Forbes declares Pavel Durov richest man in UAE

Founder and owner of Telegram messenger, Pavel Durov, has become the richest man in the United Arabian Emirates (UAE), according to Forbes.

His current fortune is estimated at $15.1 billion, ranking 123rd in the overall list of billionaires.

Last year, the entrepreneur's fortune exceeded $17 billion, reaching $2.4 billion in 2020, $2.7 billion the year before and $1.7 billion in 2018.

Pavel Durov has four citizenships - Russia, St. Kitts and Nevis, France and the UAE. He only became a citizen of the UAE in February 2022. Since 2017, the entrepreneur has been living in Dubai.