The energy landscape in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is undergoing a dramatic transformation.
As the region grapples with the dual challenges of meeting growing energy demands and transitioning to more sustainable sources away from oil and gas — which has shaped the region’s history and underpinned its prosperity — a new generation of leaders is emerging to guide the way forward.
You can read about the leading US energy executives here, with leaders in the UK and Europe celebrated here.
But this time it’s MEA leaders’ time to shine — with the executives in this top 10 list driving innovation, shaping policy and redefining the future of energy in MEA.
10. Simon Baloyi
Role: President and CEO
Company: Sasol
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
A chemical engineer by training, Simon’s career at Sasol has seen him progress from a bursary student to the firm’s top leadership position. He became CEO in April 2024, bringing with him a vision to strengthen and grow the company while driving its transformation.
His leadership is underpinned by his drive in building a resilient, sustainable business, with his priorities including improving operational stability, maintaining a balanced portfolio between chemicals and fuels and transitioning Sasol towards more sustainable energy sources.
Sasol says: “We believe that his strategic outlook, excellent leadership skills, technical and business acumen and deep experience of our operations will stand him in excellent stead to take over the helm.”
9. Mohammed Nasser Al-Hajri
Role: Managing Director and General Manager
Company: Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC)
Location: Doha, Qatar
Boasting three decades of experience in energy, oil and gas, Mohammed is a prominent and notable leader in this space. Before joining QEWC, he had a long career at Qatar Petroleum, now QatarEnergy, joining in 1991. He has also held leadership roles in other prominent organisations, including Vice Chairman of Industries Qatar and Chairman of Ras Girtas Power Company.
Speaking on Mohammed’s appointment in 2021, Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs and Chairman of Qatar Electricity and Water Company’s Board of Directors, wished him success in “performing his duties”.
8. Dr Mohamed Farouk
Role: CEO
Company: ADES Holding
Location: Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt
Serving as CEO of ADES since joining the company in 2012, Mohamed has played an integral role in leading its expansion into new markets and driving growth in its service offerings. Under his leadership, ADES has become the largest global offshore jack-up rig operator.
Before joining ADES, he held senior positions at Invensys Operations Management, including Senior Vice President for Global Delivery and Operations.
7. Abdullah Al-Sulaiti
Role: CEO
Company: Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat)
Location: Doha, Qatar
Leading Qatar’s premier liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping company, Abdullah joined Qatar Gas Transport Company — also commonly known as Nakilat — in 2011. Under his leadership, Nakilat has grown to operate a fleet of 69 LNG carriers.
His tenure has seen him oversee significant developments, including the delivery of new LNG carriers and strategic partnerships in the LNG-to-power market. Abdullah’s time at Nakilat has been instrumental to solidifying the company’s position as a global leader in LNG transportation.
6. Meirzhan Yussupov
Role: CEO
Company: Kazatomprom
Location: Astana, Kazakhstan
Appointed CEO of Kazatomprom in 2023, Meirzhan leverages his extensive background in economics and public administration and applies his expertise to his role. His career has seen him work across a variety of sectors, including banking, sovereign wealth management and government service. He joined Kazatomprom in 2010 as Corporate Finance and Treasury Director, later becoming Chief Financial Officer in 2015.
Kazatomprom says Meirzhan’s tenure as CEO will lead the company through a new era of growth in the uranium market, leveraging his industry expertise and commercial approach.
5. Khaled bin Salim AlGhamdi
Role: Acting CEO
Company: Saudi Electricity Company (SEC)
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
A self-professed strategic and visionary leader, Khaled has 20 years of diverse and cross-functional experience behind him that has seen him establish impactful strategies and drive agile and sustainable results across the likes of digital transformation, engineering, automation and IT.
Before joining SEC, he worked in positions at Saudi Aramco, leading Corporate Digital Strategy, Investments and Growth. His position as an executive applauded for his extensive experience in the energy sector — particularly with Saudi Aramco — contributed to his selection for the role, which he assumed in 2024.
Khaled’s appointment comes at a crucial time for SEC, as the Kingdom continues to implement its Vision 2030 plan – which includes significant reforms in the energy sector. His experience in digital strategy and process automation aligns well with SEC’s goals to modernise and improve efficiency.
4. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer
Role: Managing Director and CEO
Company: DEWA
Location: Dubai, UAE
In post as Managing Director and CEO of DEWA for more than three decades, Saeed has led the company to become one of the world’s most distinguished utilities. Under his leadership, DEWA has achieved unprecedented success.
Saeed himself has founded several successful companies, including EMPOWER and Etihad ESCO. He holds numerous high-profile positions outside of DEWA too, including Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Member of the Dubai Executive Council.
3. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
Role: Managing Director and Group CEO
Company: ADNOC
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
As well as heading up ADNOC, Sultan has more than 10 years of experience working within the UAE’s federal government, currently serving as its Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. He is also COP28 President, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and Chairman of Masdar.
Sultan plays a pivotal role in the comprehensive development of the UAE’s commitment to addressing global environmental challenges and achieving sustainable development across key industrial sectors. As well as being a leader of UAE’s green economy initiative, in his role as MD and CEO of ADNOC he has initiated a programme of increased efficiencies, strengthening the company’s overall performance and fostering a more commercial mindset.
2. Jasim Husain Thabet
Role: CEO and Managing Director
Company: TAQA
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Jasim has served as TAQA's Group CEO and Managing Director since 2020, bringing more than two decades of energy industry experience with him to the role. Elected to TAQA’s Board in 2019, he previously led ADPower and Tabreed, driving growth and transformation in the UAE’s power and water sectors.
Outside of TAQA, Jasim holds key non-executive positions at Etihad Aviation Group, Abu Dhabi Ports and Masdar, contributing to strategic decisions across various industries.
1. Amin H. Nasser
Role: President and CEO
Company: Saudi Aramco
Location: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
CEO of the world’s largest energy company by revenue, Amin leads Aramco with a four-decade career behind him. Across his working life, he has served in a number of senior leadership positions, including SVP of Upstream. He is also a key leader of education and training across the industry, which benefits the advancement of Aramco’s innovation and technology strategy and the wider energy sector.
Under Amin’s leadership, Aramco is investing in emerging energy solutions for the future and leading efforts to produce cleaner energy and products. This is happening through investments in promising technologies such as next-generation fuel-engine interfaces, crude oil-to-chemicals processes and renewable energy applications to minimise gas emissions.
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) awarded Amin its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, as well as the SPE's Charles F. Rand Memorial Gold Medal awarded for distinguished achievement in mining administration. In 2020, he received The Chemists’ Club Kavaler Award by ICIS and was named as Energy Intelligence’s Energy Executive of the Year.
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