Giants from the Middle East transport, retail, construction, logistics and media sectors have made the biggest advances in the Arabian Business Power 100 list.

Adel Ali, founder of Air Arabia stormed into the top 10 this year, while Aramex chief Fadi Ghandour, Omnicom's Elie Khouri, Arabtec's Riad Kamal and retailer Mohammed Alshaya also made significant jumps up the list. Click here to see the full Power 100 2010 list.

The Air Arabia chief was the list's biggest climber, moving from a lowly 87th in 2009 to 8th this year after being credited with bringing low cost air travel to the Gulf region.

He has become the Gulf’s answer to Stelios Haji-Ioannou while Ali's distinctive leadership style is likened to that of fellow carrier supremo Sir Richard Branson.

Leaping 42 places this year to number 28 is Riad Kamal, CEO, Arabtec Holding, the Gulf’s biggest construction and engineering company which is poised for a 70 percent buyout from Abu Dhabi government-owned investment vehicle Aabar.

If the deal goes through, Arabtec will have the financial muscle to expand aggressively throughout the the Middle East and possibly beyond.

Another big mover in the 2010 list is Fadi Ghandour, founder and CEO, Aramex who rises from 27th to 9th.

Jordanian Ghandour has been at the head of Aramex for the past 26 years, while he is also a founding partner in Maktoob.com, the world’s largest Arab online community.

Elie Khouri, CEO, Omnicom Media Group (MENA) has jumped 42 places in our 2010 list compared to last year and is now ranked number 17.

As one of the region’s top media personalities, Khouri is now leading the advertising industry’s move into the digital arena, targeting social networking sites as “where the action will be".

Retail magnate Mohammed Alshaya, executive chairman of Kuwait-based MH Alshaya Co, completes our list of top risers in the 2010 Power 100.

He's up 18 places to 22nd after building an empire of more than 1,700 franchise stores in 16 countries employing 18,000 people from 35 nationalities and is worth around $2bn.

Dubai’s latest shopping mall Mirdif City Center features 29 of his brands. He’s spent $40m on the project and trained 700 people to manage and staff the various stores.

READERS' COMMENTS

Richard Branson?
Posted by JK, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 28 March 2010 at 14:36 UAE time


"...Ali's distinctive leadership style is likened to that of fellow carrier supremo Sir Richard Branson."

While I have great respect for Adel Ali, I am not quite sure his comparison with Branson is a right example. Branson is one of the innovators in the world, while Ali is not or has not yet.

Ali had just introduced the already tested LCC in this market. He hasnt done anything yet to revolutionize the LCC or re-invented the LCC business model.

But yes, Ali is one of the reputable CEOs.

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