Summary:
Zaid S. Al Khayyat, Managing Director of Al Khayyat Investments (AKI) since January 2016, has led a transformative era for the family-owned conglomerate. Under his leadership, AKI ascended from rank #66 to #28 in Forbes Middle East’s 2025 list of Top 100 Arab Family Businesses. His leadership philosophy blends family-rooted values with modern strategic execution, focusing on agility, talent cultivation, and long-term investments.
Key Impacts:
- Strategic Expansion: Entered Saudi Arabia and Oman in 2024 with AKI Retail, Pharma, and BinSina brands.
- Infrastructure Development: Delivered a 1 million sq ft Fulfilment & Innovation Centre in Dubai, quadrupling operational capacity.
- Partnership Growth: Secured key deals with SharkNinja and renewed Holland & Barrett’s 15-year partnership in 2025.
- Cultural DNA: Reinforced a high-performance culture rooted in trust, consistency, and people-first leadership.
- Public Profile: Featured in multiple power lists including Gulf Business (#88 in 2025) and Arabian Business (Dubai 100, Most Influential Arabs).
Quote:
"Without commitment, you'll never start, and without consistency, you'll never finish." – Zaid S. Al Khayyat
Verdict:
Zaid S. Al Khayyat’s leadership is a masterclass in modernizing a family business while preserving its legacy. His strategic decisions in 2024–2025 directly shaped AKI’s rise in regional stature and performance rankings.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.