+ and the acclaimed Clash.

Hend Sabri

Actress

Tunisian-Egyptian actress. UN World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador.

Mona Zaki

Actress

Egyptian actress. One of the highest-profile leading ladies of contemporary Arab cinema.

Music

III · 11–15

Fairuz

Vocalist · Cultural Icon

Lebanese vocalist. The most iconic living Arab voice.

Amr Diab

Vocalist

Egyptian superstar. Father of Mediterranean Music. Multiple World Music Award winner.

Elissa

Vocalist

Lebanese pop superstar. One of the best-selling Arab artists of all time.

Mohammed Assaf

Vocalist

Palestinian singer. Arab Idol winner. UN Goodwill Ambassador.

Hussain Al Jassmi

Vocalist

Emirati vocalist. One of the most awarded Arab singers. Cross-Gulf appeal.

Arts & Literature

IV · 16–20

Hisham Matar

Novelist

Libyan-British novelist. Pulitzer Prize winner for The Return.

Ahdaf Soueif

Author · Commentator

Egyptian author. The Map of Love, Booker shortlisted.

Mona Hatoum

Artist

Lebanese-Palestinian artist. Turner Prize finalist. Works in Tate, MoMA collections.

Wael Shawky

Artist

Egyptian artist. Major retrospectives at MoMA PS1, Serpentine, Sharjah Biennial.

Mohja Kahf

Poet · Novelist

Syrian-American poet. The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf.

Sport

V · 21–25

Mohamed Salah

Footballer

Egyptian footballer. Liverpool FC striker. African Footballer of the Year multiple times.

Achraf Hakimi

Footballer

Moroccan footballer. Paris Saint-Germain. Captained Morocco to FIFA World Cup semi-final 2022.

Riyad Mahrez

Footballer

Algerian footballer. Premier League and Champions League winner.

Hicham El Guerrouj

Athletics

Moroccan. Olympic double gold medallist. 1500m and mile world record holder.

Sofyan Amrabat

Footballer

Moroccan midfielder. World Cup 2022 standout. Key in Morocco's historic semi-final run.

Science & Technology

VI · 26–30

Farouk El-Baz

Space Science

Egyptian-American space scientist. Helped plan Apollo missions for NASA.

Mostafa El-Sayed

Chemist

Egyptian-American chemist. National Medal of Science laureate. Pioneer in nanotechnology.

Rana el Kaliouby

Computer Scientist · AI

Egyptian-American computer scientist. Co-founder of Affectiva. Deputy CEO at Smart Eye.

Hayat Sindi

Medical Scientist

Saudi medical scientist. First Saudi woman accepted to Cambridge. UN Goodwill Ambassador.

Ahmed Zewail In Memoriam

Nobel Laureate · Chemistry

Egyptian-American chemist. Nobel laureate 1999 for femtochemistry. Honoured posthumously.

Medicine & Health

VII · 31–35

Sir Magdi Yacoub

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Egyptian-British heart surgeon. Pioneer of heart and lung transplantation. Knighted for services to medicine.

Hany El Banna

Physician · Humanitarian

Egyptian-British physician. Founder of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Mona Hanna-Attisha

Paediatrician

Iraqi-American paediatrician. Whistleblower on the Flint water crisis. Time 100 honoree.

To Be Announced

Medicine · TBA

Fourth honouree to be announced with the full list in December 2026.

To Be Announced

Medicine · TBA

Fifth honouree to be announced with the full list in December 2026.

Public Service & Politics

VIII · 36–40

HM Queen Rania

Queen of Jordan

Palestinian-Jordanian Queen. Global humanitarian and education advocate.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

Ruler of Dubai · VP of UAE

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. Ruler of Dubai.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit

Secretary-General · Arab League

Egyptian diplomat. Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.

Mohamed ElBaradei

Nobel Peace Laureate 2005

Egyptian diplomat. Nobel Peace laureate 2005. Former Director General of the IAEA.

Hala Zayed

Former Health Minister · Egypt

Egyptian former Health Minister. Led Egypt's Covid response.

Activism & Human Rights

IX · 41–45

Tawakkol Karman

Nobel Peace Laureate 2011

Yemeni journalist and activist. Nobel Peace Prize 2011. "Mother of the Revolution."

Loujain al-Hathloul

Women's Rights Activist

Saudi women's rights activist. Time 100 honoree.

Bahey eldin Hassan

Human Rights Advocate

Egyptian human rights advocate. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies founder.

Khaled Abou El Fadl

Legal Scholar

Egyptian-American legal scholar. Voice on Islamic law and human rights.

Razan al-Najjar In Memoriam

Paramedic · Humanitarian

Palestinian paramedic. Honoured posthumously for her service.

Young Achiever · Under 35

X · 46–50

Reserved for Arabs aged thirty-five and under. Panel decision December 2026.