UAE has the some of the most experienced – and youngest – CEOs

UAE has the some of the most experienced – and youngest – CEOs

CEOs in the Middle East are some of the most experienced globally, with around 90% having prior C-suite experience. In the UAE, chief executives are among the youngest, according to a study from human capital consultancy Heidrick & Struggles. In the United Arab Emirates, companies feature the youngest professionals in the top job. The current average age of 52.7 for CEOs in the UAE is the world’s lowest. In comparison, CEOs in the US are on average over 60 years old, while those in Saudi Arabia are just under 57. Across the Middle East, CEOs are not much older, the regional average age is 55. Notably, CEOs in the UAE are also the youngest when they are appointed to the role.

Source: Heidrick & Struggles

Despite UAE business leaders being so young, they are also among the most experienced around the world. Besides the fact that nearly all surveyed CEOs in the Middle East had previous C-suite experience, half also had cross-border experience. There is also a demand for top leaders to be a sort of ‘Jack of all trades’. In the UAE, 26% of CEOs in 2023 reported having cross-sector experience. That is a significant increase from 2021, when