Whether they're politicians, businessmen, or royalty, these Arab men are making the region a better place. 

Their dedication to helping people around them and across the borders of their own countries is exemplary.

Here's a list of 9 Arab men who are making a positive impact on the Arab world.

1. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (UAE)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, positive impact, Dubai, UAE, Arab men
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Source: BBC

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice president of the UAE, helped transform the emirate into the lavish business and tourist destination it is today. 

He has created major firms such as Emirates Airlines, DP World, and the Jumeirah Group.

His campaign, Dubai Cares, aims to fight poverty and ensure poor people receive a proper education.

"We are building a new reality for our people, a new future for our children, and a new model of development,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum once said

2. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal (Saudi Arabia)

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Arab men, positive impact, Saudi Arabia
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Source: alwaleed

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is the chairman of business and investment company, Kingdom Holding Company.

He founded Alwaleed Philanthropies, an initiative dedicated to eliminating poverty, supporting and empowering women and the youth, and advocating the importance of education all regardless of sex, race, and religion.

"Ethics to me [are] very important," Alwaleed bin Talal once said

3. Carlos Slim Helu (Lebanon)

Carlos Slim Helu, positive impact, Arab men, influential, Lebanon, Mexico
Carlos Slim Helu Source: Financell

Born in Mexico to Lebanese parents, Carlos Slim Helu is referred to as "one of the worlds most important philanthropists" by former U.S. President, Bill Clinton.

He was recently granted the Humanitarian Award by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and landed a place on Forbes' list of the world's biggest givers for his 4-billion-dollar donations back in 2011. 

Helu's work is mainly focused on digital education and health, granting over 350,000 scholarships to Mexican students.

"It’s important to give a better country to your children, but it is more important to give better children to your country," Carlos Slim Helu once said

4. Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi (Saudi Arabia)

Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi, positive impact, influential, Arab men
Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi Source: NewsTodayPK

Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi is the founder of Sulaiman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi Charitable Foundation. It supports approximately 1,200 charity projects in 13 regions and all over the kingdom.

Al Rajhi was mentioned in Business Insider's list of the most generous people in 2015, having donated 5.7 billion dollars in his lifetime.

"How can you satisfy your hunger while your neighbor is spending the night hungry?" Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi once said.

5. Mohamed Bouazizi (Tunisia)

In 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. 

The act came after his unlicensed vegetable cart and its goods were confiscated by police, who assaulted him and insulted his late father. 

Already an anti-government protester at the time, his self-immolation inspired the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and the Arab Spring.

He was applauded by Arab commentators as one of the "heroic martyrs of a new Middle Eastern revolution."

6. Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi (UAE)

Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, positive impact, Arab men, Art, UAE,
Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi Source: The Dubai 100

Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi is known for being a controversial commentator on Arab affairs. He's written for major publications such as Foreign Policy, The Guardian, The Independent, and The New York Times. 

In spring 2017, he offered a course on Politics of Middle Eastern Art at New York University. 

Al Qassemi founded the Barjeel Art Foundation, an independent initiative that supports modern and contemporary Arab art. 

"It increasingly feels like it's July 1990 in the Gulf," Al Qassemi once tweeted

7. Fouad Makhzoumi (Lebanon)

Fouad Makhzoumi, lebanese, positive impact, Arab men, influential, businnesman, philanthropist
Fouad Makhzoumi Source: Daily Star

Fouad Makhzoumi is a well-known Lebanese politician and businessman. 

Along with his wife, they founded the Makhzoumi Foundation to offer education, affordable healthcare, and workable startups in Lebanon.

"Social responsibility, towards all humanity, is not simply achieved by offering assistance and services for the less fortunate, but by also enabling them to take responsibility towards themselves & others," believes Makhzoumi.

8. Prince Ali bin Hussein (Jordan)

Prince Ali bin Hussein, positive impact, Arab men, FIFA, hijab
Prince Ali bin Hussein Source: BBC

Prince Ali bin Hussein was FIFA's youngest vice-president in 2011.

He was able to push for women to wear the hijab and special uniforms, rallying for FIFA to lift its ban on the veil in 2010. 

"The world’s game deserves a world-class governing body — an International Federation that is a service organization and a model of ethics, transparency and good governance," he once said.

9. Bassem Youssef (Egypt)

Bassem Youssef, positive impact, Arab men, comedian, Egypt
Bassem Youssef Source: Oslo Freedom Forum

Also known as "the Jon Stewart of Egypt," Bassem Youssef is a popular comedian, social commentator and program host who was the host of the popular show Al-Bernameg (The Show).

Throughout the show's many running seasons and up until it was stopped, Youssef satirically mocked politicians, governments, and institutionalized corruption.

Because of his critique, he was arrested and questioned for consecutive hours by authorities, which led him to flee Egypt once freed.

His act of bravery paved the way for other Arab comedians to speak up.

"Sarcasm all around the world is always against right wing and against people in power. That's the definition of political sarcasm," he once said