Ahmed al-Sharaa named among Time's 100 most influential people of 2025

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the newly appointed president of Syria, has been featured in Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people worldwide for 2025.

The magazine, which released the list on April 16, recognised al-Sharaa as one of the most impactful political figures globally. He was praised for playing a central role in Syria's recent political changes.

Time highlighted that al-Sharaa led opposition forces that toppled former president Bashar al-Assad in December of last year. The publication emphasised his ability to bridge the gap between hardliners, whom he previously represented, and liberal Syrians who welcomed Assad’s removal.

The article described al-Sharaa as someone who “built alliances with Syrian fighters, gained Türkiye’s support, and created a stable, inclusive government in northwestern Syria.” His success, it noted, stemmed from realising that military power alone wouldn't be enough—he also had to evolve into a political leader.

Al-Sharaa appears in the “Leaders” section of the list, alongside US President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Germany’s incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Argentine President Javier Milei.

In a profile on Trump, the magazine remarked that “no other modern president has taken control of the US government as decisively as Donald Trump.”

The full list is divided into six categories. In the “Artists” category, singer Ed Sheeran and actress Scarlett Johansson were featured. The “Icons” section included actors Demi Moore and Adrien Brody, as well as French citizen Gisèle Pellico, who drew public attention after revealing that her husband drugged and abused her for a decade.

The remaining categories are “Titans” — which includes tennis star Serena Williams, Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — “Pioneers,” and “Innovators.”

By Tamilla Hasanova