Arab billionaires are wealthier this year even as their ranks shrink. For the first time in the list’s history, their combined wealth has surpassed $138.7 billion.

Forbes Middle East’s 2026 ranking of the World’s Richest Arabs features 37 billionaires across seven countries, with a combined net worth of $138.7 billion — up $10.3 billion, or 8%, from $128.4 billion in 2025. Despite the addition of three new billionaires Ibrahim Al Muhaidib, Abbas Sajwani, and Ajlan Abdulaziz Alajlan and the return of Egyptian billionaire Samih Sawiris, the total number of Arab billionaires declined this year to 37, down from 39 last year.

Saudi Arabia remains the most represented nation, contributing 12 billionaires with a combined net worth of $50.4 billion — the highest wealth pool of any country on the list. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud retains the title of richest Arab in the world, with his net worth rising to $19.9 billion, up from $16.5 billion in 2025. Saudi Arabia returned to the Forbes World’s Billionaires list in 2025 after a seven-year hiatus, driven largely by IPO activity on the Saudi Exchange. That momentum has continued into 2026, with Saudi billionaires now accounting for nearly a third of all Arab billionaires and over a third of combined Arab wealth.

The UAE holds second place with seven billionaires worth a combined $35.4 billion. Hussain Sajwani, founder and chairman of DAMAC Properties, is the UAE’s richest individual on the list at $15.3 billion — up from the $10.2 billion he posted on last year’s ranking — making him the second richest Arab in the world. The UAE’s bloc also includes the youngest billionaire on the entire list: Abbas Sajwani, at just 26, the son of Hussain, who founded AHS Properties in 2021.

Egypt fields six billionaires with a combined wealth of $23.8 billion, led by Nassef Sawiris at $9.6 billion. Lebanon also contributes six names, totaling $13.9 billion, despite the country’s prolonged economic turbulence — evidence of the offshore and internationally diversified nature of Lebanese business wealth. Morocco, Qatar, and Algeria round out the list with three, two, and one entry respectively.

 This list is an extract of Forbes’ 40th annual World’s Billionaires List. The Arab billionaires list features all billionaires of Arab origin listed in the Arabic-speaking Middle East and North African countries.