It included 7 women from the Emirates

Raja Easa Al Gurg tops Forbes Middle East's list of the most powerful businesswomen in the region

The businesswomen on this year's list hail from 19 countries.

From the source

Forbes Middle East unveiled its annual list of "The Most Powerful Business Women in the Middle East" to highlight 50 businesswomen who have demonstrated resilience and strength in the face of unprecedented hardships, whether in the workplace or in their communities.

For the second year in a row, Raja Easa Al Gurg, Managing Director of the Essa Saleh Al Gurg Group, topped the list.

The businesswomen on this year's list come from 19 countries, and work in 16 sectors.

Egypt topped the list of countries represented by eight women, followed by the UAE with seven women, then Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Morocco with four women each.

While Saudi Arabia topped the first 10 positions in the list, where the three most prominent women in the Kingdom occupy positions within the five centers, the first: the former CEO of Samba Financial Group, Rania Nashar, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Stock Exchange "Tadawul", Sarah Al-Suhaimi, and Chairman SABB Bank, Lubna Olayan.

Two new names also appeared on this year's list: Managing Director of (Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices), Marzina Collis, and Director of Corporate Business in the Middle East and Africa, and Chief Executive Officer of Invesco Dubai, Zainab Alkvishi.

Another name also appeared for the first time in the first 10 places, as Hana Al Rostamani ranked third in the list of the year, after she ranked 49 in the 2020 ranking.

In late January 2021, First Abu Dhabi Bank announced the appointment of Hana Al Rostamani, who held the position of Executive Vice President and Head of Retail Banking and Group Private Banking, as the CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank Group.

Six female Essamiyya, among them Al Rostamani, were among the top 10.

Sixteen of the 50 women on the list held executive positions in the banking and financial services sector, the sector with the highest participation on the list.

While the sectors: e-commerce, law, insurance, logistics, medicine and telecommunications, were represented by one woman per sector.

In addition to their work achievements, the women represented on the list have made positive steps in their societies through charitable work, especially in the context of alleviating the challenges caused by the pandemic. Four million dollars to communities affected by the disease in the Middle East and India.

The Oasis500, led by Lama Fawaz, also waived rental payments from all participating startups.

To compile the list, Forbes Middle East adopted some key criteria, the most important of which are: the size of the business according to several metrics, as well as the achievements made during the past year, social responsibility initiatives and other social initiatives, whether for the person or for the company.

List of the 10 most powerful businesswomen in the Middle East

1- Rajaa Easa Al Gurg, an Emirati, is the Managing Director of the Group

Issa Saleh Al-Gurg.

2- Renuka Jagtiani, Indian, serves as Chairman and President

Executive of the Landmark Group.

3- Hana Al Rostamani, an Emirati, is the CEO

For First Abu Dhabi Bank Group.

4- Rania Nashar, a Saudi woman, is an advisor to a fund governor

Saudi Public Investments.

5- Sarah Al-Suhaimi, a Saudi woman, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at

The Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), CEO and Board Member

Management is at "Al-Ahly Capital".

6- Lubna Al-Olayan, a Saudi woman, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SABB Bank.

7. Wadha Ahmed Al-Khatib, Kuwaiti, is the Vice President

Executive of Mina Abdullah Refinery, Kuwait National Petroleum Company.

8- Nouzha Hayat, Moroccan, and Chairman of the Board of Directors

He is the CEO of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority.

9- Hek Harmgart, Germany, is the Managing Director of the South District

And the Eastern Mediterranean in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

10- Mona Yousef Al Moayad, a Bahraini, is the Managing Director of the Group

"Yusef Khalil Al-Moayad and Sons."

- Egypt topped the countries represented in the list with 8 women, followed by the UAE.

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