Grant Thornton UAE CEO Hisham Farouk named among MENA’s top 50 business leaders
Gulf Business has unveiled its annual list of MENA’s 50 most influential chiefs and executives, recognizing the leaders shaping the region’s business landscape. Among them is just one member from the professional services industry: Hisham Farouk, CEO of Grant Thornton in the UAE.
The list, independently curated by the editorial team at Gulf Business, features many of the region’s most prominent business leaders, including HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (Chairman and CEO of Emirates), Amin Nasser (President and CEO of Aramco), Hamad Ali Al Khater (CEO of Qatar Airways), Hana Al Rostamani (CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank), and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak (CEO of Mubadala Investment Company and Chairman of Manchester City).
Despite the consulting industry’s pivotal role in supporting governments and businesses across the region on their most pressing strategic, financial, operational, and organizational challenges, the sector has just one representative on this year’s list – that honour goes to Hisham Farouk.
As CEO of Grant Thornton in the UAE, Farouk has led the firm through a sustained period of growth and transformation, positioning it as a future-focused professional services firm recognized for its client relationships, sector expertise, and trusted capabilities.
Under his leadership, the UAE practice has become one of the fastest-growing member firms in the global Grant Thornton network, earning the prestigious Go Beyond Award from the international network in recognition of its performance and innovation.
According to Gulf Business, Farouk “has built a reputation as a leader who sees beyond cycles, driving continuous innovation while positioning the firm ahead of change and preparing it for what comes next.”
Farouk also led the deal with Grant Thornton Advisors, an investor-backed multinational platform that brings together Grant Thornton firms from across the globe. Today, Grant Thornton Advisors employs more than 24,000 professionals spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
From a client work perspective, Farouk has throughout his career advised many of the region’s leading organizations across a broad range of industries. His expertise covers corporate governance, restructuring, succession planning, dispute resolution, and long-term value creation. He is a registered auditor with the UAE Ministry of Economy and a licensed insolvency practitioner with both the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
Farouk has also built a strong reputation as an adviser to family-owned businesses, helping them professionalize their operations, strengthen governance, and prepare for long-term growth. His work in this area previously earned him recognition from The National, which described him as “the right-hand man for Dubai families”.
Supporting entrepreneurship
Beyond his executive responsibilities, Farouk is an active contributor to the UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and leadership community. He supports organizations including Endeavor and the GCC chapter of the 30% Club, while mentoring founders and emerging business leaders.
He also champions purpose-driven initiatives through organizations such as the Al Noor Training Centre for People of Determination and the Maria Cristina Foundation, reflecting his commitment to community development alongside business leadership.
Jury verdict
In its jury verdict, Gulf Business praised Farouk’s contribution to the region’s business community: “For more than two decades, Hisham has been at the forefront of advising businesses through some of the UAE’s most significant periods of economic growth, regulatory reform and corporate transformation, establishing himself as one of the region’s most respected business leaders and advisers.”
The publication also highlighted the transformation of Grant Thornton under his leadership: “Under Hisham’s leadership, Grant Thornton’s business in the UAE has transformed into a future-focused organization built on trust, relevance and deep sector expertise, while driving sustained growth and strategic evolution across the firm.”
The jury further noted Farouk’s executive education credentials from Harvard Business School, the University of Oxford, Chicago Booth, and INSEAD.
“This recognition reflects Hisham’s continued impact on the region’s business landscape and reinforces his position among a select group of leaders who are helping shape a more dynamic, resilient and globally connected MENA economy.”
