From left to right, top to bottom: Toufic Braidy, Maya Nasr, Aya Mouallem and Maya Moussa, Youmna Khoury, Omar Bsaibes and Wafic Medawar, Karim Hamdoun. (Credit: Photos taken from the official Forbes Middle East website)
BEIRUT — From detecting methane from space and turning agricultural waste into protein to reforming public services and exporting Lebanese products abroad, fifteen Lebanese figures feature in the eighth edition of Forbes Middle East's "30 Under 30" ranking.
This list honors the Arab world's 'most influential and promising' young talents under 30 and highlights profiles "exceeding expectations and redefining the boundaries of success in the region," according to the magazine.
This year's '30 Under 30' list includes 90 entries and 113 individuals representing 24 nationalities and based in 18 countries.
Egyptians top the list with 19 honorees, followed by Saudis (18), Lebanese (15), Emiratis and Jordanians (six each).
The United Arab Emirates hosts the most winners (34), ahead of Saudi Arabia (25), Egypt (15), and Lebanon (11). The average age of those selected is 26 years and 9 months.
The selection, divided into four categories (science and technology, business and finance, social impact, and sports & lifestyle), was made after several evaluation phases conducted by the Forbes Middle East research team and then submitted to an outside panel of sector experts.
Criteria combined qualitative indicators — influence, innovation, future potential — and quantitative indicators, such as funds raised, revenue generated, scale of impact, community reach, or social media prominence.
Science and technology
- Based in the United States, Maya Nasr is a scientific engineer at Harvard University and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Since 2023, she has been working on the MethaneSAT mission, specializing in detecting methane emissions via satellite.
- Sara Sleem, an environmental engineer, co-founded ASK Group in 2023, overseeing two projects: Agriworm Solutions and BioSalleh. The former upcycles unsold agricultural products, using mealworm larvae to convert them into high-value protein flour and organic fertilizer. BioSalleh, meanwhile, is still in the testing and development phase, refining its waste management unit before market launch.
Business & Finance
- Christina Khalife (Saudi Arabia) is the co-founder of Arable, an agritech startup specializing in hydroponic growing systems adapted to desert climates, primarily for leafy greens and herbs. Founded in 2024, the company has raised $3.7 million and already operates two production sites in Saudi Arabia.
- Karim Hamdoun (United Arab Emirates) joined 7 Management — a hospitality group — in 2023 as managing partner, overseeing financial strategy, investments, and the group's expansion. He contributed to growing the company's portfolio to 21 outlets across five countries, developing both proprietary concepts and international partnerships.
- Omar Bsaibes and Wafic Medawar, based in Lebanon, co-founded ECLA Smile, a dental whitening brand partnered with over 150 clinics. The company anticipates annual revenues close to $700,000 in 2025.
- Omar al-Maadarani and Amer Nahouli, founders of Liban Fresh, export Lebanese fruits, vegetables, and agricultural products to several regional and European markets, supporting more than 1,000 small-scale producers. Since early 2025, Liban Fresh has reported $1.5 million in revenue, with its raw agricultural commodities business generating $3 million.
- Michael Ejbeh is co-founder of Visionics, a company specializing in FMCG packaging and logistics, collaborating with more than 40 factories across ten countries.
- Toufic Braidi is founder of Antati, a dermatological skincare brand launched in 2025, which has already sold over 21,000 units worldwide.
- Youmna Khoury (UAE) leads Youmi Beauty, a cosmetics brand whose revenues reached $2.7 million in 2024, propelled by a strong social media presence.
Social impact, sports and lifestyle
- Aya Mouallem and Maya Moussa founded All Girls Code, an initiative offering free training in coding and leadership to young girls in Lebanon and the MENA region. The project received UNESCO’s 2025 Prize for Girls' and Women's Education.
- Ihab Hallab founded SmartGov, a think-and-do tank dedicated to public sector reform. The organization has led several municipal digital transformation projects and raised more than $2.2 million in funding.
- Jean-Pierre Khoury is a fashion designer and founder of Jean Pierre Khoury Studios. His creations have been worn by numerous international celebrities and showcased at major events, most notably the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The '30 Under 30' list also features Lebanese-American Nour Antabli (UAE), founder of Nutrili, a supplements brand that notably offers gummy vitamins and marine collagen, now distributed in 15 countries. In 2025, she expanded her activities by launching JUST Snacks, a line of healthy food products.
