No matter how strong a product or service is, it needs the right message, audience, and timing to make an impact. Strong marketing turns awareness into value, and this is where the critical role of marketing professionals comes in.
To recognize this influence, we created The Most Influential CMOs In The Middle East 2026 list, powered by Salesforce. We reached out to hundreds of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs), and their equivalents, asking them to complete a detailed survey. The findings reveal how AI and digital tools are being embedded across the region in ways that reflect their growing importance.

Among the companies that responded, 22.6% have a fully documented and funded formal AI strategy embedded within marketing, while 47.7% have partially implemented one, 24.27% are developing one, and only 5.44% have no formal strategy. In terms of AI-led decision-making, 43.9% of respondents said they make between 25–50% of their marketing decisions using AI, while 13.5% make 50–75%, and 5.5% use AI to make more than 75% of their marketing decisions.

The list features 101 individuals across 100 entries who lead marketing within their companies. They represent 23 different nationalities, with Egyptians topping the list with 21 executives, followed by 13 Emiratis and 12 Saudis. Their companies are headquartered across eight countries in the region, with 49 based in the UAE, 17 in Saudi Arabia, 16 in Egypt, and the remainder spread across Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan.

Criteria:

• All the Marketing Leaders on the list are from companies headquartered in the Middle East.
• The leaders are the highest-ranking marketing executives in the respective companies.
• Leaders are featured in alphabetical order of their company’s name.