Whether in the workplace or in our homes, influential women are all around us. Across the Middle East alone, powerful women are helping to shape both the region and the world, dominating the business, art and health fields. In the annual ‘100 Most Inspiring Leaders’ list by Arabian Business, the outlet has identified the leaders who “have harnessed their expertise, determination, and passion to create enduring legacies that extend far beyond their organisations”.
And, of course, an array of inspiring women are featured on this power list, from managing directors to doctors and everything in between. Here, GRAZIA invites you to meet some of the region’s most influential women, bringing a whole new meaning to the words girl power.
1. Sarah Al-Suhaimi
Sarah Al-Suhaimi is one of the most influential women in Saudia Arabia’s finance sector and holds the significant position of chairperson of the Group of Board of Directors at Saudi Tadawul Holding Group. She also has a notable impact on Lazard’s MENA financial advice operations, representing a turning point that’s helped motivate more women to hold important positions in KSA.
Al-Suhaimi serves on the board of Saudia Airlines in addition to her professional responsibilities. She also bears the distinction of being a We-Fi Leadership Champion and has been appointed as a trustee of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation.
2. Dr Raja Al Gurg
Dr. Al Gurg, founder of the Dubai Businesswomen Council, is also on the board of directors of the Dubai Chambers and is renowned for her support of female Arab entrepreneurs. She also holds positions on the boards of the Dubai Women’s Association and the Dubai Chamber of Trade.
Al Gurg serves as Vice Chair of the boards of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), as well as the University of Dubai and the National Bank of Fujairah too. She also plays a significant role on the boards of trustees for the universities of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart and Ajman. Additionally, she serves as part of the board of directors for Dubai Academic Health Corporation. On top of all that, she makes numerous charitable contributions.
3. Alisha Moopen
Alisha Moopen has served as Director of Aster DM Healthcare in both India and the GCC since 2013. She holds a degree in finance and accounting from the University of Michigan and has a degree in Global Leadership and Public Policy Change from Harvard University.
In addition to her responsibilities at Aster DM Healthcare, Moopen is the first female Chapter Chair of the YPO’s Dubai Chapter. She’s a steadfast advocate for women’s empowerment, workplace diversity and women’s mental health. Aster DM Healthcare’s Women in Leadership programme, which promotes leadership possibilities for bright female employees, was started by Moopen and challenges gender barriers.
4. Mila Smart Semeshkina
Mila Smart Semeshkina is the founder of Lectera.com and the Women’s Empowerment Council (WEC). She’s also a pioneer in the fields of edtech, women’s empowerment and personal growth.
Semeshkina produces instructional courses, invests in startups and is a well-known blogger. She has a strong sense of entrepreneurial spirit and is recognised globally as a specialist in building high-tech brands from scratch. Semeshkina also has experience as a researcher and instructor at top educational institutions and is the author of numerous scientific articles and studies in the area of media economics.
5. Dr Aisha Bin Bishr
Dr. Bin Bishr has served on the Emaar Development Board since December 2020. She is a recognised leader in the field of digital innovation and was instrumental in establishing Smart Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. She’s also a well-known Emirati supporter of digitisation and defends the humanisation of technology.
As one of the most prominent women in business and technology, she serves as non-executive chairman of the board at Shaffra, a forerunner in the Metaverse-as-a-Service. Shaffra provides businesses with a revolutionary way of interacting with their stakeholders and customers by utilising trailblazing 3D technologies. Shaffra is a pioneer in the Metaverse sector and is responsible for changing how people engage with businesses.
6. Sima Ved
The Apparel Group, which we all know and love, was founded by Sima Ved and her husband when they saw that key international brands were missing in the market. Now, over 75 brands are represented by the multi-billion dollar company’s 1850 retail locations, which are located in 14 countries and employ over 16,500 people.
The Apparel Group’s slogan captures its spirit perfectly: “Exceed Expectations Everyday.” This dynamic vision serves as its driving force. Their recent success in establishing the sustainable sportswear brand F5 Global (which was founded by Ved’s 15-year-old daughter) is evidence of their dedication to making a change.
7. Randa Sadik
Randa Sadik was appointed CEO of Arab Bank, Jordan’s leading financial organisation, in February 2022 after proving herself in the banking world for over three decades. Prior to that, she was deputy CEO at Arab Bank for over 10 years.
The development and growth of Arab Bank have been fuelled by Sadik’s guidance. She also holds the position of vice chairman at Arab Bank Australia Ltd., is a board member of Oman Arab Bank, is on the board of the Arab Tunisian Bank, and is on the management committee of Al-Arabi Investment Group.
8. Lubna Olayan
Lubna Olayan was reappointed as chair of the board of directors at Saudi British Bank (SAB) in January 2023 – marking her powerful presence in finance, as she first held this position in 2019.
Olayan’s position as the chair of a Saudi-listed entity was a revolutionary accomplishment, making her a pioneer in the region and a symbol of women’s empowerment. Her career comprises a variety of leadership roles, including her position as CEO of Olayan Financing Company (OFC) which she held for over 35 years. She stepped down as CEO in April 2019 but is still on the OFC board while serving as the executive committee chair and board chair of the Saudi-Swedish Business Council (SSBC).
9. Noor Sweid
Noor Sweid is committed to supporting the founders of breakthrough technology firms from emerging markets. Her past roles include serving as the CIO at The Dubai Future Foundation and founding the chain of ZenYoga studios. Sweid graduated from Boston College with a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics and an MBA from MIT Sloan. She is acknowledged for being a part of the first cohort of the Finance Leaders Fellowship and the Aspen Global Leadership Network. She is also recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader.
Being the first Arab woman to effectively expand and run a public company in the MENA region was a significant career accomplishment. She serves as the director for MIT Sloan and TechWadi and chairperson of the Middle East Venture Capital Association. Additionally, she serves as Clue Health’s independent chairwoman.
10. Renuka Jagtiani
Renuka Jagtiani has been in charge of Landmark Group’s corporate strategy for over three decades. Her leadership has helped the organisation become the leading multi-channel retailer of reputable, regionally renowned brands across the Middle East and North Afria. Her inspiration was central to the 1993 launch of the high-street clothing line Splash.
As the Landmark board’s chair, Jagtiani works closely with the leadership teams, sharing her insights and expertise to help shape the strategic choices that determine the group’s handling. Her steadfast passion has served as the cornerstone of Landmark Group’s success.
11. Dr. Saliha Afridi
Dr. Saliha Afridi is a pioneer in mental health awareness across the UAE. She co-founded The LightHouse Arabia (a well-being centre that offers psychological and psychiatric care to people of all ages) in 2011, making her one of the influential women in the field of mental health. Her goal was to make a significant contribution to the well-being of local families and people in the region. In response to a critical knowledge shortage of mental health, she brought the highly regarded Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) programme to the UAE in 2017.
As a result, The LightHouse Arabia obtained a unique license to offer this programme, which allows adults and teenagers to earn certification as mental health first responders. The LightHouse Arabia offers a wide range of services, including outpatient care.
12. Dr Reem Osman
Dr. Reem Osman has been Regional CEO of Saudi German Health since 2021 and has more than 20 years of experience in the medical industry. Saudi German Health (SGH) has solidified a presence in Dubai in both the developing Middle Eastern healthcare business and growing medical tourism, all under her direction.
She holds a degree in medicine from Tishreen University of Medicine in Syria as well as a master’s degree in business administration and ophthalmology and eye surgery from Wollongong University in Sydney, Australia. Dr. Osman additionally holds a certificate in management of healthcare delivery from Harvard Business School.
13. Dr Saeeda Jaffar
Dr. Saeeda Jaffar is General Manager, GCC of Visa, and is the person behind the company’s cutting-edge inventives. This includes the sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup and the introduction of the Visa Masters of Movement NFT Collection.
She also oversaw Visa’s She’s Next initiative in the United Arab Emirates. This empowered local businesswomen by giving them access to investment, mentoring and networking opportunities. Additionally, she served as Alvarez and Marsal’s Managing Director for the Middle East for the last five years. Prior to that, Jaffar worked with customers in the public and private sectors while holding leadership positions at United Arab Bank, Bahrain FinTech Bay, and McKinsey and Company.
14. Ola Doudin
Ola Doudin is the CEO and co-founder of BitOasis, which she formed alongside Daniel Robenek and Tarek Kaylani in 2015. The inspiration for BitOasis materialised when Doudin attained her initial Bitcoin in 2013 and it has revolutionised cryptocurrency in the region.
BitOasis’s Dubai headquarters were opened a year later and the platform’s growth coincided with the expansion of the local bitcoin market. With an engineering background, Doudin started her career in IT risk advisory at Ernst & Young in London before taking on her current position. In the past she worked with Fadi Ghandour, the founder of Aramex, and simultaneously invested in tech startups.
15. Huda Kattan
Huda Kattan is one of the most influential women in the beauty industry. She started with the launch of her blog Huda Beauty in 2013, and her passion for all things beauty led to her attending the notable makeup training school Joe Blasco Make-up Artist Training center in Los Angeles. She perfected her skills and gathered an impressive list of clients including A-list celebs and royals.
Wanting to spread her knowledge and passion for makeup, she launched Hudabeauty.com while working as a makeup artist in 2010. The site gained popularity and she went on to launch her first product – false eyelashes. Today, Huda Beauty is worth an estimated $400 million and Kattan has gone and created over 140 products under her brand.
16. Nisreen Shocair
Nisreen Shocair is the Group Chief Transformation Officer at a tech investment firm Beyond One MEA. She’s also the founder of Showcase Luxury, a company that allows jewellery and brands to gain recognition in the US, Asia and Europe. She was previously CEO of YOOX NET-A-PORTER in the Middle East, making her one of the most influential women in retail.
She has also had notable roles at Virgin Megastore MENA, Hearst, Viacom, Sony Music and Bertelsmann. Additionally, Shocair is a talented media host and presenter for television programmes, podcasts, corporate events and public events.
17. Samia Bouazza
Samia Bouazza is Group CEO and Managing Director of Multiply Group, an Abu Dhabi-based holding company listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
She advocates for mental and physical health and launched the group’s health-tech start-up, HealthierU – an online wellness and prevention platform. At the young age of 22, she started a local boutique agency called Multiply Marketing Consultancy (MMC), which later expanded into a renowned international company.
18. Marie-Louise Ek
Marie-Louise Ek leads Hilton’s innovative human resources department and her career in HR spans more than 20 years. She studied at Lund University in Sweden and began working with Hilton in September 2022, bringing her knowledge that has helped lead to partnerships with numerous prestigious Fortune 500 companies.
Ek has held important senior management positions throughout her career, but her 10-year engagement with the Swedish technology company Sandvik distinguished her as a leader in HR. She has spent more than 15 years in the Middle East and Africa.
19. Hana Al Rostamani
Hana Al Rostamani is the Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the biggest bank in the United Arab Emirates. She has the distinction of being the first woman to lead a bank with headquarters in the UAE, making her one of the most influential women in finance.
Additionally, she was the driving force behind FAB’s consumer bank’s transformation. Prior to joining FAB, she held a number of positions at First Gulf Bank, Citibank, and AW Rostamani Group in both local and worldwide locations. She currently serves as the chairman of the Global Council on the Sustainable Development Goals.
20. Eaman Al Roudhan
Eaman Al Roudhan joined Zain Kuwait as CEO in December 2015 and has more than 25 years of expertise in the telecoms industry. She has held many senior management and leadership positions within Zain Kuwait and several Zain Group associates and worked as the Chief Regulatory Officer for the Zain Group prior to her most recent position.
21. Dr. Maryam Buti Al Suwaidi
Dr. Maryam Buti Al Suwaidi is the CEO of the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority. As of 2021, she was the first woman to take on this position inside the SCA, signalling a significant turning point in the organisation’s history. She has also received praise for her remarkable achievements from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and was the first Emirati woman to receive the FATF designation of Certified Resident Expert for assessing anti-money laundering and the financing of terrorism rules.
These influential women are a force to be reckoned with and are not just an inspiration to women in the Middle East, but also around the world.
