in 2014, the chief editor of the list was again professor s abdallah schleifer. the top spot went back to saudi king abdullah bin abdul aziz al-saud, due to his being the "absolute monarch of the most powerful arab nation." the list accords him the place in light of saudi arabia being home to islam's two holy cities of makkah and madinah, which millions of muslims visit throughout the year, as well as the kingdom's oil exports. rounding out the top three are dr muhammad ahmed al-tayeb, grand sheikh of al-azhar university and grand imam of al-azhar mosque, and iran's supreme leader ali khamenei. the top nine are all political leaders and royals, including morocco's king mohammed vi and turkish president recep tayyip erdogan.