Ayman made his mark on the telecommunications sector, having worked as an engineer at satellite consortium Intelsat, and also on a family-owned South African wireless carrier, 3C, but it’s in the field of property where has forged a successful career path, as vice chairman and deputy CEO of Saudi Oger.

Hariri has handled the construction and facilities management of multi-billion dollar projects such as Princess Noura Bint Abdulrahman University for Women; King Abdullah Financial District, the $480m King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture, and the first privately-financed airport in the kingdom — the new $1.4bn Madinah Airport being built in a consortium with Turkey’s TAV and Al Rajhi Group.

He also played a key part in delivering — on time — the academic and administration buildings of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). He is known for being one of the rare chief executives who combine a deep, hands-on knowledge of complex technology concepts, with an impressive history of entrepreneurial success. Just like his four other siblings, Ayman is a  billionaire, but didn’t follow his father’s footsteps into politics, unlike his brother Saad, the former Lebanese prime minister.