Forbes Middle East has revealed its annual list of the "50 Most Powerful Business Women in the Middle East," ranking the most creative and influential female leaders in the region across various sectors. The list is prepared based on company size, individual achievements made in the past year, social responsibility, and other initiatives led by women.
For the third consecutive year, the top spot is held by Raja Eisa Al Gurg, Managing Director and Vice Chairperson of the Eisa Saleh Al Gurg Group. Renuka Jagtiani, Chairperson and CEO of Landmark Group, maintains the second position, while Hanan Al Rostamani, CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank, remains third since the 2021 list.
This year's list features women from 19 different nationalities working in 17 sectors. The UAE and Egypt lead with 7 entries each, followed by Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Kuwait, and Oman, each with 4 entries. The top 10 also includes some new faces, such as Randa Al Sadiq, CEO of Arab Bank, who made the biggest leap in ranking, moving from 14th in the 2021 list to 7th this year, having assumed her role as CEO in February 2022.
Additionally, 12 new women joined this year's list, most of whom are residents in the UAE (8 women). There are also two from both Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Among the new entrants, three women ranked in the top 10: Maryam Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Securities and Commodities Authority in the UAE; Huda Al Olayan, Chairperson of the Al Olayan Group; and Hanadi Nasser Al Thani, Founder and Chairperson of Amwal and the founder and CEO of the real estate development project "Wakif City."
The banking and financial services sector leads the list with 16 entries, followed by retail and diversified holding sectors with 6 entries each, and the technology sector with 5 entries. More than 25% of the women on this year's list lead regional offices and divisions of multinational companies in the region, such as Saida Jafar from Visa, Derya Mataras from Meta, and Reema Aasi from McKinsey & Company.
Many of these businesswomen have exceeded expectations with their companies despite the challenges faced by the business sector globally in 2021. Under the leadership of Sarah Al Suhaimi, the Saudi stock market "Tadawul" transformed into a holding group and executed the long-awaited IPO. Meanwhile, Mona Attaya sold a majority stake in her company (Mumzworld) to Tamara Group of Saudi Arabia, through one of the significant exit deals in the MENA region in 2021. Sophie Dweiro from Cartier oversaw the jewelry company's collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai to launch the Women’s Pavilion, the first independent pavilion dedicated to women at a global exhibition.
## The Top 10 Business Women in the Middle East for 2022
1. Raja Eisa Al Gurg
Nationality: Emirati
Managing Director and Vice Chairperson of Eisa Saleh Al Gurg Group
2. Renuka Jagtiani
Nationality: Indian
Chairperson and CEO of Landmark Group
3. Hanan Al Rostamani
Nationality: Emirati
CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank
4. Sarah Al Suhaimi
Nationality: Saudi
Chairperson of Saudi Tadawul Group
5. Maryam Al Suwaidi
Nationality: Emirati
CEO of the Securities and Commodities Authority in the UAE
6. Huda Al Olayan (New Entry)
Nationality: Saudi
Chairperson of Al Olayan Group
7. Randa Al Sadiq
Nationality: Jordanian
CEO of Arab Bank
8. Hanadi Nasser Al Thani
Nationality: Qatari
Founder and Chairperson of Amwal; Founder and CEO of "Wakif City" real estate project
9. Nuzha Hayat
Nationality: Moroccan
Chairperson and CEO of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority
10. Sheikha Khalid Al Bahar
Nationality: Kuwaiti
Deputy CEO of the National Bank of Kuwait
## The Complete List of the 50 Most Powerful Business Women in the Middle East
1. Raja Eisa Al Gurg
2. Renuka Jagtiani
3. Hanan Al Rostamani
4. Sarah Al Suhaimi
5. Maryam Al Suwaidi
6. Huda Al Olayan
7. Randa Al Sadiq
8. Hanadi Nasser Al Thani
9. Nuzha Hayat
10. Sheikha Khalid Al Bahar
11. Lubna Olayan
12. Seema Janwani Feed
13. Mona Youssef Al Moayed
14. Salwa Idris Akhnoosh
15. Basma Abdulaziz Al Mayman
16. Maryam Bensahel Shukroun
17. Wadha Ahmad Al Khateeb
18. Hanadi Alsaleh
19. Huda Al Rostamani
20. Mona Dulfiqar
21. Bakinaam Kafafi
22. Iman Al Roudan
23. Lujain Mohsen Haidar Darwish
23. Arij Mohsen Haidar Darwish
25. Elissar Farah Antonios
26. Samia Bouazza
27. Farida Khamis
27. Yasmeen Khamis
29. Mona Attaya
30. Saida Jafar
31. Derya Mataras
32. Reem As'ad
33. Nadia Al Said
34. Ilham Mahfoud
35. Ghitha Maria Zenibr
36. Hind Al Sherbini
37. Sophie Dweiro
38. Huda Mansour
39. Haifa Al Khafiya
40. Jalila Mazni
41. Hind Bihwan
42. Najla Al Shehrawi
43. Najla Ahmad Al Madfa
44. Reema Aasi
45. Linda Fitz-Allan
46. Rola Abu Manna
47. Al Anood Bint Hamad Al Thani
48. Zaynab Al Kifishi
49. Leila Hattit
50. Narjes Farroukh Jamal
