THE MIDDLE EAST’S

5. Hisham Alrayes

Designation: Group CEO
Company Name: GFH Financial Group (GFH)
Headquarters: Bahrain
Nationality: Bahraini

Alrayes has 26 years of industry experience and has been GFH’s group CEO since 2007. GFH is listed on four stock exchanges in the GCC: the Bahrain Bourse, Boursa Kuwait, Dubai Financial Market, and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. It employs over 145 people and invests in MENA, India, Europe, and the U.S. The group’s total assets and funds under management increased from $17 billion in 2022 to $21 billion in 2023. In October 2023, the group acquired a food services and logistics company valued at $133.3 million in Saudi Arabia. Alrayes is also the chairman of Esterad Investment Company and Khaleeji Commercial Bank.