14 Lebanese Just Made It On Forbes’ 30 Under 30

Diana E.

Each year, Forbes acknowledges the “most promising young talent” from the region. In its latest edition, the magazine showcased the remarkable achievements of young individuals who are making a significant impact on the Middle East market. Here are the 13 young Lebanese entries on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list this year.

 

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Al Walid El Hallani

Among the Lebanese standouts is Al Walid El Hallani, a singer who has captured the hearts of many with his songs. His inclusion on the list underlines the cultural impact Lebanese artists are having on the region. Al Walid is the son of the famous Lebanese singer Assi El Hallani.

Yasmina Zaytoun

Another notable figure is Miss Universe Lebanon 2022 and Miss World Lebanon 2023, Yasmina Zaytoun, who has leveraged her platform to advocate for women’s education and health services while also supporting the Lebanese Food Bank and the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon.

 

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Ghassan Oueidat

The co-founder and CEO of Asymptotic Robotics, Ghassan Oueidat, developed an autonomous robotic cleaner called Spicedr for skyscraper windows. The project received funding from Berytech in 2018.

Bassel Jalaleddine

Bassel Jalaleddine founded eFlow, an AI-powered conversational learning platform, helping 16,000 learners. With support from UNHCR, the platform aims to engage 20,000 learners by 2023 across seven countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq.

Luma Makari

Luma Makari is the cofounder and CEO of Elggo, an AI-powered mental health platform for K–12 MENA schools. In 2022, the platform developed an evidence-based curriculum tailored for MENA in collaboration with psychology practitioners, clinicians, researchers, and professors.

Marc Aoun

Marc Aoun co-founded Compost Baladi, an organic waste management company in Lebanon. With 200 facilities, it processed 4,000 tons of organic waste and produced over 3,000 tons of organic fertilizer. The company secured $400,000 in convertible notes and $500,000 in equity-free cash.

Ahmad Haffar

Ahmad Haffar, known as “the voice of Dubai,” has worked with 71 companies and recorded voiceovers for 100 brands, including 20 government ones. He founded Mindloop Studios, built an academy, and partnered with STARZPLAY to develop his first comedy show.

 

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Patrick Sawaya

Patrick Sawaya, established in 2013, has worked with major fashion houses, covered various events, including Paris Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, the Cannes Film Festival, and Arab celebrities, and produced fashion shows and films.

Jad Hobeika

Jad Hobeika joined Maison Georges Hobeika in 2019 and became Co-Creative Director in June 2022. He designed the Couture Fall/Winter 2019–2020 and the SS22 collection in 2021. The brand has modeled celebrities, including Beyoncé.

 

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Paolo Khayat

Paolo Khayat co-founded Libas, a social marketplace for pre-owned designer pieces, with a 37% monthly growth rate and $500,000 in angel funding.

 

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Hasan Jaafar

Hasan Jaafar, co-founder and COO of YY ReGen, focuses on renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and water solutions.

 

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Reine Metlej

Reine Metlej co-founded BIOWAYSTE, a restaurant-oriented machine that converts organic waste into cooking gas and biofertilizer. She also trains startups and was selected for the European Commission evaluation.

 

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Hussein Ayoub

Hussein Ayoub, Director for Middle East and Africa at EDT & Partners, is a leader in transformative education. He co-founded the Youth Innovation Council and the MENA EdTech Alliance, and he leads the Unlearn/Relearn event.

Nour Sleiman

Nour Sleiman co-founded Cartlow, a reverse logistics solution that maximizes product value. With over two million items managed, Cartlow has saved over 36 million kg of carbon emissions and six million kg of waste. With $23 million in funding, it operates in the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Nour was featured in the science and technology category.

The Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2023 showcases Lebanon’s young leaders, despite economic and political challenges, demonstrating the limitless possibilities of talent and a supportive community.

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