In a region known for rapid transformation and ambitious growth, the Gulf continues to stand at the crossroads of innovation, sustainability, and global influence. As industries evolve and new paradigms take shape, a distinct group of leaders is rising to meet the moment, those who are not only navigating change but actively shaping it. This feature celebrates five such individuals who are redefining what it means to lead in today's dynamic business environment.
These empowering business figures come from diverse backgrounds, legal consultancy, renewable energy, industrial operations, international business development, and strategic technology leadership. Yet, what unites them is a shared commitment to excellence, purpose-driven impact, and forward-thinking vision. Their stories illustrate the power of resilience, innovation, and adaptability in a region where traditional boundaries are continuously being reimagined.
From championing sustainable energy models to transforming legal accessibility across borders, and from operational leadership in high-stakes environments to bridging cultures through global business initiatives, these individuals are more than just successful professionals, they are catalysts for regional and international progress. Each of them represents a unique blend of expertise and values, making their leadership not only empowering but exemplary for the next generation.
As the Gulf prepares for the next wave of economic diversification and global engagement, the contributions of leaders like Walid Sowaidan, Elliot Lee, Ph.D., Georges Abou-Rjeily, Andrey Y. Rogachev, and Ibrahim R. Gerges underscore the vital role of strategic leadership in building inclusive and sustainable futures. Their journeys reflect both the challenges and opportunities of leading in a region that stands at the heart of global transformation.
This edition of “𝐆𝐮𝐥𝐟'𝐬 𝟓 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓” offers an inside look into their achievements, philosophies, and the values that guide them. Their leadership is not just about corporate growth or market share, it’s about setting new standards, inspiring future talent, and leading with integrity in an ever-changing world.
Walid Sowaidan
Walid Sowaidan is at the forefront of revolutionizing legal consultancy across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Through his leadership at LexDesk360, he is redefining how legal services are delivered by integrating consultancy with strategic advisory. The platform provides businesses with access to tailored, high-impact legal solutions through a growing network of expert international counsels and carefully selected Network Law Firms. This model offers a seamless blend of global expertise and local insight across jurisdictions.
LexDesk360 operates on the foundational belief that every business, regardless of its size or stage of growth, deserves access to high-quality legal support. Flagship services such as LexFend and LexTend empower SMEs and growing companies with proactive, business-aligned legal counsel. This innovative approach bridges the gap between traditional law firm models and the evolving needs of modern businesses, allowing clients to address legal risks, compliance challenges, and transactions with increased confidence and agility.
The platform’s unique value lies in its ability to bridge the gap between in-house and external legal expertise. Clients are strategically matched with senior legal professionals who serve as embedded partners in their business journey. These professionals offer a balanced blend of legal precision and commercial understanding. Supported by a growing network of Network Law Firms, this collaborative structure ensures that clients receive holistic and jurisdiction-specific legal solutions, all while maintaining a centralized, strategic relationship with LexDesk360.
Technology plays a central role in the transformation LexDesk360 is driving. By leveraging digital platforms, the company enhances transparency, efficiency, and collaboration among clients, counsels, and partner firms. Whether through streamlined matter management, real-time updates, or secure communication channels, this tech-driven model delivers legal services that are more accessible, responsive, and tailored to the client’s needs throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
With a clear vision for growth, LexDesk360 is actively expanding its regional presence by onboarding additional expert counsels and Network Law Firms. The organization remains dedicated to building a broader ecosystem that not only connects businesses to top-tier legal expertise but also elevates standards of service and accessibility. Among the exciting developments ahead is the formal launch of Sowaidan, the flagship Network Law Firm under the LexDesk360 umbrella, which signals the next phase in delivering forward-thinking, client-centric legal solutions across the region.
Elliot Lee, Ph.D.
The future of the clean energy transition is not just an option, it is a necessity. As global momentum builds toward renewable energy adoption, the demand for advanced technologies supporting solar, wind, and other green energy initiatives is rapidly increasing. Innovation in smart grids and expanded energy storage solutions will be instrumental in ensuring a reliable, efficient distribution of energy. Additionally, progress in materials and manufacturing will continue to unlock more sustainable and cost-effective clean energy options. This movement is bolstered by global urgency around sustainability and climate responsibility. In the UAE, the government’s ambitious plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 marks a defining moment in the region’s sustainability journey. In this mission, Ducab stands as a critical player, led by Elliot Lee, Ph.D., Group Executive Director – Technology | Innovation, R&D and Quality Control Laboratories, who play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and driving its clean energy initiatives.
The energy transition demands more than a shift in resource usage, it requires a complete overhaul of existing infrastructure and systems. This comprehensive transformation spans energy production, storage, transportation, and consumption. Around the world, new energy portfolios are being built on renewable sources such as solar and wind, which emit no greenhouse gases and are virtually inexhaustible. The International Energy Agency projects that solar energy will surpass natural gas in global installed power capacity by 2026, and by 2027, it will overtake coal, becoming the world’s leading energy source.
In the residential, commercial, and utilities markets, there is growing emphasis on developing systems that both generate and manage clean energy. Because renewables like solar power fluctuate with weather patterns, consistent energy supply requires integration of sophisticated storage and management systems. These systems store surplus energy and release it during demand peaks, while real-time monitoring ensures smooth energy flow. Such innovations are empowering consumers to embrace clean energy with confidence and efficiency.
Ducab is poised to be the solution provider in this evolving landscape, leading from the front, and they’re now proudly operating at the new Palm Jumeirah.
Georges Abou-Rjeily
Georges Abou-Rjeily is a distinguished operations leader in the Gulf’s industrial catering and remote site services sector, with a career defined by strategic execution, operational resilience, and a deep commitment to quality and safety. As the Director of Operations at NCC Middle East, Georges plays a pivotal role in delivering high-impact catering, facility management, and logistical support across Saudi Arabia’s most demanding environments, including offshore rigs and giga projects. His journey reflects a rare combination of field expertise and executive vision, cultivated over two decades of service excellence.
From his early days managing catering services to leading multimillion-dollar operations across remote industrial zones, Georges has built a reputation for achieving tangible results in high-stakes settings. His leadership tenure includes senior roles at Saudi Airlines Catering Company and DGS Management Services, where he spearheaded critical projects that contributed to regional development and workforce welfare. Over the years, he has successfully guided teams of over 1,200 professionals, instilling a culture of safety, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Today, under his guidance, NCC Middle East continues to expand its capabilities and impact. A recent milestone in this growth was the awarding of a prestigious offshore rig contract in Saudi Arabia. This significant achievement reaffirms the company’s position as a trusted partner for the oil, gas, and energy sectors. With this contract, NCC Saudi strengthens its ability to deliver world-class industrial catering solutions offshore and onshore, enhancing both operational efficiency and the well-being of field personnel. The win is a reflection of Georges’ forward-thinking approach and the team's unwavering dedication to high standards in service delivery.
Georges brings more than just operational expertise to the table, he brings a people-first mindset that values team development and long-term client partnerships. His approach is grounded in practical leadership, honed through years of hands-on experience and continuous professional development. Throughout his career, he has maintained a clear focus on operational excellence, achieving multiple recognitions for safety performance and client satisfaction. His educational foundation in Hospitality Administration from the University at Albany, SUNY, has further equipped him with the knowledge to drive organizational transformation and service innovation.
Through a combination of strategic leadership, technical acumen, and a strong service ethos, Georges Abou-Rjeily continues to make a lasting impact on the Gulf’s remote site services sector. His role in driving operational success at NCC Middle East positions him as one of the region’s most empowering business leaders to watch in 2025.
Andrey Y. Rogachev ( Dr. ROGACHEV )
Andrey Y. Rogachev’s professional journey is a remarkable tapestry woven through continents, cultures, and complex industries. With an impressive background rooted in Russia and refined across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, Andrey exemplifies the essence of a global business leader in today’s interconnected world. His narrative, deeply embedded in cultural exploration and professional resilience, positions him as one of the Gulf’s most empowering business leaders to watch in 2025.
His international story commenced in 1997, after completing a university degree in Russia. He then moved to northern Germany for advanced studies, demonstrating a strong commitment to academic excellence and global exposure. By 1999, Andrey had earned his new degree and relocated to Switzerland, where his career in banking and risk management took root. This marked the beginning of a life shaped by international movement and cross-cultural learning.
Switzerland became the training ground for his early career, where he began developing his expertise in risk assessment within the financial sector. The European experience, with its diverse cultural influences and emphasis on nuanced interpersonal communication, offered Andrey a deeper understanding of human dynamics in global business. These formative years were critical in shaping his adaptability and openness, traits that later became cornerstones of his international success.
His professional trajectory then led him to the United States, where he settled in New York. During this phase, he pursued a dissertation at Columbia Business School’s Department of Risk Management, further anchoring his credentials in one of the world’s most competitive academic and financial environments. It was also in New York that he confronted and embraced new value systems, reflecting on the contrast between Western capitalism and the spiritual depth of the East, especially after his subsequent move to Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
Each destination added a new layer of insight and self-awareness to his leadership style. As Andrey immersed himself in local customs and unfamiliar terrains, from Colombo to Jakarta, he encountered powerful cultural and spiritual contrasts that profoundly influenced his worldview. The experience ignited a quest for balance between the material and the spiritual, a harmony that continues to guide his leadership philosophy today.
Andrey's professional endeavors have never been confined to boardrooms or urban centers. His work has taken him off the beaten path, offering him perspectives far removed from traditional business circuits. He perceives each journey not as a routine business trip, but as a deeply educational experience, where wild, untouched regions become classrooms for learning patience, restraint, and tolerance, virtues he believes are essential for effective leadership.
His unique philosophy, cultivated over years of global immersion, recognizes no borders. Whether among African tribes or in European capitals, Andrey engages with individuals not as representatives of stereotypes, but as distinct carriers of history and culture. This worldview underpins his belief that cultural intelligence is critical for global business success.
Following his time in New York, Andrey returned briefly to Moscow before settling in Basel, Switzerland, a city at the intersection of Switzerland, France, and Germany. It was a fitting location for someone who thrives on intercultural connections and intellectual exploration. From here, his project-based work expanded rapidly, taking him across multiple industries including consulting, pharmaceuticals, IT, manufacturing, and port infrastructure.
Andrey’s project portfolio spans more than just sectors; it covers geographies that many only dream of exploring. He has worked extensively across the Nordic countries, implementing business projects in Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Stockholm, demonstrating his capability to operate effectively within multicultural, multilingual teams. One of the most significant chapters of his career took him to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he served as a financial controller and auditor overseeing operations in 22 sub-Saharan countries. This role offered him an in-depth view of Africa’s diverse economies and community-based business models.
With Asia as another key chapter in his journey, Andrey has developed deep insights into markets like Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. Although originally from the Asian part of Russia, he regards these nations as unique cultural ecosystems that have enriched his understanding of local economies, consumer behavior, and socio-political dynamics.
Despite having lived across much of the developed and developing world, one region remains on Andrey’s future radar, Latin America. As he continues his ongoing exploration of the Middle East and MENA business landscape, he envisions Latin America as the next destination in his global narrative.
His philosophy on international business draws from time-tested wisdom and practical experience. Referencing Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, Andrey emphasizes the importance of cultural intelligence in building sustainable businesses in foreign territories. According to him, understanding the customs, values, and socio-economic intricacies of a region is not optional, it is essential for success. The ability to localize communication, understand real-time needs, and assess a product’s market fit is what separates thriving global businesses from those that falter.
Andrey views international experience as more than a résumé enhancer, it is a transformative journey that molds leaders. His approach underscores learning from regional business legends, adapting their strategies, and developing intercultural collaboration skills. This, he believes, forms the cultural code of the modern global manager, someone equipped not just with data and analytics, but with empathy, insight, and the ability to relate across cultures.
As the Middle East emerges as a focal point for international investment and innovation, Andrey Y. Rogachev brings with him a wealth of knowledge, adaptability, and foresight. His ability to operate seamlessly across continents, languages, and industries makes him a standout figure in the business landscape. In a world where cultural fluency and strategic insight are invaluable assets, he exemplifies the kind of leadership that is not just empowered, but empowering.
Ibrahim R. Gerges
At the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s sustainable transformation stands Ibrahim R. Gerges, General Manager of Solar Arabia Co. Ltd., a pioneer in the Kingdom’s renewable energy sector. His journey is a compelling story of foresight, strategic leadership, and unwavering commitment to a cleaner energy future.
Ibrahim entered the energy sector during a time when the concept of renewables was met with widespread skepticism across the region. Traditional energy sources still reigned, and solar was viewed by many as an uncertain investment. Yet, where others saw doubt, Ibrahim saw possibility. Driven by a strong conviction in the environmental and economic potential of solar energy, he joined Solar Arabia and steadily advanced through key leadership roles, culminating in his appointment as General Manager.
Under his leadership, Solar Arabia has not only gained a strong foothold in the market but has become a catalyst for change. One of Ibrahim’s earliest challenges was transforming perceptions, both within the organization and externally among clients and policymakers. Building credibility for solar technology in a traditionally oil-centric landscape required more than technical knowledge; it demanded a visionary approach and the ability to foster trust across all levels of engagement.
Today, Solar Arabia operates across a diverse range of sectors, delivering integrated solar solutions to commercial, industrial, and government entities. A key highlight under Ibrahim’s leadership was the company achieving a net profit margin of 30% in 2024, an impressive milestone that reflects strategic planning, operational excellence, and a strong customer focus. Furthermore, the company’s repeated role as a Gold sponsor at Solar & Storage Live KSA has cemented its position as a major player and thought leader in the region’s renewable energy movement.
For Ibrahim, the drive goes far beyond financial metrics. His true motivation lies in the long-term impact of the company’s work, reducing carbon emissions, advancing energy independence, and aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Central to this mission is his focus on team building and local capacity development. Ibrahim has made it a priority to cultivate a culture of innovation, accountability, and high performance within his team, empowering the next generation of energy professionals.
To those aspiring to make their mark in the energy sector, Ibrahim offers practical yet profound guidance: stay curious, remain adaptable, and lead with integrity. The renewable energy space is dynamic and constantly evolving, requiring continuous learning and the courage to take informed risks. His own journey is a testament to the power of resilience, foresight, and principled leadership.
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its transition toward a diversified and sustainable energy model, leaders like Ibrahim R. Gerges are playing a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future. Through Solar Arabia, he continues to push boundaries, inspire change, and make meaningful contributions to the Kingdom’s ambitious sustainability goals.
Conclusion
As the Gulf continues to write its story of transformation and global leadership, individuals like Walid Sowaidan, Elliot Lee, Ph.D., Georges Abou-Rjeily, Andrey Y. Rogachev, and Ibrahim R. Gerges are proving that real progress is driven by more than ambition, it is powered by vision, innovation, and integrity. Each of these leaders is carving a distinct path forward, not just for their organizations, but for the industries and communities they serve.
Their contributions transcend borders and disciplines. Whether it is enabling greater legal accessibility across jurisdictions, championing clean energy innovation, enhancing operational excellence in critical sectors, or bridging global cultures through business acumen, these professionals reflect the very best of what leadership in 2025 can offer. Their success stories serve as reminders that sustainable growth and meaningful impact are rooted in clarity of purpose and a willingness to lead from the front.
In celebrating their achievements, this feature not only honors their individual journeys but also highlights the broader momentum shaping the Gulf’s economic and social future. As regional priorities evolve in alignment with global trends, the role of such empowering leaders becomes even more essential, guiding transformation, inspiring collaboration, and building a legacy that will resonate well beyond 2025.
These five visionaries remind us that the future of the Gulf is not just about infrastructure or policy, it is about people. People who dare to think differently, lead boldly, and act decisively. And in that future, the leadership they demonstrate today will serve as a blueprint for those who follow.
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