Forbes Middle East Unveils the Middle East’s Power Businesswomen 2021

Forbes Middle East has released its annual "Power Businesswomen" ranking, celebrating 50 fearless regional female leaders. This year the ranking highlights the powerhouses who have shown resilience, flexibility, and strength in the face of unprecedented adversity, both in the workplace and in their communities. For the second consecutive year, Raja Easa Al Gurg, Group Managing Director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, tops the list.  

The 2021 ranking recognizes changemakers from 19 countries, representing 16 industries. Among the 50, Egyptian women feature the most with eight entries, followed by Emirati women with seven entries, and Jordanian, Saudi, Kuwaiti, and Moroccan women with four. However, the top 10 is dominated by Saudis, with three of the country's most prominent names in the top five: Samba Financial Group's Rania Nashar, Tadawul's Sarah Al Suhaimi, and Saudi British Bank's Lubna Olayan.

This year, two women enter the list for the first time: Marzena Kulis, Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices; and Zainab Kufaishi, Head of Middle East and Africa and Senior Executive Officer at Invesco Dubai. And the top 10 also features a new entry. Hana Al Rostamani, who ranked 49th in 2020, takes third place in 2021. The Emirati was appointed as FAB's new Group CEO in late January after previously serving as Deputy Group CEO and Head of Personal Banking. Of the top 10 women, six classify as self-made, with Rostamani being one of them. 

The banking and financial services industry seems to showcase the most regional female leaders, with 16 of the 50 listees working in the sector. In contrast, six categories—ecommerce, law, insurance, logistics, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications—had only one represented entry each. 

Aside from accomplishments at work, many of these leaders have also been working towards giving back to the community, particularly when it comes to alleviating challenges caused by the pandemic. For example, Renuka Jagtiani's Landmark Group and Jagtiani Foundation have pledged nearly $4 million to communities in the Middle East and India impacted by the pandemic, and Luma Fawaz's Oasis500 has waived rent payments for all its participating startups. 

To construct the ranking, Forbes Middle East considered the size of the business in various measures, the individual's accomplishments over the past year, CSR, and other initiatives by the person or by their company. 

Top 10 Power Businesswomen In The Middle East 2021  

1. Raja Easa Al Gurg 

Nationality: Emirati 

Group Managing Director, Easa Saleh Al Gurg 

2. Renuka Jagtiani

Nationality: Indian 

Chairwoman & CEO, Landmark Group 

3. Hana Al Rostamani

Nationality: Emirati 

Group CEO, FAB 

4. Rania Nashar

Nationality: Saudi 

Senior Advisor to the Governor, Saudi’s Public Investment Fund 

5. Sarah Al Suhaimi

Nationality: Saudi 

Chairperson; CEO & Board Member, Tadawul; NCB Capital 

6. Lubna Olayan 

Nationality: Saudi 

Chairperson, SABB 

7. Wadha Ahmed Al-Khateeb 

Nationality: Kuwaiti 

Deputy CEO Mina Abdulla Refinery, Kuwait National Petroleum Company

8. Nezha Hayat 

Nationality: Moroccan 

Chairperson & CEO, Morocco’s Capital Market Authority 

9. Heike Harmgart 

Nationality: German 

Managing Director Southern & Eastern Mediterranean Region, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 

10. Mona Yousuf Almoayyed 

Nationality: Bahraini 

Managing Director, Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons 
 

Top 5 Women In Banking & Financial Services

1. Hana Al Rostamani

Nationality: Emirati 

Group CEO, FAB 

2. Rania Nashar

Nationality: Saudi 

Senior Advisor to the Governor, Saudi’s Public Investment Fund 

3. Sarah Al Suhaimi

Nationality: Saudi 

Chairperson; CEO & Board Member, Tadawul; NCB Capital 

4. Lubna Olayan 

Nationality: Saudi 

Chairperson, SABB 

5. Nezha Hayat

Nationality: Moroccan 

Chairperson & CEO, Morocco’s Capital Market Authority 

Click here to view the complete Middle East's Power Businesswomen 2021 list.