Hisham Farouk is the Chief Executive Officer of Grant Thornton UAE, where he has led the firm through more than two decades of sustained transformation, expansion and institutional maturity. As Grant Thornton UAE marks over 60 years alongside the nation’s growth, his forward-thinking leadership has strengthened the firm’s market presence, deepened sector expertise and reinforced its position as a trusted adviser to businesses, regulators and institutions. Under his leadership, the firm has consistently delivered strong performance, earning global recognition, including the Grant Thornton International Go Beyond Award for Best Firm in 2024, and joining Grant Thornton Advisors in 2025 — a multinational platform of more than 24,000 professionals across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.
Hisham has played a pivotal role in positioning Grant Thornton UAE as a partner of choice during periods of economic, regulatory and structural change. He works closely with government entities, regulators and financial institutions, advising on compliance, dispute resolution and market confidence, and has acted as an expert witness in some of the region’s most complex and high-profile arbitration cases.
A future-ready and trusted adviser, he has supported many of the Middle East’s leading regional and global conglomerates across financial services, hospitality, construction, real estate, FMCG and family-owned enterprises, helping organisations navigate governance transformation, succession, cross-border growth and long-term value creation.
Hisham is deeply committed to supporting entrepreneurial and family enterprises to professionalise, govern responsibly and scale sustainably — earning recognition from The National as “the right-hand man for Dubai families.” Beyond client work, he is an active contributor to the region’s leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, mentoring founders and supporting platforms such as the 30% Club GCC Chapter, REACH, TechStars and Endeavor. He is also committed to social impact, supporting initiatives including Al Noor Training Centre for People of Determination and the Maria Cristina Foundation, and regularly contributes to global dialogue on ESG, innovation and sustainable finance through keynote addresses, guest lectures and media commentary. He holds executive and leadership credentials from Harvard Business School, Oxford University and Grant Thornton International.
- Harvard Business School Alumni
- Leadership Program, University of Oxford
- Executive Leadership Program, INSEAD
- MBA in Finance, The American University in London
- Bachelors in Sociology, The American University in Cairo
- Registered Auditor, UAE Ministry of Economy
- Registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice
- Licensed Insolvency Practitioner with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
- Certified Non-Executive Director, Financial Times
- Corporate Finance Faculty, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
- Young Presidents Organisation (YPO), Dubai Downtown Chapter
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Grant Thornton UAE to join multinational platform led by Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
PRESS RELEASEDubai, UAE & Chicago, IL, US; April 23, 2025 — Grant Thornton UAE today announced that it has reached an agreement to unite with Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (Grant Thornton Advisors). Through the agreement, Grant Thornton UAE will join the multinational platform that Grant Thornton Advisors initially created earlier this year with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform was established with the backing of an investor group led by New Mountain Capital, a growth-oriented investment firm with approximately $55 billion in assets under management. The expanded platform will continue to be part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which comprises member firms in more than 150 markets worldwide.
Grant Thornton’s Hisham Farouk on trade, sustainable finance and ESG
PRESS RELEASEThe UAE division’s CEO discusses the firm’s strategies for bolstering cross-border business and the importance of sustainable finance, ESG and digital transformation
From the advent of AI in accounting to the need for more diversity, Grant Thornton UAE CEO Hisham Farouk discusses the brave new world of financial accounting.
PRESS RELEASEHisham Farouk may have been working with Grant Thornton UAE for 24 years now, serving as CEO since 2012; however, as he tells The CEO Magazine, that doesn’t mean he’s feeling any less inspired. Far from it, in fact.
