The latest Expat Power 50, a list compiling the most powerful and influential foreigners who currently reside in the UAE, has had an influx of 28 new entries, signalling a changing of the guard for UAE’s expat power players.
The list, put together by Arabian Business magazine, seeks to highlight the growing presence and influence of foreign workers in the Gulf, along with the contribution they make to the continued growth of the Gulf Co-operation Council.
Number one on the list was Anthony Armstrong, the American born banker who currently works as the head of mergers and acquisitions for Qatar Holding. Despite a US name at the top, the English dominated the list with a total of 17 entries.
English banker Rick Pudner, CEO of Emirates NBD- the Middle East’s largest bank, was the highest placed Briton at number five. Despite a mass of new names there were still a number of stalwarts who hung onto their prestige, including the Etihad airline boss James Hogan and the wickedly-named Jean Paul Villian- Abu Dhabi Investment Authority’s head of strategy.
Commenting on this year’s competition, Arabian Business Magazine’s editorial team said: “Competition for entry onto this year’s list has been fierce, and a number of big names have dropped out as a result. It has taken us longer than ever to settle on a final 50, and some surprising names have been thrown into the mix, but we are happy that we have found the biggest expatriate players in the Gulf.”