7 Emiratis among Forbes' most influential businesswomen in MENA

Seven Emirati women have been named among Forbes' most influential businesswomen in the MENA region in 2021.

The UAE, along with Egypt, had the most entries in the list of the Middle East and North Africa’s most influential and successful female entrepreneurs.

Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Kuwait, and Oman stepped in second, with four entries each.

The list included women of 19 nationalities working in 17 sectors, with banking and financial services sector as the most dominant with 16 entries.

According to Forbes, many of these businesswomen led their companies to cross major milestones in 2021.

Over 25 per cent of the women on the list are leaders of regional offices and divisions for multinational companies, such as Saeeda Jaffar of Visa, Derya Matras of Meta.

Under Sarah Al Suhaimi’s leadership, Saudi Tadawul transformed into a holding group and executed a long-awaited IPO. Mona Ataya of Mumzworld sold a majority stake in the company to Saudi-based Tamer Group in what was one of MENA’s most significant exit deals in 2021. And Sophie Doireau of Cartier oversaw the jewelry giant’s collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai to launch the Women’s Pavilion, the first standalone pavilion dedicated to women at a world exhibition.

And there are 12 newcomers, eight of which are based in the UAE, two in Qatar, and two in Saudi Arabia.

Here are the seven Emiratis who made it to the list:

• Raja Easa Al Gurg, Group Managing Director and Vice-Chairwoman of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group
• Hana Al Rostamani, Group Chief Executive of First Abu Dhabi Bank
• Maryam Buti Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive of the Securities and Commodities Authority
• Huda Al Rostamani, Managing Director of AW Rostamani Group
• Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and GCC Group Country Manager of Visa
• Najla Ahmed Al Midfa, Chief Executive of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre
• Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank in UAE