THE MIDDLE EAST’S
100 Most Powerful
Businesswomen 2023
Women in the Middle East and North Africa today lead some of the largest companies in the region, with some also making their mark internationally.
Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank and Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson & Managing Director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group were both recognized on Forbes’ list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women 2022, taking their place among some of the most influential female leaders globally. Mona Ataya, Founder and CEO of Mumzworld and Randa Sadik, CEO of Arab Bank were also recognized on Forbes 50 Over 50: Europe, Middle East, and Africa for 2023.
This year’s list of the region’s most powerful businesswomen features 100 entries, with 104 women from 27 different sectors and 27 nationalities. The banking and financial services sector dominates the list with 23 entries, followed by 11 who are leading diversified businesses, eight from the investments sector, six from the retail sector, and five from healthcare. The U.A.E. and Egypt scored the most entries at 15 and 12, respectively, followed by 11 from Saudi Arabia, eight from Kuwait, and six each from Lebanon, Qatar and Oman.
1. Hana Al Rostamani
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
2. Raja Easa Al Gurg
Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG)
3. Lubna S. Olayan
Saudi British Bank (SABB); Olayan Financing Company (OFC)
4. Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar
National Bank of Kuwait Group (NBK)
5. Renuka Jagtiani
Landmark Group
6. Wadha Ahmed Al-Khateeb
Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC)
7. Sarah Al Suhaimi
Saudi Tadawul Group
8. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)
9. Shaista Asif
PureHealth Group
10. Randa Sadik
Arab Bank
11. Maryam Al Suwaidi
The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
12. Dana Nasser Al Sabah
Kuwait Projects Company (Holding) – KIPCO
13. Dalia El Baz
National Bank of Egypt (NBE)
14. Ebru Pakcan
Citigroup
15. Sima Ganwani Ved
Apparel Group
16. Mona Yousuf Almoayyed
Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons
17. Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch
AKSAL Group
18. Samia Bouazza
Multiply Group
19. Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun
Les Eaux Minérales d’Oulmes; Holmarcom Group
20. Henadi Al-Saleh
Agility
21. Pakinam Kafafi
TAQA Arabia
22. Eaman Al Roudhan
Zain Kuwait
23. Enji Ahmed Al-Ghazzawi & Haifa Othman Bin Ahmed
Riyad Bank
24. Raja Al Mazrouei
Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)
25. Jomana R. Al-Rashid
Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG)
26. Amal Suhail Bahwan
Suhail Bahwan Group; National Bank of Oman (NBO)
27. Rawya Mansour
RAMSCO
28. Lujaina & Areej Mohsin Haider Darwish
Mohsin Haider Darwish
29. Aisha Bin Bishr
Emaar Development
30. Huda Kattan
Huda Beauty
31. Noor Al Sulaiti
Ooredoo Oman
32. Mona Ataya
Mumzworld
33. Rita Maria Zniber
Diana Holding
34. Jehad Al-Humaidhi
Ahli United Bank of Kuwait
35. Nadia Bader Al-Hajji
Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC)
36. Suzanne Al Anani
Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP)
37. Sophie Doireau
Cartier
38. Melda Yasar Cebe
The Kraft Heinz Company
39. Reem Asaad
Cisco
40. Saeeda Jaffar; Leila Serhan
Visa
41. Dalya Al Muthanna
General Electric (GE)
42. Hend El Sherbini
Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH)
43. Farida & Yasmine Khamis
The Orientals Group; Oriental Weavers Carpet
44. Nadia Al Saeed
Bank al Etihad
45. Jalila Mezni
Societe d’Articles Hygieniques (SAH Group)
46. Tayba Al Hashemi
ADNOC Sour Gas
47. Rania Nashar
Public Investment Fund (PIF)
48. Mona Zulficar
Zulficar & Partners; EFG Hermes Holding
49. Mira Al-Attiyah
QNB Capital
50. Olfat Sami Berro
Roche
51. Hind Bahwan
Bahwan CyberTek Group (BCT Group)
52. Reem Osman
Saudi German Hospitals Group
53. Hoda Mansour
SAP
54. Haifa Al Khaifi
Petroleum Development Oman LLC (PDO)
55. Rola Abu Manneh
Standard Chartered Bank
56. Elham Mahfouz
The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (Al-Tijari)
57. Gizem Akalin
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
58. Najla Al Midfa
Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa)
59. Rima Assi
McKinsey & Company
60. Sheila Al-Rowaily
Wisayah Global Investment Management
61. Alanoud Bint Hamad Al-Thani
Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority
62. Hilda Louca
MITCHA
63. Nadia Zaal
Zaya
64. Alison Grinnell
RAK Hospitality Holding
65. Lamia Tazi
Sothema
66. Sahar Cooper
Aldar Education
67. Farah Hamdan
Zimmer Biomet
68. Farah Foustok
Lazard Asset Management
69. Najla Al Shirawi
SICO BSC
70. Leila Hoteit
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
71. Aisha Bint Faleh Al Thani
Al Faleh Educational Holding
72. Selma Babbou
PGI-Holding Amen Group
73. Hind bin Khirbash
Emirates National Investment (ENI)
74. Elda Choucair
Omnicom Media Group (MENA)
75. Linda Fitz-Alan
ADGM Courts
76. Heike Harmgart
EBRD
77. Magali Mouquet
Emirates REIT; Equitativa Group
78. Noor Sweid
Global Ventures
79. Basmah Al-Mayman
UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
80. Saïda Karim Lamrani
Holdings Safari -Sofipar
81. Muna Al Mehairi
Fertil
82. Hanadi bint Nasser Al Thani
Amwal; AL Wa`ab City Real Estate; INJAZ Qatar
83. Dalal Al Qais
Bahrain Development Bank
84. Omnia Kelig
NAEEM Holding for Investments ; NAEEM Financial Investments
85. Manal Jarrar
National Insurance Company (Watania)
86. Amal Dokhan
500 Global MENA
87. Abir Leheta
Egytrans
88. Nadia Akil
United Projects for Aviation Services Company (UPAC)
89. Huda Al Lawati
Aliph Capital
90. Narjes Farookh Jamal
Bahrain Bourse
91. Fazeela Gopalani
ACCA
92. Suzy Salman Kanoo
Khalil bin Ebrahim Kanoo Company
93. Donna Sultan
KEO International Consultants
94. Luma Fawaz
Oasis500
95. Adwa AlDakheel
Falak Investment Hub
96. Amna Al Owais
DIFC Courts
97. Poonam Bhojani
Innoventures Education
98. May Nasrallah
deNovo Partners
99. Abeer Helmy Saleh
Misr Life Insurance Takaful
100. Rita Huang Zhen
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