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Few words are as emotive as ‘power’, and surely no other word can be defined in so many different ways. The power of two US atom bombs brought the Second World War to an end, while Nelson Mandela’s silence behind bars brought down South Africa’s apartheid regime. Mohandas Gandhi’s loin cloth-clad Salt March to Dandi in 1930 sparked the end of British rule in India. In 1975, a 20-year-old budding computer programmer called William Gates took inspiration from the January issue of Popular Electronics and went on to become the most powerful man in business.
Whether by force, leadership, entrepreneurship, inspiration or even silence, power is what changes the world – and this week, we celebrate the very best of Arab power in our exclusive Power 100 issue. The 100 individuals we list today are the people that have put Arab issues, Arab business, Arab ideals and Arab successes at the very forefront of the global stage.
And they have done it in many different ways. Some, like HRH Prince Alwaleed, have shown decades of business acumen, to the extent that their every word can move billions of dollars on the world’s financial markets. Others, like the Iraqi shoe thrower Muntadar Al Zaidi, have through a single act spontaneously inspired, influenced and angered millions across the world.
Our list contains business leaders, actors, scientists, academics, artists, sports stars and even charity workers. This year we have a record 53 new entries - and one of the most striking changes is the way in which the younger generation of Arabs have made their mark. Al Zaidi is just 28 years old. Our No.4 entry, the charismatic Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, turns 32 next month.
Throughout our list, many 30 to 40-year-olds are showing the world what they can do. Though one surprise is that the list features just 14 women – one less than a year ago.
The list being what it is, not everyone will agree with the names or the rankings. But we hope you will agree that these are the Arabs influencing not just the region, but the world.
One of the perks of this job is that I get to sift through over 500 contenders for our annual power list. It is a truly inspiring task, studying the vast and sometimes quite remarkable achievements of so many people. I could write ten pages worth of copy on my personal favourites, but instead I will pick just one: 31-year-old Amir Nizar Zuabi, director of the National Theatre of Palestine, and a new entry this year at No.6.
His play ‘Jidariyya’ has earned rave reviews across the globe, and unsurprisingly been seen as politically motivated. However, I am struck by the comments he made in a recent interview with The Scotsman newspaper.
“Abroad, people ask me what it means politically, because if you’re Palestinian it has to have a political meaning. I don’t want to be defined by the fact that I come from a battle zone. Palestinians are richer than that.
“My grandmother was Palestinian before she had problems with Israel. It’s shrinking your culture to one thing, and it’s richer than that.”
How true.
Anil Bhoyrul is the editorial director of ITP Executive.
RELATED ARTICLE: Arabian Business Power 100 2009
Posted by Abdullah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 6 October 2009 at 03:17 UAE time
I'm Saudi, and I don't think Fayez Al Maliki should make any list here. No disrespect, but he's no where near any influencial status, he's not the best saudi actor, he's not very popular. he's the subject of jokes. it's just that MBC and Rotana keeps enforcing him and other nobodys in our Ramadan after breakfast time! he's not the director, he's not the guy behind this (Prince Al-Waleed)...I'm not sure i'd be interested in reading your lists again if the #10 is a nobody!
Posted by umar farooq, Lahore, Pakistan on 24 July 2009 at 09:41 UAE time
Must be quite inetersting to know the Power 100
Posted by Sami, Beirut, Lebanon on 22 May 2009 at 19:08 UAE time
I can't deny that I'm a bit surprised with the list... Also surprised that many names are very new to me... But that's a good thing, for then I can search and find out who they are (tried it on some, and it's amazing what people have been achieving)...
But 2 quick remarks:
- Couldn't but be proud to be Lebanese, seeing that 17 names out of the hundred came out of our small country, which is war torn and has one of the lowest populations... I'm just wondering if all our Middle East finds peace, how much can we all achieve!
- One has to still admit that the ratio of men to women is quite high... Although some women made the list, but it's clear that we still live in a society that doesn't give women all the potential to realise themselves...
Great work and I have some more searching to do :)
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