Forbes Middle East has placed Karim Malash on its Most Impactful Real Estate Leaders 2026 list for his contributions to the sector.
Forbes Middle East selected Malash, chairperson and chief executive of M squared, based on his role in advancing real estate growth across the region. The list recognizes leaders from companies shaping residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
Malash joined M squared in 2021 after 25 years at Schlumberger, where he advanced from junior field engineer to vice president of global supply chain. He now oversees projects such as Masyaf Ras AlHekma on the North Coast, the MIST community in New Cairo, and 31WEST in the 6th of October City.
The Middle East real estate market reached $420.5 billion in value in 2025, according to IMARC Group data cited in the announcement, and is projected to grow substantially by 2034.