Revealed: Top 34 GCC banking CEOs 2024

What does it take to become a true trailblazer in the banking sector? Amid a banking boom driven by economic diversification, population growth, technological advancements, supportive regulatory environments and a thirst for innovation, the GCC has emerged as a key player in global finance. According to the latest S&P Global report, GCC banks are set to maintain strong performance throughout 2024, barring any unforeseen shocks.

In this dynamic environment, we identified the leaders driving the sector forward—those committed to the region’s economic success and championing sustainability, diversity and technological innovation.

From industry veterans to new disruptors, Finance Middle East presents the inaugural 2024 Top GCC Banking CEOs. These leaders are shaping the future of the Middle East’s banking sector with talent, experience, knowledge and vision. Being a top CEO isn’t just about growing a business—it’s about embracing change and leading employees, investors, shareholders and customers on a journey toward the future.

Methodology

To compile the 2024 Top GCC Banking CEOs list, the Finance Middle East editorial team gathered data through questionnaires sent to key banking leaders and publicly available sources.

CEOs were assessed based on the following criteria:

• Their impact on the region, their country and the markets they serve
• Overall experience and tenure in their current role
• Company size in terms of revenues, assets and market capitalisation
• Achievements and performance over the past year
• Innovations and strategic initiatives led by the CEO

This rigorous approach ensures that the list accurately represents the most influential and dynamic leaders shaping the GCC banking sector.

Abdulaziz Al-Onaizan	Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Helaissi	Abdulbasit Al Shaibei	Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa	Abdullah Ali Al Khalifa	Abdulrahman bin Fahad Al-Thani
Abdulwahab Iesa Alrushood	Dr Adnan Chilwan	Ahmed Abdelaal	Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi	Ala’a Eraiqat	Bader Alsalloom
Bassel Gamal	Dr Bernd van Linder	Elham Yousry Mahfouz	Fahad Al Khalifa	Hana Al Rostamani	Isam Jasem Al-Sager
Jayesh Patel	Mohammed Abdelbary	Mustafa Al Khalfawi	Nadir Al–Koraya	Naif Al AbdulKareem	Obaid Alrasheed
Raheel Ahmed	Rola Abu Manneh	Sael Al Waary	Shamsa Al-Falasi	Shayne Nelson	Sheikh Waleed Khamis Al Hashar
Tareq Abdulrahman Al Sadhan	Tony Cripps	Waleed Abdullah Al-Mogbel	Waleed Mandani

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Al-Onaizan has been the head of Bank Albilad since 2016. He has also held positions at Alinma Investing Company, Arab National Bank and SAMBA Financial Group. Al-Onaizan is a member of the Board and Executive committee of the Albilad Investing Company and serves as Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Bayan Credit Bureau and Enjaz Payment Services Company. He also sits on the Board of Buna as Saudi Arabia’s representative. In the first half of 2024, Bank Albilad reported a net profit of SAR 1.31 billion ($348.97 million), an increase of 15% from SAR 1.14 billion ($303.68 million) in the same period a year prior.

Al-Onaizan has headed Bank Albilad for eight years.

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Al-Helaissi has been the Group CEO of Gulf International Bank (GIB) since February 2016. Before joining GIB, he served as Deputy Governor for Supervision at the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), where he oversaw regulations and supervision of the banking, insurance, and financing sectors. Al-Helaissi also held roles in international bodies such as the Bank of International Settlements and the Financial Stability Board. With over 23 years of experience, he has held senior roles at JP Morgan Chase, Saudi British Bank, Arab National Bank, and Saudi Hollandi Bank. He has also served on major corporate boards, including the Tadawul Stock Exchange.

Al-Helaissi currently serves as a Board Member of the King Fahd Causeway Authority

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Al Shaibei became the CEO and Board Director of Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) in 2000. He has worked at the Qatar Central Bank, being the bank’s Head of Investment, Trading & Foreign Exchange Division between 1990 and 1994. Al Shaibei also held roles at the Banking Control Department between 1987 and 1990 and is currently a Board Director of EZDAN Holding Group, Medicare Group, International Chamber of Commerce and the American University of Sharjah. In H1 2024, QIIB posted a net profit of QAR 655 million ($179.89 million) with a growth rate of 6.5% compared to the same period of 2023.

Al Shaibei became QIIB’s CEO in 2000

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Al Khalifa has been at the QNB Group since 1996. The biggest GCC lender by assets, QNB Group reported a 7% increase in H1 2024 net profit to QAR 8.2 billion ($2.2 billion), driven by a surge in operating income and total assets, which reached QAR 20.1 billion ($5.5 billion) and QAR 1.3 trillion ($357.45 billion), respectively. In April 2024, QNB introduced FAWRAN, a payment solution designed to enhance customer payment experiences through innovative technology. Al Khalifa is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of QNB Capital and QNB Suisse. In addition, he is a Board Member of Ooredoo, Qatar Airways and the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE).

Al Khalifa has been at QNB since 1996.

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Al Khalifa joined Alinma Bank in January 2021, leading the lender over the course of the post-pandemic period. Al Khalifa previously held leadership roles in the Saudi Banking industry at SAMBA Financial Group, Al-Rajhi Bank, Arab National Bank and Banque Saudi Fransi.  In the first quarter of 2024, Alinma Bank reported a net profit of $350.6 million, marking a 35.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Earlier this year, the lender acquired over 4.59 million shares of the Arabian Shield Cooperative Insurance Co., representing 5.75% of the insurance company’s capital, valued at $21.6 million, in a move to diversify the bank’s portfolio.

Al Khalifa led the bank to reach $350 million in Q1 2024 net profit

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Abdulrahman bin Fahad Al-Thani

Group CEO

Doha Bank

Al-Thani has over 15 years of experience in the Qatari banking sector, with expertise spanning retail, corporate banking, international and governmental relations. He has held senior roles at Dukhan Bank and Qatar International Islamic Bank. As CEO of Doha Bank, he led the bank to $118.8 million in net profits and $29.1 billion in assets in the first half of 2024. He also launched a new mobile banking app, processing 89% of transactions. Doha Bank said its net profit for the first half of 2024 rose 10.3% year-on-year to QAR 432 million ($118.5 million) on higher loans and advances.

Al Thani launched Doha Bank’s app in May 2024, now handling 89% of transactions

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Alrushood has led KFH as Acting Group CEO since October 2020. He joined the financial institution in 2002 and became Group Chief of the Treasury and Financial Institutions in 2015. Alrushood was responsible for overseeing the completion of the acquisition of Bahrain’s Ahli United Bank, to create the world’s second-largest Islamic bank. Completed in 2022, the $11.6 billion deal was four years in the making and was considered among the world’s biggest bank mergers of the year. In 2023, KFH achieved a record net profit of KWD 584.5 million ($1.9 billion), an increase of 63.4 % compared to 2022 and the highest ever recorded in the Kuwaiti banking sector.

Alrushood leads the world’s second-largest Islamic bank

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Dr Chilwan is the Group CEO of the world’s first Sharia-compliant bank and the largest Islamic bank in the UAE. With nearly three decades of experience in conventional and Islamic banking, he leads an organisation with assets exceeding $80 billion, a market capitalisation of over $10 billion, and a workforce of more than 10,000 employees. Under his leadership, the bank has expanded globally, reinforcing its position in Islamic finance. Dr Chilwan also serves on various boards, including as President Commissioner at PT Bank Panin Dubai Syariah and Chairman of DIB Bank Kenya Ltd.

Dr Chilwan has played a key role in the transformation of DIB

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Abdelaal joined Mashreq from another major bank in November 2017, as Group Head of Corporate and Investment Banking. Two years later, he was promoted to Group CEO. Under his leadership, the bank has risen from being the sixth most profitable bank in the UAE in 2019, with a reported AED 11 billion ($2.99 billion) in net profits, to the third position, achieving AED 30.5 billion ($8.3 billion) in 2023 net profits. Abdelaal has overseen the expansion of Mashreq NEO into a family of sub-brands, including Mashreq NEOBIZ, NEOPAY, NEONXT, NEO Groups, and NEO CORP, as well as introduced Mashreq NEO into new markets, including Egypt and Pakistan, with further expansions planned.

Under his leadership, Mashreq has become the third most profitable bank in the UAE

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Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi

CEO

Emirates Development Bank (EDB)

Al Naqbi is a prominent figure in the UAE’s banking and finance industry, serving as the CEO of Emirates Development Bank (EDB), the nation’s only development bank. EDB plays a pivotal role in driving economic diversification and industrial growth across the UAE. The bank is focused on supporting businesses in five national priority sectors: renewables, manufacturing, food security, advanced technology and healthcare. By 2026, EDB aims to provide AED 30 billion ($8.16 billion) in financing to 13,500 companies within these sectors, positioning itself as a key player in shaping the UAE’s economic landscape.

Under Al Naqbi’s leadership since 2021, EDB has implemented a “patient debt” approach, offering flexible pricing and tailored financing solutions. These strategies are designed to close lending gaps and enhance capital access, particularly for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The bank’s mission extends beyond mere financial support; it aims to drive economic impact, foster industrial advancement and create long-term sustainability in line with national goals.

EDB’s cumulative total financing since the launch of its new strategy in 2021 has reached AED 11.14 billion ($3.03 billion), significantly contributing to the UAE’s industrial GDP with an impact of AED 5.5 billion ($1.49 billion). The bank has also supported capital expenditure (CAPEX) financing for industrial projects valued at AED 48 billion ($13.06 billion), greenfield projects worth AED 14 billion ($3.81 billion), and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects totalling AED 6.8 billion ($1.85 billion). These figures underscore the bank’s commitment to bolstering the UAE’s status as a global hub for advanced industries and technology.

EDB’s influence goes beyond finance, as it is a key driver of job creation in the UAE. Since 2021, the bank has contributed to the creation of 22,000 industrial jobs through EDB-backed projects, reinforcing its role in supporting both business growth and employment in vital sectors. In the first half of 2024, the bank’s financing reached AED 3.6 billion ($980.1 million) across its five priority sectors, with AED 2 billion ($544.5 million) directed toward manufacturing. This focus on manufacturing accounted for 54% of EDB’s total financing in H1 2024.

Beyond EDB, Al Naqbi is an active contributor to the UAE’s economic development. He is a member of the UAE’s Industry Development Council (IDC). He serves on the CEO Advisory Committee for the UAE Banks Federation (UBF) and the Board of Advisors for the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa). Prior to his role at EDB, Al Naqbi held leadership positions at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

By focusing on key sectors vital to the UAE’s future, we help build a robust and resilient economy capable of weathering global challenges.

Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi

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Eraiqat has led ADCB since February 2009. Previously, he had held leadership positions at Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank. Eraiqat is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Hilal Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Properties, Abu Dhabi Commercial Engineering Services, the ADCB Management Executive Committee and the ADCB Management Credit Committee. He is also a Director of the Abu Dhabi National Hotels and the Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF) and a Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ADCCI). Under Eraiqat’s leadership, ADCB expanded into Saudi Arabia and became the UAE’s third-largest bank by assets. In 2019, the lender completed the integration of the Union National Bank (UNB) and Al Hilal Bank.

Eraiqat led ADCB to become the UAE’s third-largest bank by assets

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Alsalloom was named CEO of BSF in September 2022. He started his banking career with the Saudi British Bank in 2004 and went on to spend 15 years in the bank, holding leadership roles in the corporate banking and global markets sectors. In 2019, Bader moved to the Saudi Investment Bank as Deputy General Manager of Corporate Banking. He joined BSF in April 2021 as Head of Wholesale Banking Group. Currently, Bader also serves as the Vice Chairman of BSF Capital and Vice Chairman of Allianz Saudi Fransi. At the end of 2023, BSF’s total assets reached SAR 253.4 billion ($67.53 billion) up 9% compared to the previous year.

BSF posted a net profit of $605 million in H1 2024

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Bassel Gamal was named QIB’s Group CEO in February 2013. Gamal began his career at the Commercial International Bank in Egypt in 1990, where he stayed for ten years until his move to Ahli United Bank. Gamal later moved to Doha, Qatar, where he served as Deputy CEO and, later, CEO, of Ahli Bank. He then returned to Bahrain, serving as Senior Deputy Group CEO of Ahli United’s banking group, before moving back to Qatar. Under his leadership, QIB’s net profit increased from QAR 1.34 billion ($365.45 million) in 2013 to QAR 4.31 billion in 2023 ($1.18 billion). Gamal is currently the Chairman of QIB-UK and a Board Member of Qinvest.

QIB obtained a CAGR 12% during Gamal’s decade as GCEO.

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Dr Van Linder has been the CEO of the Commercial Bank of Dubai since January 2017. During his time with CBD, he has focused on increasing the profitability of the bank and putting it on a trajectory towards becoming a fully digital bank. Before joining CBD, Dr Van Linder was CEO of Saudi Hollandi Bank (subsequently Saudi Al Awwal Bank) for more than seven years, where he oversaw the bank doubling both in size and in profitability. In H1 2024, CBD reported a net profit (after tax) of AED 1.452 billion ($395.32 billion), up 30.2% year-on-year (YoY) on a pre-tax basis compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

Dr Van Linder holds a PhD in artificial intelligence from Utrecht University.

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Mahfouz has been the CEO of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait since 2014. She joined the bank in 2000 as Manager of International Banking, later serving in senior roles, including General Manager of the New York Branch and General Manager of International Banking. She was promoted to Deputy CEO in 2012 before becoming CEO in 2014. With nearly 30 years of experience in banking, Mahfouz has held roles in various Kuwaiti financial institutions. She is regularly listed among Forbes’ top 100 most influential Arab businesswomen, reflecting her prominence in Kuwait’s financial sector.

Elham managed the loan portfolio during the 1997 crisis

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Al Khalifa was appointed to the role of GCEO of Masraf Al Rayan in 2021. Before this, he was the Group CEO of Al Khalij Commercial Bank and successfully oversaw the merger of both institutions to result in one of the largest Sharia-compliant banks in the region. Throughout his career, he has held prominent positions in Qatar’s leading financial institutions to include Qatar Central Bank and Qatar National Bank (QNB). In H1 2024, Masraf Al Rayana achieved a net profit attributable to the equity holders of the bank of QAR 789 million ($215.99 million). At the end of this period, the bank’s total assets amounted to QAR 162 billion ($44.38 billion).

Al Khalifa held prominent roles in the Qatar Central Bank

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Al Rostamani heads FAB, an institution with over $300 billion in total assets. In 2023, FAB reported a net profit of AED16.4 billion ($4.47 billion), marking a 56% increase. With over 23 years of experience in the financial services industry, Al Rostamani has also served as an Independent Director of the Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company (Du) and Vice-Chairperson of the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Services. She is currently a board member of the AW Rostamani Group, chairperson of FAB Private Bank Suisse, a member of MasterCard Advisor and Chair of the Global Council on the Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on Goal 7, “Affordable and clean energy”.

Al Rostamani was the first female CEO of a UAE-based bank.

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Al-Sager has led the NBK group for over a decade. Before obtaining his position, he had been the Deputy Group CEO between 2010 and 2014. Al-Sager began his banking career in 1978 at NBK. He became the Head of Domestic Credit and Marketing, General Manager of Retail and Wholesale Banking Group, Deputy CEO of NBK Kuwait and CEO of NBK Kuwait in 2008. In addition to leading the banking group, he is also the Chairman of NBK–Egypt and a member of the Board of Directors of NBK (International) and Mastercard. For the six months ending on June 30, 2024, NBK reported a net profit of KWD 292.4 million ($953.6 million).

Al-Sager began his banking career in 1978 at NBK

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Jayesh Patel

CEO

Wio Bank

Patel is the CEO of Abu Dhabi-based digital banking platform, Wio Bank PJSC. He is focused on shaping the platform bank as an intelligent financial partner for businesses and customers, with an open platform providing solutions in three main areas: digital banking apps, embedded finance and banking-as-a-service solutions.

Patel has spent 14 years in the fintech sector, motivated by a vision to digitise growth and consolidate services to simplify banking for everyone. His career includes roles at Deloitte and IBM in the US, where he worked with Fortune 500 clients to innovate and develop digital solutions. He played a key role in the launch of Liv. by Emirates NBD, overseeing the establishment of its online finance ecosystem.

Prior to his work at Liv, Patel was Head of Retail Strategy at Emirates NBD. In this capacity, he led initiatives to digitise essential customer services and processes. He is also a member of the angel investment community in the Middle East and North Africa.

Wio is the first platform bank in the region aimed at transforming banking and creating new opportunities for customers. Based in Abu Dhabi, the neobank is owned by Abu Dhabi Development Company (ADQ), Alpha Dhabi Holding, e& and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).

For the fiscal year 2023, Wio reported revenue of AED 266.4 million ($72.53 million) and a net profit of AED 2 million ($544,514), marking its first full year of operations with profitability since its launch in September 2022. This achievement is significant, as Wio Bank has become one of the fastest neobanks globally to reach profitability while maintaining a focus on customer innovation. Customer deposits have exceeded AED 11 billion ($2.99 billion), reflecting the increasing trust and adoption of Wio’s services.

This growth underscores Wio Bank’s commitment to providing banking solutions that support businesses of all sizes. Speaking about the significance of the bank’s early profitability, Patel said, “Our ability to achieve profitability in our first full year is a monumental milestone that highlights our industry leadership and commitment to transparency.”

Wio has successfully launched its products locally and has recently received several accolades, including “MENA Digital Bank of the Year,” “Best Neobank-UAE,” “Best Digital Bank Newcomer” and “Most Innovative Mobile Banking App-UAE.”

As we shape the future of banking, we remain focused on continuous innovation and developing advanced solutions to meet the dynamic needs of tomorrow’s customers

Jayesh Patel

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Abdelbarry became Acting CEO of ADIB in March 2024. Prior to this, he served as the Group CFO at ADIB from 2020. He has over 30 years of experience working across different international banks, including Standard Chartered, Citibank and Barclays. As Acting Group CEO he has led ADIB to achieve 30% growth in net profit in H1 2024. That year, the bank also launched new products such as a 100% salary cash-back campaign, as well as the Electric Vehicle Finance initiative. ADIB was also the first UAE bank to provide instant account opening for SMEs via deploying Emirates Face Recognition (EFR) technology and launch Istikrar’, the UAE’s first long-term, fixed-rate home finance.

Abdelbarry has completed six months as Acting CEO.

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Al Khalfawi was appointed as the CEO of Ajman Bank in 2023. He brings over 20 years of experience in the UAE’s banking sector. Before joining Ajman Bank in 2023, he held key roles at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), including Head of Global Banking UAE, Global Head of Government, Sovereigns & Public Sectors, and CEO of FAB ADGM. He also served as a Board Member of FAB Islamic and Magnati.

At Ajman Bank, Mustafa has focused on enhancing shareholder value, expanding the client base, and investing in human capital by driving digital transformation and reinforcing the bank’s Sharia-compliant financial solutions.

Al Khalfawi holds an Executive Masters in Big Data and Business Analytics

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Riyad Bank is the fifth largest bank in GCC, with over $100 billion in assets. Prior to his current role, Al-Koraya was the Chief Treasury and Investment Officer, where he led the end-to-end transformation of the bank’s funding, capital, ALM, product innovation and investment functions. He started his career at SAMBA Financial Group, where he spent 20 years before moving to Riyad Bank in 2014. Al-Koraya is the Board Chairman of Jeel Innovation Digital Company, Board Chairman of 1957 Ventures Fintech, Board member Riyad Capital and member of the Mastercard Middle East & Africa Advisory Board. The bank’s net profit rose 10% rise in its H1 2024 net profit to SAR 4.41 billion ($1.17 billion).

Riyad Bank is the fifth-largest bank in the GCC by assets

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Bank Aljazira’s Al Abdulkareem was appointed CEO in November 2020. With nearly 25 years of experience in the banking sector, Al Abdulkareem has held several key leading positions, including the Deputy Managing Director of Personal Banking and Wealth Management at SABB, member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Sanid and SABB Takaful, member of the Board of Director of SIMAH and HSBC Saudi Arabia, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SABB Insurance Agency. In H1 2024, Bank Aljazira reported a net profit of SAR 618 million ($164.7 million), up 33% from SAR 464.6 million ($123.8 million) in the prior-year period.

The bank’s balance sheet demonstrated a solid 7% increase during H1 2024

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Alrasheed has been at the helm of the bank since 2021, focusing on improving operations, resource management, competitiveness and digitisation. Before becoming CEO, Alrasheed was Deputy CEO of the bank for 10 years.  Alrasheed has spent his entire 35-year career with ANB, starting in branches and working his way through the ranks. He is also a Member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) and the Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group, as well as Vice Chairman and Member of the EXCOM of Saudi Chemical Company.

Alrasheed has spent his entire 35-year career at ANB.

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Raheel Ahmed

Group CEO

RAKBANK

With over three decades of experience in the banking industry, Ahmed has worked across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe with global banks. His extensive international experience has given him a deep understanding of banking models and cultures, which he brings to his leadership at RAKBANK.

Ahmed started his career as a graduate at Citigroup in 1991 and has since held senior executive roles at Citi, Standard Chartered and Barclays. His career has been defined by his ability to lead teams through complex transformations while embracing the diversity of over 70 cultures and banking systems. This wealth of experience laid the foundation for his appointment as the CEO of RAKBANK in January 2022.

As the CEO of RAKBANK, Ahmed has been tasked with steering the bank through a pivotal phase of its evolution, with a clear mandate to drive growth and profitability. His leadership is centred on innovation and digital transformation, with a key focus on customer-centric service. Under his leadership, RAKBANK has embarked on an ambitious strategy to become a “digital bank with a human touch.” This vision has translated into real, actionable changes within the bank, from enhancing customer experiences through data and technology to fostering a high-performance culture built on collaboration and agility.

One of Ahmed’s key contributions at RAKBANK has been leading a digital and cultural transformation. He has overseen the alignment of the entire organisation around delivering exceptional customer service—what he terms “Mission Zero,” which aims for zero delays, zero errors and zero complaints. In addition to technological advancements, Raheel has emphasised creating a “liquid organisation” where seamless collaboration across teams and fast decision-making processes are the norm. This cultural shift has empowered employees at every level, fostering a dynamic environment that thrives on diversity of thought and experience.

Beyond digital transformation, Raheel has spearheaded several other initiatives that have positioned RAKBANK for long-term success. These include expanding the bank’s focus on scalable personalisation for retail customers, supporting the growth of SMEs and developing a world-class wholesale banking division. His forward-thinking approach also extends to sustainability, with the bank setting a roadmap to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 and launching innovative financial products like green loans and social bonds. In H1 2024, the bank recorded a net profit before tax of AED 1.2 billion ($326.7 million) and a total income of AED 2.3 billion ($626.1 million), up 33% and 8.7%, respectively. This was supported by a net interest margin of 4.6%.

Throughout my journey, I’ve had the privilege of working with people from different cultures and backgrounds, which has greatly enriched my perspective and fostered a strong sense of unity and collaboration

Raheel Ahmed

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Rola Abu Manneh

CEO, UAE, Middle East and Pakistan

Standard Chartered

Abu Manneh is the first Emirati woman to lead an international bank in the UAE and the wider region and has successfully transformed the UAE business into one of Standard Chartered’s top three markets globally. Under her leadership, the Bank has implemented strategies that enhance operational efficiency, optimise client service and promote innovation across its regional operations.

In early 2023, Abu Manneh was appointed to the Boards of both Standard Chartered (Pakistan) Limited and Standard Chartered Uganda. She is also a director on the boards of MyZoi and Appro, two innovative digital ventures developed under SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s innovation, fintech investment, and ventures arm. Her leadership within the bank has been instrumental in advancing its position in the regional market.

Abu Manneh’s career spans over 25 years in the UAE’s banking sector. Before joining Standard Chartered in 2018, she held several key roles at First Abu Dhabi Bank, including Head of Corporate and Investment Banking. Since then, she has played a central role in positioning Standard Chartered as a critical partner for clients, offering strategic advice and financial solutions tailored to their needs.

Beyond her leadership in banking, Abu Manneh has actively championed diversity, inclusion and women’s empowerment. She has supported initiatives aimed at promoting female entrepreneurship and provides mentorship programs for university students in collaboration with key institutions. She serves as a member of the Global Council for Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and is a delegate in G20Empower.

Abu Manneh also serves on the Boards of the Dubai International Chamber and the Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE, highlighting her commitment to community development and philanthropy. Additionally, she is a member of the NYUAD Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Council, further reinforcing her influence in fostering education and leadership.

Standard Chartered has mobilised over $105 billion of sustainable finance since 2021, progressing well towards the Bank’s $300 billion target by 2030. In the region, the bank launched the UAE’s first conventional sustainable account in November 2021 to provide clients with a direct means to support projects aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through deposited cash. In November 2022, Standard Chartered launched the Islamic sustainable account, a Shariah-compliant version of this product.

In H1 2024, Standard Chartered Group’s operating income was up 11%, recording $10 billion, while underlying profit before tax increased 21% to $4.0 billion. After these results, the bank unveiled a record $1.5 billion buyback, its biggest ever, and lifted its income outlook for 2024.

I am passionate about championing women empowerment and female entrepreneurship through multiple active initiatives, including university mentorship programmes in collaboration with leading institutions

Rola Abu Manneh

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With over 35 years of experience, Al Waary leads the bank’s operations across 15 countries on five continents. In addition to his role at Bank ABC, he serves as Chairman of Bank ABC Jordan and Arab Financial Services, and Vice-Chairman of Bank ABC Egypt. He is also the Founder and Chairman of ila Bank, Bahrain’s first digital mobile-only bank, launched in 2019. A frequent speaker at industry events like the Singapore Fintech Festival and the Middle East FinTech Forum, he advocates for change in the banking sector, focusing on fintech and digital transformation. He also founded the MEA Fintech Forum, which brings together global leaders to discuss industry challenges and trends.

Al Waary is the  Founder of Bahrain’s first digital mobile-only bank.

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Al-Falasi is a seasoned banker with nearly two decades of experience at Citi. She joined the bank in 2004 and has worked across multiple regions, including Dublin, London, and Sao Paulo. In 2015, she was appointed Head of the Global Subsidiaries Group (GSG) for the UAE and Iraq, and in 2018, her role expanded to include the GCC region. Since early 2023, Al-Falasi has been serving as interim Citi Country Officer (CCO) and interim CEO of Citibank, N.A. UAE Onshore Branch. She is the first Emirati woman to lead Citi’s UAE onshore business. Al-Falasi continues to oversee Citi’s operations in the region, supporting the growth of Citi’s institutional banking and wealth management services.

Al-Falasi is the first Emirati woman CEO to lead Citibank N.A. UAE Onshore

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During Nelson’s eight-year tenure as Emirates NBD’s Group CEO, the bank’s assets have grown from AED 308 billion ($83.86 billion) to AED 700 billion ($190.58 billion). Nelson oversaw the $2.7 billion acquisition of Türkiye’s DenizBank and has held the roles of CEO of Standard Chartered Private Bank in Singapore, Regional CEO of Standard Chartered Bank MENA, Chairman of Standard Chartered (Pakistan), CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, Malaysia Berhad and Chairman of the Banking Advisory Council to the Board of DIFC. Shayne is also a member of the Board of Directors for Emirates Islamic, Emirates NBD Capital Ltd., Emirates NBD Capital, Tanfeeth, DenizBank, International Monetary Conference and Marsh Emirates Insurance.

During his tenure, the bank’s assets more than doubled.

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Al Hashar has headed Bank Muscat, Oman’s largest lender by assets, since 2019.  He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Oman Center for Governance and Sustainability, The College of Banking and Financial Studies, and the Oman Banks Association. Before joining Bank Muscat, he held senior positions in Petroleum Development Oman and HSBC Bank Middle East, among other firms. In the first six months of 2024, Bank Muscat posted a net profit of OMR 112.12 million ($291 million), marking a 7.5% increase compared with the same period in 2023.

Bank Muscat achieved $291 million in H1 2024 net profit

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Al Sadhan became CEO of SNB in May 2024. Before obtaining this position, he was President and CEO of Riyad Bank. Al Sadhan also spent 18 years working at KPMG Saudi Arabia, where he became one of the company’s youngest partners. He has held several senior positions in Saudi Arabia’s public sector, including the roles of Chairman of the Saudi Fund for Development, Deputy Governor for Supervision at the Saudi Central Bank and Acting Director General at the General Authority for Zakat and Tax. He remains a member of the PIF Audit Committee and Mastercard’s advisory board. In H1 2024, SNB announced a 2.3% annual net profit increase to SAR 10.3 billion ($2.74 billion).  

Al Sadhan became CEO of SNB in May 2024.

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Cripps became the CEO of SAB in 2023, following the completion of its integration with Al-Awwal Bank. Previously, he had been the CEO of the Saudi British Bank. Cripps holds more than 40 years of experience in the banking industry. He joined SABB from HSBC in Singapore, where was the CEO for four years. Cripps first joined HSBC in 1986 as a floor trader for the Sydney Futures Exchange and went on to lead HSBC’s businesses as CEO in Australia and the Philippines. In the early 1990s, Tony worked with Sydney University pioneering predictive neural network programmes, an early adoption of AI, which was later commercialised. The research paper was published by LSE.

Cripps led the integration between SABB and Al-Awwal Bank

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Al-Mogbel became the CEO of Al Rajhi Bank as the pandemic began in 2020 and became a Board Member in 2022. Previously, he held the roles of Deputy CEO, COO, CIO and CFO at the same bank. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial and banking sector, auditing, tax, financial and management consultation. Before joining Al Rajhi, he was an Assistant Professor at King Saud University and a Senior Consultant at the Westminster International Consulting Firm. In H1 2024, the net profits of Al Rajhi Bank climbed by 9.74% to SAR 9.10 billion ($2.42 billion) from SAR 8.29 billion ($2.21 billion) in H1 2023.

Al-Mogbel holds a PhD in Accounting and Auditing.

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Mandani joined Gulf Bank in 2021. Before this, he was the Group Chief Retail & Private Banking Officer at Kuwait Finance House (KFH), with over 25 years of experience in leadership roles across private banking, retail, and wealth management. He began his career in 1993 at National Bank of Kuwait as a Treasury Corporate Officer. He later held senior roles at National Investments Co., Ahli United Bank, and BNP Paribas in Kuwait. Mandani joined KFH in 2014 as General Manager for Private Banking. He has also served as a board member at KFH Capital and TurkCapital Holding, holding leadership positions from 2015 to 2021. Gulf Bank recorded an operating income of KWD 96.9 million ($314.3 million) for the first half of 2024, up 5% compared to the same period of last year.

Waleed advised high-value clients and managed wealth early in his career