In a world driven by constant innovation, it’s not just ideas that shape the future—it’s the people bold enough to act on them. Today’s business landscape is shaped by visionary minds who dare to challenge convention and turn disruption into opportunity. From technology pioneers to sustainability champions, the top 10 entrepreneurs featured in this article have consistently pushed boundaries, created impact, and redefined what it means to lead.
These trailblazers have not only built successful ventures but have also inspired change, influenced industries, and empowered communities. Each of them represents a unique story of resilience, strategy, and bold execution. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or simply curious about the next wave of leadership, this list is your inside look at the top 10 entrepreneurs shaping tomorrow.
Top 10 Entrepreneurs & Leaders To Watch Out
In the sections below, we highlight the journeys, achievements, and impact of the top 10 entrepreneurs and leaders who are transforming big ideas into lasting change.
1. Rami Al-Rousan | Driving Excellence with Innovative Marketing Strategies
A visionary marketing expert, Rami Al-Rousan has garnered over 18 years of hands-on experience in Marketing & Communications. By leveraging his expertise, Rami has consistently driven sustainable growth and profitability across multiple brands and industries. Throughout his career, he has built a track record of turning around brands, achieving ambitious revenue targets, and developing and executing data-driven marketing strategies.
With a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication from the American University of Sharjah and an extensive set of skills honed with experience, Rami brings to the table a strong blend of leadership, adaptability, and a relentless focus on results, while continuously seeking to elevate brand experiences and deliver measurable impact. While continuously seeking to elevate brand experiences and deliver measurable impact, Rami’s expertise is unmatched in the field.
His marketing proficiency and exposure span a variety of national and international brands, including Apple, HSBC, Shell, Alsafi Danone, and Entaj, among others. Currently serving as the Director of Marketing and Communications at EVIQ, Rami is leading strategic marketing efforts to position the company as Saudi Arabia’s leading infrastructure provider in the electric mobility space.
EVIQ leads the electric vehicle revolution transition in Saudi Arabia, aiming to boost EV adoption by establishing a reliable, nationwide fast-charging network. From Riyadh, our EVIQ’s mission is to enhance the EV infrastructure, making electric driving accessible and convenient across the Kingdom. By taking forward EVIQ’s dedicated mission to make electric vehicles a preferred sustainable choice, Rami is playing a key role in making accessible eco-friendly transportation options a reality for the region.
Rami’s expertise covers a broad spectrum, from marketing strategy and consumer behavior to brand portfolio & profitability management. Known for his leadership skills, analytical thinking, and out-of-the-box approach, he excels in aligning marketing strategies with business objectives, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and leading high-performing teams. With a visionary approach and innovative marketing strategies, Rami Al-Rousan is driving excellence in the industry, and building outstanding journey’s for both customers and businesses. shaping a sustainable mobility landscape alike.
2. Aleksei Gusev | Pioneering the FootGolf Vision in the UAE
A trailblazing leader, Aleksei Gusev is on a mission to promote FootGolf in the UAE. A unique combination of football and golf, FootGolf is gaining popularity around the world, and the UAE is ideally positioned to become a regional and international centre for the sport. Played on golf courses, players use their football skills to drive the ball into the hole in the fewest possible strokes in FootGolf. As a sport based on fairness, sportsmanship, and inclusivity, it is open to players of all ages, genders, and skill levels, embodying the values of discipline, courtesy, competition, and respect.
Aleksei believes global FootGolf is gaining momentum at the current time, mainly because of its accessible nature, as from children to adults, even people with disabilities can play the game. The 4th FootGolf World Championship took place in Orlando, USA, in 2023, and the 2026 FootGolf World Championships are all set to be held in Acapulco, Mexico. The game’s popularity has risen to a height, where it is on its way to achieving Olympic status, alongside work underway to include the sport in the programme for the 2032 Games in Brisbane.
As a visionary and an enthusiastic leader, Aleksei envisions building the UAE’s own Footgolf Federation, a non-profit organisation that will join the International Footgolf Federation (FIFG), allowing UAE players to compete internationally and represent the country on the global stage. Intending to host and bid for international FootGolf tournaments in 2025, and bidding to host the World FootGolf Championship in 2028, Aleksei is looking forward to taking the UAE’s leadership in the sport. Parallel to this, he also aspires to develop a regional league for the Gulf countries and spread FootGolf to neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Egypt.
With world-class golf courses, a favourable climate all year round, and a strategic location, the UAE is an ideal place to develop FootGolf. With a vision to play an instrumental role in the development of a new sport, like FootGolf, and help UAE to achieve international recognition in FootGolf, Aleksei Gusev asks leaders to come forward to contribute to this cause and is optimistic, that together, UAE can find success at the World Cup, and even shine at the Olympics, establishing the region as a leading name in the sport.
LinkedIn | Website | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
3. Prof. Christian Farioli | A Visionary Leader Redefining the AI and Marketing Landscape
A well-acclaimed AI Consultant, Digital Strategist, Lecturer, keynote speaker, and author of a best-selling book, Prof. Christian Farioli has been an AI and Digital Marketing pioneer since 2003. Prof. Christian is also working as a Lecturer for the Digital Marketing Institute, Informa, PwC, and EY. As the CEO, and Digital Marketing Strategist of ESD Dubai, Prof. Christian has been transforming businesses with breakthrough digital strategies.
As a sought-after speaker, Prof. Christian has spoken at more than 130 international conferences, including GOOGLE, NASA & Davos. With a track record of training executives since 2012, Prof. Christian has trained and advised more than 16000 executives across 4 continents, from Armani, Bayer, Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, Huawei, Saudi Aramco, Ferrari, and more. Owning several businesses, he is an exceptional advisor for his clients on Digital Marketing Strategy, Go-To Market, Digital Transformation, Performance, Inbound Marketing, and Web Analytics.
With a creative approach to handling complex problems and breaking them down to actionable results, Prof. Christian’s expertise in digital marketing and leadership is unmatched. With more than 12 Awards in his list, including the Oracle Innovation Award, a Microsoft AI competition, Prof. Christian’s digital agency in Dubai has also been elected Agency of the Future. Furthermore, reflecting his literary spark and expertise, his book became a bestseller in just a single month. Be it through his keynote sessions, trainings, or advising his clients, Prof. Christian Farioli is a pioneer in the field of AI and marketing, inspiring upcoming leaders in the field.
LinkedIn | Website | Book a Call
4. Najah Musthafa | Reimagining Healing: Integrating Mental Health, Art, and Community in MENA
An Australian trained and registered Art Psychotherapist, Clinical Director, entrepreneur, and artist, Najah Musthafa is a trailblazer redefining mental health advocacy and practice across the MENA region. Driven by a passion to make meaningful impact, she is pushing the boundaries of innovation at the intersection of creativity and care. With a career spanning clinical, educational, and community contexts, she has worked extensively with diverse populations and is a vocal advocate for trauma awareness, domestic violence prevention, and child protection. “Healing doesn’t start or end in the therapy room. It’s a collective, creative act rooted in culture, context, and the systems we move through every day,” Najah shares.
As Clinical Director at Monarch Health Centers in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), Najah leads through a transdisciplinary model that bridges gaps across fields, systems, and services. Working alongside a diverse team of expert clinicians, she addresses a wide range of mental health needs with a focus on innovation, accessibility, and depth of care. “True impact happens when we dismantle silos between disciplines, between people, between systems, and build new models rooted in care and connection,” she says. By integrating creativity with clinical psychology, Najah is setting new benchmarks for mental health care in the region.
In her role as Co Founder and Executive Director of the Middle East and North Africa Trauma Alliance (MENATA), Najah is committed to bridging the gap between community based interventions and clinical care across the region. “Redefining mental health means redesigning the systems that hold it, from service delivery to community engagement. Innovation in care isn’t just clinical. It’s structural, strategic, and deeply human,” she explains.
In parallel to her clinical work, Najah co founded ISOAG, an art gallery and inclusive space where creatives can connect, reclaim their voice, and explore healing through artistic expression. “Art is not just expression. It’s a reclamation of voice, a pathway to healing, and a catalyst for building community from pain,” she shares. Through ISOAG, she demonstrates how creative practices can foster self discovery while cultivating a vibrant, supportive community.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, Najah outlines her vision for Monarch Health Centers: continuing to expand integrative, trauma responsive services that prioritize clinical excellence, cultural relevance, and continuity of care. At MENATA, preparations are underway for the Second Annual Trauma Conference, taking place September 26 to 28 in the UAE and online. This flagship gathering will bring together professionals, advocates, and lived experience leaders to advance trauma responsive healing across systems and communities.
Alongside her clinical and advocacy work, Najah continues to grow ISOAG as a platform for grassroots artists, hosting inclusive exhibitions and promoting creative expression as a tool for dialogue, connection, and healing. MENATA is also preparing to launch new trauma training, community events, and cross sector initiatives in the months ahead. “With an incredible team and community beside me, these efforts are made possible through shared vision, trust, and collective action. And at the root of all our initiatives is a deep belief: healing is not just individual. It’s cultural, collective, and grounded in community,” she concludes.
Passionate about systems thinking and the integration of community based interventions with clinical care, Najah Musthafa is building inclusive spaces for healing and advocacy across the MENA region.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Menata Org | Monarch Health Centers | ISOAG
5. Elvin Eldić | Shaping the Future of Work Through Game-Driven Performance
From boardrooms in London to pioneering business initiatives across the Middle East, Elvin Eldić is a seasoned business leader with a proven track record of delivering results across various industries. Elvin’s expertise lies in driving commercial performance, nurturing talent, and leading transformational initiatives across family-owned, investor-backed, and publicly listed organizations. What truly sets Elvin apart is his belief that transformation begins with people. Behind every operational uplift and strategic shift lies his commitment to helping individuals and teams rise beyond what they thought possible, as he believes, high performance isn’t just a metric – it’s a mindset, a culture.
Elvin has built a career out of turning operational complexity into clarity, not just in systems, but in people. In senior leadership roles across global organisations, he has consistently brought structure to inefficiency – aligning scale, strategy, tech, and culture to unlock performance where it matters most. He mentions, “Across continents, industries, and boardrooms, I’ve stayed anchored to the belief that discipline, integrity, and high personal standards aren’t just for self-performance, but in service of helping others exceed their own expectations.”
In 2016, Elvin founded The Gamifier Group (TGG) to feed the entrepreneur within. A business that began as a small software development house focused on building computer games, AR experiences, and client app solutions. By 2020, under Elvin’s direction, TGG evolved into a UAE-based consultancy specializing in retail excellence, strategic change, and its defining strength: performance gamification. Drawing on his and the team’s expertise in behavioural sport science, global retail operations, employee engagement, and change leadership, TGG blends this capability with its proprietary technology, Leaguestar, to deliver tailored, high-impact solutions. The result: measurable business performance at scale for clients across a wide range of industries, worldwide. Today, TGG is best known for its award-winning platform, Leaguestar, developed by its engineering team in Zagreb, Croatia. The platform blends gameplay mechanics, sports app engagement, AI analytics, and behavioural design to transform routine work into high-stakes league competition.
Elvin has overseen many implementations of Leaguestar across the Middle East, Europe, APAC, and the USA. His hands-on leadership ensures every program is rooted in the business culture, tailored to operational realities, and built to scale. TGG’s collaborative approach centers on deep client immersion and continuous data-driven refinement, ensuring solutions don’t just engage but grow with the business. Each Leaguestar deployment is shaped by its end users, grounded in the belief that the best outcomes are built with people, not imposed on them.
Envisioning the upcoming days, Elvin and his team are pushing the boundaries of performance gamification with something entirely new: DataPlayer, a next-generation Leaguestar plug-in that fuses video game design, sports formats, and behavioural science to drive deeper engagement. “Gamification is the spark that drives people to show up with purpose, push beyond limits, and win as one. At TGG, we’re proud to be building what makes that possible,” Elvin shares. With DataPlayer, Elvin Eldić at TGG is truly putting the “game” in gamification – where data meets play, and static KPIs are transformed into rich, immersive storytelling. It doesn’t just track what happened – it plays it out.
6. Laila Khan | Reimagining Systems, Shaping Futures
A trailblazing leader and transformation strategist, Laila Khan is a systems thinker reshaping the future of ethical leadership, governance, and AI. With over 28 years of experience driving change across some of the world’s most complex institutions, Laila brings a rare combination of strategic clarity, deep insight, and unwavering purpose.
As the founder of Psyche Ethos — a UAE-based consultancy and innovation studio — Khan partners with leaders, governments, and institutions ready to move beyond surface solutions and committed to just, ethical systems. Her work focuses on justice-centred transformation, helping reshape AI, governance, and organisational systems to be more coherent, inclusive, and fundamentally human.
“Leadership today isn’t just about navigating change,” she says, “It’s about vision, human connection, and the ability to lead with clarity and purpose — leaving a lasting impact on the lives we touch.”
From assurance that shaped global conduct frameworks at large financial institutions to providing strategic assurance and critical challenge over billion-pound integration and divestment at Lloyds — and helping drive governance reform across organisations and institutions as an influential voice through her insights and thought leadership on LinkedIn — Khan’s work has always been about more than change. It’s about transformation: seeing beneath the surface, navigating complexity, and building ethical, resilient systems.
Born into a lineage shaped by migration, resilience, and justice-seeking, Laila was raised in a richly layered environment where political discourse, literature, and cultural contrast shaped her worldview. Combined with an early study of AI, this multidimensional lens now defines her approach to leadership.
With Psyche Ethos, she is on a mission to support people achieving deeper alignment and sustainable well-being, whether individuals in transition or organisations seeking to foster a balanced environment. By blending personal transformation with professional insight, Laila delivers customized coaching and advisory services that meet her clients’ requirements, intended to create a lasting impact. From the UAE to the global stage, Laila Khan is charting new pathways for purpose-led, paradigm-shifting leadership.
7. Chris Hughes | A Visionary Fintech Expert and Angel Investor
A passionate entrepreneur, Chris Hughes is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Sinder, the Dubai‑born fintech, building the Gulf’s first Shariah‑compliant, 0 %‑FX travel card and AI‑enabled financial super‑app for the region’s nine‑million‑plus expatriates.
A product‑centric operator with a Master of Mathematics, Chris previously led Product & Finance at Revolut, alongside serving as Head of Core Product at Tamara, the MENA BNPL unicorn. These experiences gave him deep expertise in cross‑border payments, regulatory strategy, and growth‑driven product design, shaping his approach to the field.
Since relocating to the UAE on a Golden Visa, he has raised US$300,000 in pre‑seed funding for Sinder, from investors drawn from Goldman Sachs, PwC, Telr, Tamara, and Revolut alumni networks. Under his leadership, Sinder is set to launch publicly in August 2025, offering the UAE’s first single AED wallet, transparent mid‑market FX, and premium travel perks through a lean, AI‑first tech stack.
Beyond Sinder, Chris is well-acclaimed as an active angel investor and mentor within the UAE fintech ecosystem, backing early‑stage ventures, including Feesable, an Islamic personal‑finance comparison, and Duno, an AI‑driven SME credit scoring. He sees this portfolio as a way to “pay it forward,” providing capital, product insight, and regulatory know-how to the next wave of MENA innovators.
Guided by the motto “life well spent,” Chris Hughes’ mission is to make global spending effortless, fair, and rewarding for the Gulf while cementing the UAE’s reputation as a world‑class hub for product‑led fintech innovation.
8. Eng. Fathi Abdullah | Driving Cold Chain Excellence in Saudi Arabia’s FMCG Sector
With a career spanning nearly four decades, Eng. Fathi Abdullah Ba-isa—known by many as Aburaed—has earned a reputation as one of Saudi Arabia’s most experienced professionals in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and logistics. As Managing Director of United Warehouse Co. (UWC), a subsidiary of Hayel Saeed Anam Group and Omar Kassem Alesayi Group, he oversees wide-ranging logistics operations, from freight forwarding and customs clearance to e-commerce fulfilment and transport, serving both established industries and a fast-evolving marketplace.
A major area of specialization for United Warehouse Co. under Eng. Fathi’s leadership is cold chain and food chain logistics for the FMCG sector, which are essential for maintaining the integrity and safety of perishable goods across Saudi Arabia. From temperature-controlled storage and frozen warehouses to last-mile delivery of frozen foods like chicken, seafood, and dairy, the company has built a robust infrastructure that supports industries such as food and beverage, healthcare, and agriculture. These cold chain solutions have become increasingly vital as the Kingdom expands its food security initiatives and strengthens local production capabilities.
Eng. Fathi’s career has been built on delivering large-scale, practical outcomes. At Al Taufiq Plastic Co., he played a crucial role in expanding factory operations and applying lean manufacturing systems to increase output while keeping costs under control. His early work in commissioning new industrial sites—especially food processing and packaging facilities—demonstrated a clear understanding of how to build and run plants that meet both efficiency and quality standards.
A graduate in mechanical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, he has worked with prominent organizations including Al Zamil, Al Muhaidib, and Al Rajhi Group. In each role, he brought together technical problem-solving with a hands-on approach to operations. Colleagues often point to his ability to see the big picture without losing sight of day-to-day challenges on the ground.
At United Warehouse Co., Eng. Fathi has focused on building reliable logistics systems that serve businesses across the Kingdom. Under his direction, the company has adopted smarter tools and processes to improve service delivery, while also investing in people—something he sees as essential to long-term success. His teams are known for their operational discipline and practical know-how, particularly in FMCG cold chain logistics, where maintaining precise environmental conditions is critical to customer trust and regulatory compliance.
Today, Eng. Fathi Abdullah remains actively engaged in supporting Saudi Arabia’s industrial growth and economic diversification. As the Kingdom continues to invest in infrastructure and manufacturing under Vision 2030, leaders like him will play a central role in ensuring that progress is not only ambitious—but achievable.
LinkedIn | United Warehouse Company Limited | Website
9. Dr. Yehoshua Rodríguez | Redefining Legacy Through AI Preservation
Dr. Yehoshua Rodríguez, founder and CEO of AI People, is pioneering a revolutionary concept that could redefine how humanity captures and transmits knowledge. Through his work in AI Preservation Services, Dr. Rodríguez introduces a new industry poised to replace traditional knowledge-transfer systems with dynamic, intelligent networks. At the heart of this breakthrough is the concept of simultaneous knowledge networks, which allow human expertise and legacy to live on—interactive, accessible, and ever-evolving. It’s a bold step that positions AI People at the forefront of what may become the most profound transformation in the knowledge economy since the rise of the internet.
Rooted in his background in electronic engineering and hardware design, Dr. Rodríguez brings over a decade of experience leading Tesca Elements, a platform focused on high-impact companies and strategic innovation. This foundation informs AI People’s approach to preserving corporate memory and institutional wisdom through AI solutions. Under his leadership, the company helps leading organizations maintain critical knowledge bases while ensuring that training and experience are never lost—even as teams evolve.
Dr. Rodríguez’s vision expands further through Openbursa.com, a value-sharing ecosystem that enables high-impact entrepreneurs to offer access to their contributions through technology. His investment philosophy is striking: “The rarest and most valuable asset on Earth is a developed human being.” With Openbursa, he invites stakeholders to diversify their portfolios by investing in people—not just in ideas or companies—emphasizing long-term value creation rooted in human potential.
As the creator of the Knowledgeverse at cosmos.aipeople.io, Dr. Rodríguez is also crafting a digital space where preserved knowledge can be explored, expanded, and shared globally. It is a bold reimagination of legacy—transforming it from a static record into a living, participatory experience.
By bridging the worlds of artificial intelligence, value ecosystems, and human-centered innovation, Dr. Yehoshua Rodríguez is not just shaping a new frontier in tech—he is building a future where human legacies are never forgotten, but continuously learned from.
LinkedIn | AI People | Website
10. Nikolas Monti-Potsolakis | Global SEO Consultant Shaping Cross-Border Growth
Nikolas Monti-Potsolakis, Founder of Black Lantern Marketing and CEO of NMP Consulting, stands at the intersection of digital marketing, international expansion, and real-world impact. With nearly two decades of experience, Nikolas has become a trusted SEO advisor for companies scaling across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. From startups to multinationals, he helps businesses build strategies that don’t just rank—they perform.
Nikolas’ journey began at 19, managing event websites in Greece. What followed was a career built on deep technical SEO knowledge, product-first thinking, and the ability to lead multi-market teams. His track record includes overseeing enterprise SEO at Fortuna Entertainment Group across five countries, boosting personalization-led conversions at Vodafone, and consulting for major players in iGaming, luxury hospitality, and real estate.
Beyond client work, Nikolas teaches SEO at the college level, mentors through Femme Palette, and serves as a judge for the MENA Search Awards. His approach blends strategic clarity with executional excellence—focusing on KPIs, not vanity metrics. Whether working with regulated sectors or fast-moving tech firms, he’s known for bringing structure, accountability, and results.
At Black Lantern and NMP Consulting, he’s building a global SEO practice that adapts to the shift toward AI, voice search, and platform diversity. His consulting model emphasizes ethical optimization, data transparency, and multilingual content frameworks that deliver consistent performance across borders.
For Nikolas Monti-Potsolakis, SEO is more than a marketing function—it’s a growth engine. Through client work, education, and innovation, he’s setting new benchmarks for what strategic search optimization can achieve in a connected world.
LinkedIn | Black Lantern Marketing LinkedIn | NMP Consulting LinkedIn | Black Lantern Marketing | NMP Consulting
Conclusion
Behind every great innovation is a leader who dared to try. The top 10 entrepreneurs we’ve spotlighted are not just successful professionals—they are visionaries who continue to influence the way we live, work, and connect.
Their stories remind us that transformation doesn’t happen by chance. It takes foresight, grit, and the courage to pursue a different path. As we celebrate these entrepreneurs and leaders, we also recognize the powerful role of leadership in shaping a better, smarter, and more inclusive future.
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