Leadership in the UAE continues to redefine what excellence in sport, community development, and national identity truly means. This year, Forbes Middle East recognized Fouad Fahmi Darwish, CEO and Managing Director of Palms Sports PJSC, among the Top 100 CEOs for 2025—a testament to a vision rooted in progress, performance, and purpose.
Under Darwish’s leadership, Palms Sports has evolved far beyond a sports management company. It has become a catalyst for empowerment, a driver of wellbeing, and a symbol of the UAE’s dynamic growth. His stewardship reflects a national direction where sport is deeply connected to identity, discipline, and social cohesion.
The recognition also highlights Palms Sports’ expanding footprint across the region. With major government partnerships, innovative community programs, and the continued global rise of UAE Warriors – the region’s premier MMA platform – Darwish has helped build an ecosystem where athletes, youth, and communities thrive together.
Financially, the Palms Sports continues to demonstrate strength and resilience, with significant revenue growth and strategic contracts that reinforce the company’s role in the UAE’s sports development landscape. Yet beyond numbers, Darwish’s leadership emphasizes values—unity, ambition, and the belief that sport can shape stronger, healthier societies.
His inclusion in the Forbes list reflects not only personal achievement but also the UAE’s commitment to excellence, progress, and global influence. It is a recognition of a broader journey—where leadership is measured not only by results but by lasting impact.
