The 10 Most Influential Personalities in The UAE: Blogging, Cosmetics, Real Estate

The Arab Emirates is one of the most dynamically changing countries in the world. But who determines the direction of development of this region, sets trends and changes people's lives? We share the list of the 10 most influential UAE personalities in 2025 according to Arabian Business.

The show is regularly trending on YouTube and has already garnered over 300 million views. The main reason for the popularity of ABtalks is its frankness and openness, which make this format revolutionary for the region.

Anas' portfolio also includes:

Anas is also a notable social activist. He gives motivational speeches and presentations, shares his experiences with young people and inspires others to grow personally.

However, the main factor of Balkis' influence is not her popularity on stage, but her social activities. In 2016, she was appointed UN Goodwill Ambassador for Women's Rights in the Middle East. Since then, she has been promoting gender equality and fighting domestic violence, early marriage and censorship. The #DontCoverItUp campaign she launched has sparked a nationwide debate in the Gulf.

It was through her social activism that Balkis became the first Arab artist whose wax figure was installed in Madame Tussauds in Dubai. She also made history as the first Arab singer to perform on Saudi national television in nearly 40 years.

His visionary reliance on the Airbus A380 transformed transcontinental travel, and his thoughtful route planning turned Dubai into the world's premier air hub. Clarke was a pioneer of innovation. He is credited with introducing luxury suites with sliding doors at Emirates, which later became a standard in the airline industry.

In 2014, Clarke was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to British prosperity and the aviation industry. Sir Timothy is forward thinking and now in his 75th year. He is interested in hydrogen fuel, biometric technologies and the creation of new global hubs.

DAMAC Properties in Dubai is not just a developer - it is a driving force that makes the city one of the world's luxury real estate centers. Sajwani's construction empire has transformed the local landscape and opened up the city to ultra-luxury projects created in partnership with global luxury brands.

Sajwani is also known for his close ties with Donald Trump. In 2017, he opened Trump International Golf Club in Dubai, and in 2025, together with Trump announced plans to invest $ 20 billion in the construction of data centers in the United States.

By 2017, Huda Beauty had become the best-selling brand in Sephora stores in the Middle East and one of the top beauty brands in the world. In 2024, Huda was named one of the Top 100 most influential women in the world.

Huda promotes the themes of inclusivity, mental health, and female entrepreneurship in the community. As of June 2025, she has nearly 57 million followers on her Instagram @hudabeauty.

One of Jafar's strengths is his ability to build systems. In 2010, he co-founded Pearl Initiative with the UN, a project that promotes corporate governance and fights corruption in the Arab world. It is now the region's leading business transparency platform, working with over 40 Fortune 500 partners.

Jafar is involved in environmental initiatives and cultural projects. For example, he organized the annual Dubai Music Week festival and produced the Tomorrow/Bokra charity single.

Under the leadership of Abdullah Al-Futtaim, the company has been growing steadily, especially in the automotive sector. For example, it is the exclusive distributor of Toyota and Lexus in the UAE, and since 2014 it has been investing in the development of electric vehicles.

In addition, Al-Futtaim Real Estate is actively expanding its presence in the real estate sector. The company owns and operates Festival City shopping centers in Dubai, Doha and Cairo.

Abdullah Al-Futtaim is a humble but highly influential business leader. His group's ongoing partnerships with global brands and focus on sustainability provide stability in a rapidly evolving regional market.

Vayalil's influence extends beyond healthcare institutions. For instance, he was instrumental in the recent agreement with Abu Dhabi Airports. Zayed International Airport now offers premium healthcare services around the clock, confirming that the UAE is a leader in medical tourism.

In addition to business, Vayalil is involved in philanthropy and supports global health initiatives by investing in medical research and emerging markets.

Also he promoted the introduction of new technologies: ATМs, plastic cards and POS terminals were introduced in the region. He later pushed for the introduction of advanced AI-based banking infrastructure.

Al Ghurair's influence is not limited to finance, however. As chairman of Dubai Chambers, he promoted governance reform and global trade partnerships, and through his philanthropic foundation, he has donated more than $1.1 billion to scholarships and educational programs. This donation was one of the largest in the Arab world.

Today, Emaar Properties is a $15 billion empire with projects in more than 12 countries. Its shopping centers attract more than 130 million visitors annually.

In addition, Alabbar launched e-commerce platform Noon.com in 2017, the region's first serious answer to Amazon. Today, the service is worth more than $ 2 billion, operates in 3 countries and covers several industries: from food delivery to fintech.