Forbes Middle East has announced its list of the 100 most powerful businesswomen in the region for 2023. The rankings are based on various factors, including the size of the business, individual achievements, impact, and performance in the last year, and the scope of CSR and other initiatives led by the person.
Emirati CEO Takes the Top Spot
Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of the First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), has claimed the number one spot on the list this year. She climbed two spots from her position in the 2022 list. In June 2022, FAB completed a merger with Bank Audi Egypt, making it one of the largest foreign banks in Egypt, with assets worth $10 billion as of March 2022. Al Rostamani’s success has earned her recognition on Forbes’ 2022 list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
Egyptian and Emirati Women Dominate the List
This year’s list celebrates female leaders from 27 different nationalities and 27 sectors. Egyptian and Emirati women are the most represented, with 12 and 15 entries, respectively. Saudi Arabia follows with 11 listees, while Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, and Qatar each have six. The banking and financial services sector has the most representatives, with 23 women in the top 100. Diversified conglomerates and the investments industry follow with 11 and eight women, respectively.
Industry Innovators in the Top 10
Three industry innovators have entered the top 10 for the first time this year. Shaista Asif, Cofounder, and Group COO of PureHealth Group, Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Managing Director of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and Wadha Ahmed Al-Khateeb, CEO of the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), have all made it to the top 10.
Empowerment Initiatives Take Center Stage
Many of the women on this year’s list are focusing on education and empowerment initiatives. The Apparel Group, led by Founder and Chairwoman Sima Ganwani Ved, launched its Digital Learning Academy in October, offering bilingual courses in the GCC. Rawya Mansour, Founder, and Chairwoman of RAMSCO, partnered with the National Council for Women to empower women in Africa through an organic farming project and entrepreneurs’ initiative for zero-waste eco-villages. Hind Bahwan, Founder, and Chairperson of Bahwan CyberTek Group, signed an MoU with Dubai’s Heriot-Watt University to offer students internships and immersion in an activity to tackle the growing demand for emerging technologies like AI, ML, and IoT.
Overall, Forbes Middle East’s list celebrates the achievements and contributions of female leaders in the Middle East and highlights their commitment to making a difference through their businesses and initiatives.
