Forbes based its selection on Hisham Talaat Moustafa's more than 40 years of experience leading the Talaat Moustafa Group. The group currently operates over 5,000 hotel rooms across 11 hotels, with another five hotels under development. Their expansive land portfolio covers 125.9 million square meters in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iraq.
The Group's strong performance is supported by impressive figures. In the first quarter of 2025, it recorded cumulative sales of $6.9 billion. Hotel sector revenues surged by 50% to $69 million, which accounted for 37% of the group's total revenue of $186 million. A strategic agreement signed in May 2025 with Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to develop two real estate projects near the city of Sultan Haitham further solidifies the group's regional presence.
Hisham Talaat has been a driving force behind a major transformation
in the Egyptian tourism sector. This was achieved through the acquisition of a
51% stake in Legacy Hotels and Tourism Projects by the group's subsidiary,
ICON. Legacy owns seven historic and legendary hotels, including the Marriott
Mena House Cairo, the Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, the Old Cataract Aswan, and
the Steigenberger Cecil Alexandria. This move boosted ICON's dollar-denominated
income and allowed for new investments to upgrade these properties.
By partnering with global brands such as Four Seasons and Kempinski, Hisham Talaat has also elevated Egypt's hospitality standards. This has raised the average price of a hotel stay and successfully attracted a new segment of high-spending tourists, helping to redefine the luxury tourism market and position Egypt as a premier destination in the region.