Top 10 Richest Muslims in the World (2026 Forbes Data)

Global billionaire wealth surged past $17 trillion in early 2026, with over 3,100 individuals now holding ten-figure fortunes, according to the latest data compiled by Forbes. Among them, a powerful cohort of Muslim billionaires has continued to consolidate wealth across energy, technology, real estate, and industrial sectors — reflecting both the diversification of the global economy and the growing influence of Muslim-majority markets.

This ranking draws on verified data from the Forbes World’s Billionaires List (2026) and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, cross-referenced with reporting from Reuters, the Financial Times, and regional business media. Valuations reflect publicly available estimates as of March 2026, accounting for equity prices, currency movements, and disclosed asset holdings.

Collectively, the ten wealthiest Muslims featured here control an estimated $151 billion in combined net worth, representing year-on-year growth of roughly 20%. Their fortunes span cement and petroleum refining in Africa, technology outsourcing in India, sovereign-adjacent investments in the Gulf, and data center infrastructure in the United States.

Top 10 Richest Muslims in 2026

1. Aliko Dangote — $30.4 Billion

Country: Nigeria | Industry: Cement, Petroleum Refining, Industrials

Aliko Dangote has cemented his position as the wealthiest Muslim on the planet — and the richest person in Africa — with a fortune that Bloomberg pegged at $30.4 billion in early 2026. That figure represents a staggering 28% jump from the previous year, driven largely by the performance of the Dangote Refinery, which hit its full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day in February 2026.

The refinery, located in Lekki, Lagos, is now the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery. It supplies up to 75 million liters of gasoline daily to the Nigerian domestic market, and analysts estimate it will generate up to $10 billion in annual foreign exchange savings for Nigeria. Dangote has already signed a $400 million deal with Chinese construction firm XCMG to begin an expansion that would double capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day within three years.

Beyond petroleum, Dangote Cement remains the dominant producer across sub-Saharan Africa, with operations in ten countries. Dangote started 2026 with a $410 million net worth increase in the first week alone, underscoring the momentum behind his industrial empire. He is the first Black billionaire in history to surpass the $30 billion mark.

His philanthropic footprint includes the Dangote Foundation, which has deployed hundreds of millions of dollars toward healthcare, education, and economic empowerment across West Africa. He is also a significant donor to flood and famine relief programs across the Sahel region.

2. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan — $30 Billion

Country: UAE | Industry: Investments, Royal Holdings, Sports

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, holds an estimated fortune of $30 billion, making him the second-wealthiest Muslim globally. As a senior member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling Al Nahyan family, his wealth is tied to the emirate’s sovereign assets, strategic investments, and diversified business portfolio.

Internationally, Sheikh Mansour is best known as the owner of Manchester City Football Club and the broader City Football Group (CFG), which controls clubs on five continents. CFG’s valuation has soared following Manchester City’s continued dominance in English and European football.

His investment arm, Abu Dhabi United Group, holds stakes across financial services, media, and real estate. He also chairs the board of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, which directs billions in development finance across emerging markets. Sheikh Mansour’s wealth is difficult to separate entirely from Abu Dhabi’s sovereign apparatus, but independent estimates from Celebrity Net Worth and wealth trackers consistently place his personal fortune in the $30-40 billion range.

3. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal — $16.5 Billion

Country: Saudi Arabia | Industry: Diversified Investments

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud returned to the Forbes Billionaires List in 2025 after an eight-year absence, and his 2026 fortune stands at an estimated $16.5 billion according to Forbes — a significant rebound from the prior year. The Saudi royal’s wealth is anchored in Kingdom Holding Company, a publicly traded conglomerate on the Tadawul exchange in which he holds a 78% stake.

Kingdom Holding’s portfolio spans technology, hospitality, real estate, and financial services. Significant positions include stakes in Citigroup, Lyft, and the Four Seasons Hotels chain. The company has benefited from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation, particularly the IPO boom on the Saudi exchange and a tech-sector recovery that boosted valuations across the portfolio.

Prince Alwaleed is also a noted philanthropist. He signed the Giving Pledge in 2015, committing to donate the bulk of his fortune. His charitable foundation supports disaster relief, women’s empowerment, and interfaith dialogue initiatives across the Middle East and beyond.

4. Shahid Khan — $14.3 Billion

Country: USA (Pakistani-born) | Industry: Automotive Manufacturing, Sports

Pakistani-American billionaire Shahid “Shad” Khan saw his fortune climb to $14.3 billion in 2025 — a $2 billion increase in a single year, according to Forbes. He ranks 74th on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans and is the third-richest NFL team owner.

Khan’s wealth derives primarily from Flex-N-Gate, a privately held automotive parts manufacturer based in Urbana, Illinois. The company is one of the largest private employers in the U.S. auto supply chain, producing bumpers, running boards, and lighting systems for major automakers including Toyota, Ford, and General Motors.

In sports, Khan owns the Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL), which he purchased in 2012 for $770 million — a franchise now valued at $4.6 billion by Forbes. He also owns Fulham F.C. in the English Premier League and the AEW (All Elite Wrestling) promotion. Khan’s immigrant success story — arriving in the U.S. from Pakistan at age 16 and working as a dishwasher before building a manufacturing empire — is frequently cited as one of the most remarkable entrepreneurial journeys in American business.

Learn more about successful Muslim entrepreneurs in our guide to top Muslim-owned companies.

5. Azim Premji — $12.1 Billion

Country: India | Industry: Technology (Wipro)

Azim Premji, the chairman emeritus of Indian IT giant Wipro Limited, holds a fortune estimated at $12.1 billion as of early 2026. Despite having donated over $21 billion to philanthropic causes over his lifetime — making him India’s most generous billionaire — Premji’s remaining 62% stake in Wipro continues to generate substantial wealth.

Wipro, headquartered in Bangalore, is one of India’s top three IT services firms, competing with Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys for global outsourcing contracts. The company has pivoted toward cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI consulting in recent years, aligning with enterprise digital transformation trends.

The Azim Premji Foundation operates one of the largest private philanthropic programs in India, focused on education reform. The foundation has established a university in Bangalore, runs teacher training institutes, and works with state governments to improve public schooling for millions of children. Premji’s philanthropic model — which prioritizes systemic change over one-off donations — is widely studied as a blueprint for impact-driven giving in the Global South.

For more on halal investing principles, see our detailed guide on navigating equity markets.

6. Suleiman Kerimov — $10.7 Billion

Country: Russia (Dagestani) | Industry: Gold Mining, Finance

Suleiman Kerimov, one of Russia’s wealthiest Muslims, holds a fortune estimated at $10.7 billion. The Dagestani-born oligarch built his wealth through stakes in Polyus Gold, Russia’s largest gold producer with 105 million ounces of proven reserves, though his family sold its majority stake in the company in 2022 for $6.3 billion.

Despite international sanctions imposed by the U.S. and EU since 2018 over allegations of money laundering and tax evasion (which Kerimov has denied), his wealth has remained resilient — buoyed by gold’s sustained rally and diversified holdings in fertilizer and real estate. Gold prices reached record highs in 2025-2026, indirectly supporting the valuation of his remaining commodity-linked assets.

Kerimov’s net worth has fluctuated dramatically over his career, peaking at $21 billion in 2008 before the global financial crisis. He maintains residences in Moscow and France, and owns the football club Anzhi Makhachkala in his native Dagestan.

7. Hussain Sajwani — $10.2 Billion

Country: UAE | Industry: Real Estate, Data Centers

Hussain Sajwani, the founder and chairman of DAMAC Properties, has emerged as one of the fastest-rising Muslim billionaires, with his net worth climbing to roughly $10.2 billion by early 2026 according to Forbes. His ascent has been fueled by a strategic pivot from luxury real estate into the booming data center industry.

In January 2025, Sajwani stood alongside U.S. President Donald Trump to announce a $20 billion investment to build data centers across the United States through Edgnex, DAMAC’s technology infrastructure subsidiary. The venture represents one of the largest single foreign direct investments in U.S. digital infrastructure. Edgnex is also expanding data center operations from Ireland to Tokyo, with over $1 billion earmarked for global expansion.

Known colloquially as the “Donald of Dubai,” Sajwani has cultivated close ties with global political and business leaders. DAMAC Properties continues to develop luxury residential and hospitality projects across the Gulf, with branded partnerships including Trump-branded towers. His wealth surge reflects both Dubai’s real estate recovery and the explosive demand for AI-driven data center capacity worldwide.

8. Nassef Sawiris — $9.6 Billion

Country: Egypt | Industry: Construction, Chemicals, Sports

Egypt’s richest man, Nassef Sawiris, commands a fortune of approximately $9.6 billion in 2026. His wealth is rooted in OCI Global, one of the world’s largest nitrogen fertilizer and methanol producers, and Orascom Construction, a major engineering and building firm.

March 2026 has been a pivotal month for Sawiris. He stepped down as executive chairman of OCI Global, citing other professional commitments, as part of a broader restructuring that will see OCI merge with Orascom Construction and relist in Abu Dhabi. Days later, Adidas proposed Sawiris as its new chairman of the supervisory board — a role that would place him at the helm of one of the world’s most iconic sports brands.

Sawiris is also co-owner of Aston Villa F.C. in the English Premier League alongside American businessman Wes Edens. The duo’s ownership has coincided with the club’s return to European competition and significant growth in franchise value.

His portfolio also includes a substantial stake in Adidas itself, further linking his fortune to global consumer markets. Sawiris has been increasingly active in European business circles, recently relocating to Italy.

9. Mohammed Al Amoudi — $9.3 Billion

Country: Saudi Arabia / Ethiopia | Industry: Oil, Mining, Agriculture

Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi, the Saudi-Ethiopian billionaire, holds an estimated $9.3 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Notably, Forbes has not reinstated Al Amoudi on its billionaires list despite Bloomberg consistently ranking him among the world’s wealthiest — a discrepancy attributed to the opacity of his privately held assets.

Al Amoudi’s empire spans two continents. In Sweden, he owns Preem, the country’s largest oil refinery, as well as a minority stake in infrastructure holding company Granitor. In Ethiopia, he controls oil companies, gold mines, coffee plantations, and rice farms — making him the single largest private investor in the Ethiopian economy.

His wealth dipped slightly in 2025 on energy market volatility, but Ethiopian gold mining operations helped buffer losses. Al Amoudi’s business activities in Ethiopia have been both praised for creating employment and criticized by governance watchdogs for their proximity to political power. He remains one of the most consequential economic figures bridging the Arab world and the Horn of Africa.

10. Iskander Makhmudov — $8.3 Billion

Country: Russia (Uzbek-born) | Industry: Copper Mining, Manufacturing

Uzbek-born Russian billionaire Iskander Makhmudov rounds out the top ten with an estimated $8.3 billion. He is the founder and principal owner of UGMK Holding (Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company), Russia’s second-largest copper producer and fourth-largest non-ferrous metals company.

UGMK generated approximately $3.2 billion in revenue in its most recent reporting period, with operations spanning copper smelting, zinc production, coal mining, and machine manufacturing. Makhmudov also holds interests in transportation through Transmashholding, Russia’s largest maker of railway equipment.

Unlike some of his Russian billionaire peers, Makhmudov has largely avoided international sanctions, allowing his business operations to continue across global markets. His wealth has been relatively stable, reflecting the steady demand for industrial metals in construction and manufacturing. Makhmudov is known for maintaining a low public profile despite his vast fortune.

Key Trends Among the World’s Richest Muslims in 2026

Diversification Beyond Oil

While energy wealth remains a factor — particularly for Al Amoudi and Dangote — the 2026 list reflects a clear shift toward technology, data infrastructure, and consumer brands. Sajwani’s pivot to data centers and Sawiris’s move toward Adidas chairmanship illustrate how Muslim billionaires are positioning themselves in the post-hydrocarbon economy.

Philanthropy as a Defining Feature

Several billionaires on this list — Premji, Dangote, and Alwaleed — have committed enormous sums to charitable causes, often rooted in Islamic principles of zakat (obligatory charity) and sadaqah (voluntary giving). Premji’s $21 billion in lifetime donations stands as one of the largest philanthropic commitments in global history. For more on charitable giving in Islam, see our article on understanding zakat.

Geographic Spread

The top ten spans Nigeria, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the United States, India, Russia, Egypt, and Ethiopia — reflecting the global distribution of Muslim entrepreneurial success. No single country or region dominates the list, underscoring the diversity of Muslim-majority economies and diaspora communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the richest Muslim in the world in 2026?

Aliko Dangote of Nigeria is the richest Muslim in the world in 2026, with a net worth of approximately $30.4 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His wealth is driven by the Dangote Group, which includes Africa’s largest cement company and the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery.

How many Muslim billionaires are there in 2026?

While exact figures vary by source, Forbes and Bloomberg collectively track over 100 billionaires from Muslim-majority countries. When including Muslims from non-Muslim-majority nations (such as Shahid Khan in the U.S. and Azim Premji in India), the total number of Muslim billionaires worldwide is estimated to exceed 130.

Are the net worth figures exact?

No. Net worth figures from Forbes and Bloomberg are estimates based on public equity holdings, known real estate, and other disclosed assets. They are updated regularly but can fluctuate significantly with stock markets, currency movements, and private asset revaluations. Figures for individuals with primarily private holdings (like Al Amoudi) carry greater uncertainty.

Which industries generate the most wealth for Muslim billionaires?

Industrials and manufacturing (Dangote, Makhmudov, Khan), diversified investments and finance (Alwaleed, Mansour), technology (Premji), real estate and data centers (Sajwani), and natural resources (Kerimov, Al Amoudi) are the primary wealth generators. The trend in 2026 is toward technology infrastructure and consumer brands, moving away from pure commodity dependence.

How does Islamic finance relate to Muslim billionaire wealth?

While not all Muslim billionaires exclusively use Islamic financial instruments, the growth of halal investing and Sharia-compliant banking has created new capital pools. The global Islamic finance industry now exceeds $4 trillion in assets, providing additional avenues for wealth creation and preservation that align with religious principles.

Who is the richest Muslim woman in 2026?

While this list focuses on the top ten overall (all of whom are men in 2026), notable Muslim women of significant wealth include members of Gulf royal families and successful entrepreneurs across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The representation of women among Muslim billionaires remains limited but is growing as more women enter leadership roles in business.