A Journey of Innovation, Trust, and Community Development

Mohamed Amin El-Hout, Executive Director of GLC Paints and CEO of Dolato Gelatria, shares an Egyptian business adventure that spans decades and diverse sectors.

How did the journey begin for GLC Paints?

GLC’s journey began in 1994, when we used to export paints from Lebanon to Egypt. Then, in 1997, my father decided to inaugurate a factory in Cairo. He always believed that our ambitions would be achieved in Egypt, given its geographical location, which renders it a gateway to Africa.

After 25 years of hard work guided by my father’s plans and aspirations, our efforts ultimately led to success. My siblings and I were able to place GLC as the most important and largest construction paints factory in Egypt and the Arab countries.

What have been GLC’s biggest achievements in Egypt?

GLC has achieved huge success in Egypt, represented by four paint factories and two other factories for complementary industries for paints. Having the largest market share in Egypt in construction paints, GLC launched the first alliance with designers adopting modern color trends. The company has also won many awards and plays an important role in society, making a positive impact through education, culture, and sport. Most recently, GLC collaborated with the Embassy of Portugal to launch the Arabic version of ColorADD, a sign code to assist people who are colorblind.

GLC Paints sponsors Al Ahly Football Club. What prompted this decision? It started when we sought to expand our customer base and reach wider segments through incorporating sports in our marketing plan. Al Ahly is a big and influential club with a huge following, so we became the first company exclusively from the paints industry to sponsor.

Alongside GLC Paints, you are also the owner of the Dolato ice cream chain. Where did the idea come from?

Dolato was the brainchild of my brother Youssef, and both of us share a love of food. It all started when we were attending a gelato exhibition in Italy in 2018, and at that time, we decided to go through this most wonderful experience. Because we deeply understand the needs of the Egyptian market, we opened the first branch of Dolato in the country in January 2020 and we now have seven branches across Greater Cairo, offering new gelato tastes and trends that match each season.

How did you manage Dolato during the COVID-19 pandemic and what was your approach to marketing?

The pandemic hit only one month after we inaugurated the first branch of Dolato, and this was followed by a lockdown that hindered our plans to open five more branches in the same year. To overcome the challenges, we focused on delivery, facilitated by our effective insulated ice-cream packaging.

As for marketing, one of our entertaining ideas was a competition that Dolato organized with the Guinness Book of Records, where customers competed to identify different ice-cream flavors while blindfolded. One customer managed to break a record and identify 15 tastes within one minute.

33 Rita Maria Zniber

• Chairman & CEO

Company: Diana Holding Nationality: Moroccan Sector: Food and Beverage

Zniber has over 40 years of experience. She first joined Diana Holding in 1988, which has a diverse business portfolio encompassing soft drinks, plastics, agriculture, olive growing, beverages, poultry, sea products, distribution, and retail. The company partnered with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in November 2021 to support innovation, research, and development. In March 2022, Diana Holding and Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Trade signed a $12.1 million investment agreement for Berkane Juice Processing, a subsidiary of Les Domaines Zniber. In November 2022, the company announced a partnership with the Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company to acquire the Atlas Bottling Company.

31 Noor Al Sulaiti

• CEO

Company: Ooredoo Oman

Nationality: Qatari Sector: Telecommunications

Al Sulaiti was appointed CEO of Ooredoo Oman in May 2021. In the same year, Ooredoo recorded revenues of $638.6 million and joined a global consortium of communications operators to provide cable landing facilities to “2Africa” at Salalah and Barka. In August 2022, it launched eShop for business customers. Before assuming her current position, Al Sulaiti was the CEO of Starlink, a retail chain and IT service provider in Qatar. She was also the general manager of Phono and FASTtelco in Kuwait.

32 Mona Ataya

• Founder & CEO

Company: Mumzworld

Nationality: Palestinian Sector: E-commerce

Ataya cofounded Mumzworld in 2011. Saudi-based Tamer Group acquired Mumzworld in June 2021. After the acquisition, Ataya became Group CEO for all digital assets of the Tamer Group. Mumzworld has expanded across the Levant, mainly in Jordan and Lebanon, and launched a new healthcare e-commerce vertical in Saudi Arabia, with plans to expand into the U.A.E. by Q1 2023. Today, the platform serves 2.5 million customers with over 350,000 products from 6,500 global brands across the Middle East. In June 2022, Ataya was re-elected as an “eTrade for Women” advocate for the Arab states.

34 Jehad Al-Humaidhi

• CEO

Company: Ahli United Bank of Kuwait

Nationality: Kuwaiti

Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Al-Humaidhi was appointed to her current role in September 2021, having served as AUB’s acting CEO since December 2019. She has 38 years of experience in banking. She began her career with the Ahli United Bank of Kuwait in 1984. Al-Humaidhi is also a board member and vice chairman at K-NET, Ci Net, Al Hilal Takaful Insurance, and Al Hilal Life.

36 Suzanne Al Anani

• CEO

Company: Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP)

Nationality: Emirati Sector: Aviation

Al Anani has been with DAEP for about 20 years. DAEP is in charge of designing, planning, and building Dubai’s aviation projects, including Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai International Airport. Established in 1997 as a special “Engineering Projects Division” under Dubai Civil Aviation, the company was set up as an autonomous corporate entity attached to the Dubai Aviation City Corporation in 2012. In March 2022, DAEP awarded Thales, a French technology leader, a contract for an advanced Air Traffic Management system.

35 Nadia Bader Al-Hajji

• CEO

Company: Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC)

Nationality: Kuwaiti Sector: Petrochemicals

Al-Hajji has around 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. She joined PIC in 2020 as the deputy CEO for projects and business development and became CEO in November 2022. In 2021, Al-Hajji was part of the PIC team that successfully acquired a 49% stake in a key petrochemical company in South Korea with a successful launch of the new joint venture company. Al-Hajji is also the chairman of Kuwait Vietnam Petrochemicals Company and EQUATE petrochemicals company. In 2021, she was elected as the Vice Chairperson of the Gulf Petrochemical & Chemical Association GPCA Plastics Committee. Al-Hajji initiated the PIC’s young professionals council, Young Empowerment Leaders.

37 Sophie Doireau

• CEO - Middle East, India, Africa and Türkiye

Company: Cartier Nationality: French Sector: Retail

Doireau has over 20 years of experience. She assumed her current role in September 2021, becoming the first woman to lead the MEIA region for Cartier. In 2022, Cartier partnered with Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Gate Development Authority to be the first brand to hold a high-end jewelry exhibition at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, At-Turaif. It also grew its team across the region to over 500 people. Doireau also leads Cartier’s efforts to support women’s empowerment in the region, through projects including the Cartier Women’s Initiative, which has supported 262 women from 62 countries and has awarded a total of $6.4 million in grant money to support their businesses. Before joining Cartier, Doireau worked for the luxury design agency Aesthete, the French Embassy in Djibouti, and Johnson & Johnson.

38 Melda Yasar Cebe

• Managing Director/General Manager—MEA and Türkiye Company: The Kraft Heinz Company Nationality: Turkish Sector: Food and Beverage

Cebe has more than 22 years of experience in the food and beverage sector. She assumed her current role in 2018 and now oversees more than 1,200 people. In October 2021, the company announced the completion of its acquisition of Assan Foods for a deal previously valued at $79 million. Cebe worked at Procter & Gamble before joining Kraft Heinz.

39 Reem Asaad

• Vice President—Middle East and Africa (MEA) Company: Cisco Nationality: Egyptian-American Sector: Technology

Cisco employs 3,000 people and contractors in 74 countries across the Middle East and Africa. In November 2022, Asaad participated in COP27 to share her insights on technology as part of a digital and green future. In March 2021, she was appointed by Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology to serve on the board of directors for the country’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency.

40 Saeeda Jaffar; Leila Serhan

• Saeeda: Senior Vice President & Group Country Manager—GCC; Leila: Senior Vice President & Group Country Manager—North Africa, Levant and Pakistan (NALP) Company: Visa Nationality: Emirati; Lebanese Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Jaffar and Serhan joined Visa in 2021. In August 2021, Visa signed an MoU with the Arab Monetary Fund to support the growth and efficiency of cross-border payments between the Arab region and global markets. The company launched its global initiative “She’s Next” for the first time in MENA in July 2022 to empower women entrepreneurs in the U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Morocco. In the same year, Visa collaborated with Meeza in Egypt under the patronage of the Central Bank of Egypt, HPS Switch in Morocco, and Daraz in Pakistan to launch a “Stay Secure” campaign to educate consumers about payment security. Jaffar also serves as a member of the board of trustees at Kuwait University, and Serhan is also the founder and president of the Women in IT Association in Lebanon.

41 Dalya Al Muthanna

• President U.A.E. and Global Chief Strategy & Operations, GE International Markets

Company: General Electric (GE) Nationality: Emirati Sector: Diversified

Al Muthanna joined GE in 2008 as part of the company’s rotational Experienced Commercial Leadership Program. She assumed her current position in January 2021. GE technologies contribute to almost 50% of the power supplied in the U.A.E., with 16,000 healthcare technologies installed across the country. Al Muthanna also holds a global role leading the strategic direction of the GE International Markets organization. She has previously held multiple senior roles, including leading the growth strategy for the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye, and heading strategic marketing for GE’s Energy businesses.

43 Farida & Yasmine Khamis

• Farida: Chairwoman; Yasmine: Chairwoman

Company: The Orientals Group; Oriental Weavers Carpet

Nationality: Egyptian Sector: Retail

42 Hend El Sherbini

• Group CEO Company: Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH)

Nationality: Egyptian

Sector: Healthcare

El Sherbini has been IDH Group’s CEO since 2012, and before that served as the CEO of Al Mokhtabar between 2004 and 2012. IDH had a network of 546 branch labs as of September 2022. The group recorded revenues of $281 million in 2021 and $143 million in the first nine months of 2022. In August 2022, El Sherbini increased her holdings in the group with 7.3 million additional shares through Hena Holdings to reach 26.71%. In October 2022, IDH and its subsidiary Biolab announced the signing of a joint venture agreement with Fawaz Alhokair’s Izhoor Holding Medical Company to launch Greenfield Diagnostic Venture in Saudi Arabia with investments totaling $19.7 million.

Oriental Weavers is one of the largest machine-made rug and carpet manufacturers in the world. It produces 114 million square meters of carpet annually, selling an average of 69,120 units daily. In December 2022, Farida and Yasmine transferred their combined 24.61% stake in Oriental Weavers Carpet to London-based FYK limited, which is fully owned by the two sisters. The company is also undergoing a restructuring process that aims to enhance financing transactions and create a unified investment platform. Farida heads the Orientals Group and chairs the British University in Egypt and the Egyptian Propylene and Polypropylene Company. She is also a board member of the Rameda Pharmaceutical Company and the cofounder of the Khayrazad Organisation for Social Care. In May 2022, Yasmine was appointed as a founding member of the Africa Business Leaders Coalition, a CEO-led initiative emanating from the UN Global Compact Africa Strategy 2021-2023.

44 Nadia Al Saeed

• CEO Company: Bank al Etihad

Nationality: Jordanian Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Al Saeed has been the CEO of Bank al Etihad since 2007, where she oversees nearly 1,300 people. The bank had $8.8 billion in total assets as of December 2021, an 18.7% increase compared to 2020. The bank adopted a number of policies in 2021 to support women in alignment with the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles. It partnered with Amam Ventures and Endeavor Jordan, which aims to support enterprises owned or led by women to expand into foreign markets, and it established “MONEYSMART-Wealth Management,” a training program that aims to enable women to take control of their finance and start investing. Al Saeed is the Chairperson of Endeavor Jordan and previously served as Minister of Information and Communications Technology and the Ministry’s Secretary General from 2003-2006.

45 Jalila Mezni

• Group CEO

Company: Societe d’Articles Hygieniques (SAH Group)

Nationality: Tunisian Sector: Consumer Goods

Mezni cofounded SAH Group in 1994 with Mounir El Jayez. The company was listed on the Tunis Stock Exchange in 2014. The group has a presence in more than 20 countries. In 2017, Mezni and El Jayez also cofounded Azur Detergents, which offers new products, including different types of liquid and powder for washing machines. The group has several subsidiaries under its umbrella, including SAH Algeria, SAH Libya, SAH Morocco, Azur Paper, SAH Ivory Coast, and SAH Senegal. The group reported $200 million in revenues for the first nine months of 2022.

46 Tayba Al Hashemi

• CEO

Company: ADNOC Sour Gas

Nationality: Emirati Sector: Oil and Gas

Al Hashemi is the CEO of ADNOC Sour Gas, one of the world’s largest sour gas processors and the world’s largest producer of granulated sulfur from a single facility, with a production capacity of 1.28 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and 4.2 million tons of sulfur per year. Al Hashemi, who began her career in ADNOC in 2002, is the first of the original two female CEOs appointed to lead ADNOC’s operating companies. Before taking her current role, she held a number of senior positions, including serving as CEO of Al Yasat Petroleum Operations Company.

47 Rania Nashar

• Head of Compliance & Governance & Senior Advisor

Company: Public Investment Fund (PIF)

Nationality: Saudi Sector: Investments

Nashar was appointed to her current role in February 2021. She has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry. She serves as a board member for stc, the Saudi Tadawul Group, the National Center for Performance Measurement, the Saudi Space Commission, and the Saudi Polo Federation. During Saudi Arabia’s G20 Presidency, Nashar chaired the B20 Women in Business Action Council and the G20 EMPOWER Alliance. She was previously the CEO of Samba Financial Group.

48 Mona Zulficar

• Founding Partner & Chair of Executive Committee; Non-Executive Chairperson Company: Zulficar & Partners; EFG

Hermes Holding

Nationality: Egyptian

Sector: Law; Investment

Zulficar is a practicing corporate, banking, and project finance attorney and human rights activist. She cofounded Zulficar & Partners in 2009. Zulficar has chaired EFG Hermes Holding since 2008 and the Egyptian Microfinance Federation since 2015. She also chairs several NGOs, including the Women’s Health Improvement Association, the EFG Foundation for Social Development, and the Al Tadamun Microfinance Foundation. She was also a member of the National Council for Human Rights in Egypt.

49 Mira Al-Attiyah

• CEO Company: QNB Capital

Nationality: Qatari

Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Al-Attiyah has been leading the investment banking arm of QNB Group since 2014, providing advisory and asset management services to corporate, government, and institutional clients in Qatar and globally. In 2021, it concluded more than ten transactions in the debt capital market space worth over $25 billion. Al-Attiyah was previously assistant undersecretary for trade affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and has occupied several senior positions within the Ministry and at the Supreme Council of Information and Communication.

50 Olfat Sami Berro

• Area Head Middle East Company: Roche Nationality: Lebanese Sector: Pharmaceuticals Berro joined Roche in 2003 and assumed her current position in 2019. In 2021, Roche signed an MoU with Microsoft. In 2022, Roche signed a strategic partnership with the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Saudi Arabia. In September 2022, Berro helped to launch RISE, a talent development program. The company’s pharmaceuticals division reported global sales of $47 billion in 2021. Berro is also a member of the Executive Committee of the PhRMA Middle East & Africa, the regional arm of The Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and a member of Roche’s Diversity and Inclusion Council.

51 Hind Bahwan

• Founder & Chairperson Company: Bahwan CyberTek Group (BCT Group) Nationality: Omani Sector: Technology

The Bahwan CyberTek Group focuses on IT, logistics, and engineering projects. Bahwan is also the chairman of HBTI DMCC, a privately-owned commodity company trading crude oil and oil products, and is the founder and chairperson of Bahwan Lifestyle. In April 2022, Bahwan CyberTek signed an MoU with Heriot-Watt University in Dubai to provide internships and deep work immersions to students to tackle the growing demand for emerging technologies like AI, ML, and IoT.

52 Reem Osman

• Regional CEO Company: Saudi German Hospitals Group

Nationality: Saudi Sector: Healthcare

Osman has been leading the regional operations of the Saudi German Hospitals Group since 2021, overseeing the U.A.E., Pakistan, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq. The group has 18 hospitals across MENA with 3,000 beds, serving 2.5 million patients annually. Its revenue grew by 11.7% in the first nine months of 2022 to hit $409 million.

54 Haifa Al Khaifi

• Finance Director & Oil and Gas Board Secretary

Company: Petroleum Development Oman LLC (PDO)

Nationality: Omani Sector: Oil and Gas

Al Khaifi has 27 years of industry experience. She Joined PDO in 1995 and assumed her current role in 2012. PDO has 230 operating units and has executed over 200 projects supporting sustainable oil and gas production. It employs 8,800 people. In 2021, the company produced 635,000 barrels of crude oil and 57 million cubic meters of gas per day. Al Khaifi served as the interim CEO of Energy Development Oman from November 2021 to March 2022. She is also the Board Director and Secretary General of the Omani Business Friendship Association.

53 Hoda Mansour

• SVP & Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa Regional Head of Business Process

Transformation

Company: SAP Nationality: Egyptian-British Sector: Technology

Mansour has over 25 years of experience. She leads 2,000 people in 75 countries. She was the first Middle Eastern woman to lead one of SAP’s lines of business across Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In June 2022, SAP partnered with the Middle East Paper Company to deploy sustainable solutions in line with Saudi’s Vision 2030. In September 2022, the company signed an agreement with the Egyptian National Postal Organization to establish a RISE with SAP Private Cloud Edition, with the goal of modernizing postal practices and software applications. Mansour is also a member of Egypt’s American Chamber of Commerce.

55 Rola Abu Manneh

• CEO—U.A.E.

Company: Standard Chartered Bank

Nationality: Emirati Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Abu Manneh assumed her current role in August 2018, becoming the first Emirati woman to head a bank in the U.A.E. As part of its Women in Tech program, Standard Chartered U.A.E. accelerated 12 startups, who had collectively raised over $5 million from venture capitalists, as of November 2021. Abu Manneh previously worked as a senior managing director and head of corporate and investment banking at First Abu Dhabi Bank. In November 2022, Standard Chartered U.A.E. launched an Islamic sustainable account in the U.A.E., which is used to fund sustainable projects.

56 Elham Mahfouz

• CEO

Company: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (Al-Tijari)

Nationality: Egyptian Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Mahfouz has 37 years of industry experience and assumed her current role in 2014. Al-Tijari recorded $179 million in net profit and $14.1 billion worth of total assets in 2021. The bank provides a variety of contactless payment options, including Garmin Pay, which it introduced in 2020. In 2022, Al-Tijari introduced SwatchPAY to Kuwait. In December 2022, Al-Tijari announced the full launch of Apple Pay services. Mahfouz is a member of the supervisory board of the American University of Kuwait.

57 Gizem Akalin

• Vice President & Managing Director—Gulf Region

Company: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)

Nationality: Turkish Sector: Pharmaceuticals

Akalin joined GSK in 2015 and assumed her current role in 2020. The company employs more than 250 people in the Gulf. Akalin has more than 23 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector. She previously led GSK’s commercial operations teams in Russia, Brazil, India, Pakistan, Türkiye, GCC, Mexico, Argentina, and China. Before joining GSK, Akalin held roles at Merck.

58 Najla Al Midfa

• CEO

Company: Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa)

Nationality: Emirati Sector: Entrepreneurship

Al Midfa assumed her current role in 2018. Sheraa is a government entity with programs aimed at assisting entrepreneurs. It has supported over 150 startups, which have collectively raised around $128 million in investment and generated over $187 million in revenues. In December 2021, Sheraa signed an MoU with the Ministry of Culture and Youth in the U.A.E to support the growth of high-caliber startups. Al Midfa is also a vice chairperson for Young Arab Leaders, a member of the U.A.E.-UK Business Council Advisory Committee, and a member of the board of directors for Dana Gas, among others.

59 Rima Assi

• Senior Partner & Managing Partner, Abu Dhabi Company: McKinsey & Company

Nationality: Lebanese-French

Sector: Consulting

Assi has 19 years of industry experience. She has been working with McKinsey & Company for over 16 years and has co-authored several papers, including “Women at work in the Middle East.” In November 2021, McKinsey & Company announced the launch of its virtual learning platform “Forward” in the Middle East, Africa, and Türkiye and the third edition of the Qiyada Emerging Leaders program. Assi is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders. Before joining McKinsey & Company, she was a risk analyst at Société Générale.

60 Sheila Al-Rowaily

• CEO Company: Wisayah Global Investment Management

Nationality: Saudi Sector: Investments

Al-Rowaily led the creation of Wisayah which is a whollyowned subsidiary of Aramco, responsible for investing the company’s pension funds. She joined Aramco in 1998 and has held several roles in finance, trading, investment, risk management, planning, and energy economics. She has been in her current role since January 2019. She is also a board member at Aramco Ventures and a board investment committee member at NEOM. In June 2022, following a royal decree, Al-Rowaily became the first woman to join the board of the Saudi Central Bank.

61 Alanoud Bint Hamad Al-Thani

• Deputy CEO & Chief Business Officer

Company: Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority

Nationality: Qatari

Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Al-Thani joined QFC in 2016 and assumed her current role in July 2021, having previously served as a managing director for business development at QFC. The company had $8.5 billion in assets under management, 1,400 registered firms, and employed 8,500 people, as of the end of 2021. In March 2021, Al-Thani was recognized by the World Economic Forum as a young global leader.

62 Hilda Louca

• Founder & CEO

Company: MITCHA

Nationality: Egyptian Sector: E-commerce

Louca founded her platform to support Egyptian designers and creatives in 2018. Today, the platform features 200 designers and brands. Before founding MITCHA, Louca worked in sales and marketing since the age of 18. In 2023, Shark Tank Egypt selected Louca as one of the Sharks for its first season.

63 Nadia Zaal

• Co-founder & CEO

Company: Zaya Nationality: Emirati

Sector: Real Estate

Zaal cofounded Zaya, a joint venture between Tasameem Real Estate and Assas, in 2008. Zaya’s projects include ZUHA island, Hameni Tower, Al Barari Residences, Zaya Hotel Living Al Barari, Zaya Early Learning Center, and FIVE Palm Jumeirah Hotel. Zaya’s Nurai Island Resort was sold to Aldar Properties in July 2022. Zaal is also CEO of the $2 billion family-owned Al Barari project and the director of FIVE Global Holdings.

64 Alison Grinnell

• CEO

Company: RAK Hospitality Holding

Nationality: British Sector: Hotels and Hospitality

Grinnell has 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, during which she has worked in over 30 countries. Grinnell joined RAK Hospitality in 2016, before being appointed CEO of the company in 2019 to oversee the group’s portfolio of businesses covering hotel ownership, hospitality logistics, and asset management and advisory services, as well as the RAK Leisure subsidiary. In 2022, the company sold one of its hotel assets—the 715-key all-inclusive Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras Al Khaimah—for a total of $209 million to Aldar Properties. In the same year, Marjan, RAK Hospitality Holding, and Wynn Resorts announced a multibillion-dollar integrated resort development on Al Marjan Island.

66 Sahar Cooper

• CEO

Company: Aldar Education

Nationality: Turkish Cypriot (Palestinian Origins) Sector: Education

Cooper has been at the helm of Aldar Education since 2018. As of September 2022, the organization had 33,000 students across 28 operated and managed schools and a network of 3,000 educators. In February 2022, its parent company Aldar Properties said it would invest $272.5 million into Aldar Education over the following three years to increase the student capacity to over 40,000 by the 2024/25 academic year. Cooper’s previous roles include chief schools operations officer at GEMS Education and associate director of operations at the American University of Sharjah.

65 Lamia Tazi

• Chairwoman & CEO

Company: Sothema Nationality: Moroccan Sector: Pharmaceuticals

Tazi joined Sothema in 1997 and assumed her current role in 2019, where she now oversees 1,000 people. Sothema produces about 60 million pharmaceutical products annually across six production units and has 9% of market share. Tazi is also chairwoman of the Omar TAZI Foundation and a general board member at Azerys, among other roles.

67 Farah Hamdan

• General Manager—Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT)

Company: Zimmer Biomet

Nationality: Jordanian

Sector: Healthcare

Zimmer Biomet is a publicly-traded medical company. It provides digital and robotic technologies that leverage data analytics and AI. Hamdan joined and assumed her current role in the company in 2022. She oversees 150 people in the MENAT team and has 18 years of experience in the healthcare sector. She previously held roles at Becton Dickinson, Novartis, Abbott, and Medtronic.

68 Farah Foustok

• CEO - Middle East Company: Lazard Asset Management

Nationality: Lebanese Sector: Investments

Foustok began working in investment in 1994 and joined Lazard Gulf Limited in 2014. In 2020, Foustok launched the speed mentoring initiative TARA, and was appointed as a co-chair of the Women in Business Action Council for the B20. She has previously worked at NBD Investment Bank, EFG-Hermes Holding, Deutsche Bank in London, and Morgan Stanley.

69 Najla Al Shirawi

• CEO Company: SICO BSC

Nationality: Bahraini Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Al Shirawi has more than 25 years of experience in investment banking. She has been working with SICO since 1997 and was appointed CEO in 2014. She previously served with Geneva-based Dar Al-Maal Al-Islami Trust, where she established private banking operations for the group in the Gulf region. Al Shirawi is also a board member of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, a chairperson on the board of directors for the SICO Funds Services Company in Bahrain and SICO Financial Brokerage in Abu Dhabi, and a vice chairperson for SICO Capital. SICO nearly doubled its assets under management from $2.1 billion in 2019 to $4.1 billion in 2021.

70 Leila Hoteit

• Managing Director & Senior Partner

Company: Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

Nationality: Lebanese Sector: Investments

Hoteit specializes in human capital and is the global leader of the Education, Employment, and Welfare (EEW) practice at BCG. She has experience in social development and culture, and works with policymakers, regulatory authorities, and key public-sector entities on policy development. Hoteit led EEW practice at BCG ME during the pandemic and managed to grow the practice globally by 10%, largely due to a 58% growth within Europe, the Middle East, and South America. She is a member of the jury for the Global Teacher Price.

71 Aisha Bint Faleh Al Thani

• Founder & Chairperson

Company: Al Faleh Educational Holding

Nationality: Qatari Sector: Education

Al Faleh Educational Holding was the first Qatari educational institution to list on the venture market of the Qatar Stock Exchange in 2021. The group has three schools in its portfolio (Doha Academy-Salwa, Doha Academy-Al Waab, and Doha International Kindergarten) and one college (AFG College with the University of Aberdeen). Al Thani also serves as a founding member of the board of the Patrons of the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists.

72 Selma Babbou

• Deputy General Manager Company: PGI-Holding Amen Group

Nationality: Tunisian Sector: Diversified

Babbou has more than 32 years of experience with PGI-Holding Amen Group in Tunisia. The Amen Group includes around 60 companies across six sectors, including agro-food, hotels, banking, insurance and healthcare, financial services, capital goods trading, and transportation equipment. It employs more than 4,000 people.

73 Hind bin Khirbash

• CEO Company: Emirates National Investment (ENI)

Nationality: Emirati Sector: Diversified

Under bin Khirbash’s leadership, ENI has completed several residential and commercial projects across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah, including Burj Al Shams, ENI Coral Tower, and Churchill Towers Dubai. Bin Khirbash is also a member of the board for the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and a member of the board of trustees for the U.A.E.’s International Charity Organization. In 2022, she was appointed as a board members at xCub.

74 Elda Choucair

• CEO

Company: Omnicom Media Group (MENA)

Nationality: Lebanese Sector: Media and Marketing

Choucair became CEO of OMG MENA in June 2021, which provides strategic communication and media consultancy services to brands. Before taking on her current role, Choucair was COO at OMG MENA from June 2019. She is also vice chair at the Advertising Business Group, a founding board member at Unstereotype Alliance, and a board member at Endeavor and IAB GCC. And she’s an Advisory Council Member at the Middle East Action for Diversity Council, which addresses the region’s diversity and inclusion challenges.

76 Heike Harmgart

• Managing Director—Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Region

Company: EBRD Nationality: German

Sector: Banking and Financial Services

EBRD started operations in the southern and eastern Mediterranean region in 2012. As of November 2022, it had invested $10.9 billion in 160 projects across Egypt. In 2022, EBRD provided a financial package worth $50 million to the National Bank of Kuwait in Egypt and a package of $25 million to EBank in Egypt for SMEs. It also loaned $100 million to Banque Misr for green financing for SMEs. In the same year, EBRD, in cooperation with other entities, supported Morocco with a package of $27.2 million for investments into climate change mitigation and adaptation. Harmgart also serves as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the New Agenda for Fragility and Resilience. Before joining EBRD, she worked for the Economist Intelligence Unit and the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

75 Linda Fitz-Alan

• Registrar & Chief Executive

Company: ADGM Courts

Nationality: Australian

Sector: Law and Policy

Fitz-Alan has been at ADGM for seven years. In November 2022, ADGM collaborated with ADIB, RAKBANK, and Wio Bank to support businesses in Abu Dhabi. In the same month, AUM Ventures, an ADGM-licensed and regulated venture capital firm, launched a maiden venture capital fund with a focus on Indian founders. In December 2022, ADGM Academy, the academic and knowledge arm of the financial center, launched the Abu Dhabi Entrepreneurship Initiative as part of its commitment to becoming a knowledge-based economy. Fitz-Alan previously served as the CEO and Principal Registrar of Australia’s Supreme Court.

77 Magali Mouquet

• Executive Director; CO-Chairperson Company: Emirates REIT; Equitativa Group

Nationality: French Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Mouquet co-founded Equitativa in 2005, which is today a group of companies focused on real estate investments in emerging markets. In 2014, she listed Emirates REIT on Nasdaq Dubai, the first listed REIT in the GCC with around $816.78 million worth of assets under management. In 2016, Mouquet also created the Residential REIT with $272.26 worth of assets under management. Mouquet is also cofounder of the U.A.E.-based Enata.

78 Noor Sweid

• Founder / Managing Partner Company: Global Ventures Nationality: American Sector: Investments

Sweid began her career as a biotechnology and pharmaceutical strategy consultant in the U.S. and assumed her current role in 2018. Global Ventures has funded many regional startups, including Paymob, Proximie, and Red Sea Farms, among others. Her previous roles include CIO at the Dubai Future Foundation and founder of ZenYoga, which was acquired by Cedarbridge. She is also chairperson of the Middle East Venture Capital Association, board member of MIT Sloan and TechWadi, and independent chairperson of the board for Clue Health.

79 Basmah Al-Mayman

• Regional Director for the Middle East Company: UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Nationality: Saudi Sector: Travel and Tourism

Al-Mayman assumed her current role in 2018, becoming the first GCC national to hold a leading position at the UNWTO, and the first woman to lead the GCC for the UNWTO. The World Bank recognized her as one of the youngest CEOs in MENA in 2020. In May 2021, the UNWTO opened its first regional office for the Middle East in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the same year, Al-Mayman established the World Tourism Academy in Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the UNWTO. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the UNWTO’s Sustainable Tourism-Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) initiative and a founding member of the Program and Budget Committee of the Executive Council for the Middle East.

80 Saïda Karim Lamrani

• Executive Vice-President

Company: Holdings Safari -Sofipar

Nationality: Moroccan Sector: Retail

The Safari Group was established in Morocco in 1994. The group has multiple global brands under its umbrella, including CAT, Lacoste, and Longchamp, Jaguar, Land Rover, and BMW, among others. Saïda is the daughter of the late Mohammed Karim Lamrani, who served as Morocco’s Prime Minister from 1971 to 1994. The group recorded annual revenues of over $500 million and employs 3,600 people.

81 Muna Al Mehairi

• CEO Company: Fertil Nationality: Emirati Sector: Petrochemicals

Al Mehairi was appointed CEO of Fertil in January 2020. The company is a subsidiary of Fertiglobe, a strategic partnership between OCI N.V and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and it has an annual production capacity of 2.1 million metric tons of urea and 0.1 million metric tons of diesel exhaust fuel. Al Mehairi previously worked for ADNOC Onshore, where she served as senior vice president strategy and business support and senior vice president terminals and pipeline operations.

82 Hanadi bint Nasser Al Thani

• Founder & Chairperson; Founder & CEO; Founding Chair

Company: Amwal; AL Wa`ab City Real Estate; INJAZ Qatar

Nationality: Qatari Sector: Diversified

Al Thani started her career as a lecturing assistant in the Economics Department of Qatar University before founding the investment firm Amwal in 1998. In 2005, she founded AL Wa`ab City, a development of over 1.2 million square meters at an initial cost of $1.8 billion.

Al Thani is the founding chairperson of INJAZ Qatar. She is also a founding chairperson of Q-Auto, the sole importer of Audi and Volkswagen vehicles in Qatar.

83 Dalal Al Qais

• Group CEO

Company: Bahrain Development Bank

Nationality: Bahraini

Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Al Qais was appointed to her current role in December 2021. Before joining BDB, she was the chief retail banking and wealth management officer at Bahrain Islamic Bank and held various leading roles at Standard Chartered Bank and United Bank. In July 2022, Export Bahrain and BDB signed an MoU to provide support in export financing services to Bahrain-based businesses.

84 Omnia Kelig

• Deputy CEO; Chairwoman and Managing Director

Company: NAEEM Holding for Investments ; NAEEM Financial Investments

Nationality: Egyptian

Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Kelig has over 20 years of industry experience. NAEEM Holding is a dual-listed company on the Egyptian Stock Exchange and the Dubai Financial Market. In the first nine months of 2022, it reported $8.2 million in total revenues and $273 million in assets. Before joining NAEEM, Kelig was a founder and managing director of Viveris Mashrek, a subsidiary of France’s Viveris Management. She was also a partner and director for Haykala Investment Management and a co-head of investment banking at Barclays Bank in Egypt.

85 Manal Jarrar

• CEO Company: National Insurance Company (Watania) Nationality: Jordanian Sector: Insurance

Jarrar joined National Insurance Company (Watania) in 2012 and was appointed general manager in 2014. Among the company’s major clients are Hikma, SGBL, Bank Audi, Middle East Telecommunications, and the University of Jordan, among others. Before taking her current role, she was deputy general manager at Watania and deputy general manager at Jordan International Insurance (Newton).

87 Abir Leheta

• CEO Company: Egytrans

Nationality: Egyptian Sector: Logistics

Leheta was appointed to her current role in 2015. She first joined the company in 1996 as head of software development and has held several leading roles, including chief strategy officer. She is also the chairman of Barwil Egytrans and ScanArabia, and she is a member of the Egyptian Businessmen’s Association and the British Egyptian Business Association. She is co-chair of the Transport Committee at the American Chamber of Commerce, the Global Compact Network Egypt, and the local chapter of the UN Global Compact, and she is a member of the Chartered Institute for Logistics & Transport. She also chairs the African Women’s Committee of the Egyptian African Businessmen’s Association.

86 Amal Dokhan

• General Partner Company: 500 Global MENA

Nationality: Saudi Sector: Investments

Dokhan joined 500 Global in MENA as an advisor in 2020. She was promoted to a general partner in June 2022 to lead the Riyadhbased Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator fund, which invests in pre-seed and seed-stage companies in MENA. Dokhan previously oversaw entrepreneurship programs, was an angel investor, and worked as a learning and design program manager at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. She is also a member of the Cranfield University Saudi Advisory Board and the King Abdulaziz University Female Advisory Board.

88 Nadia Akil

• CEO & Vice Chairman Company: United Projects for Aviation Services Company (UPAC)

Nationality: Kuwaiti Sector: Real Estate

Kuwait-based UPAC specializes in Build Operate Transfer initiatives. Akil has been the CEO and vice chairman of the board of directors since July 2012. Listed on Boursa Kuwait, the company generated $24 million in revenues in the first nine months of 2022. Through its subsidiary, the Al Arfaj Real Estate Company, UPAC is part of a Kuwaitled consortium with Agility and the National Real Estate Company, developing the $1.2 billion Reem Mall on Abu Dhabi’s Reem Island.

89 Huda Al Lawati

• Founder & CEO

Company: Aliph Capital Nationality: Omani

Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Al Lawati has over 20 years of experience in the investment banking sector. Her prior roles include partner at Gateway Partners, Chief Investment Officer at Savola Group, and Partner and Chief Investment Officer for MENA at Abraaj Group. She has also served on multiple boards and committees across the region, including Tim Hortons, the Panda Retail Company, Herfy Food Services Company which is listed on the Saudi Exchange, AlKabeer, Savola Foods Company, SMG, the ENTERTAINER, and Kudu. Al Lawati founded Aliph Capital in 2021, which is a GCC-centric fund manager with a focus on mid-market companies. In November 2022, Aliph Fund I (LP) completed a 100% buyout of the Pet Shop in the U.A.E.

90 Narjes Farookh Jamal

• COO

Company: Bahrain Bourse

Nationality: Bahraini

Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Jamal joined the Bahrain Bourse in 1998. As COO, she heads digital transformation at the Bahrain Bourse and is responsible for embedding ESG practices and building partnerships with GCC exchanges. In October 2022, the Bahrain Bourse signed an MoU to enhance cooperation between the Bahrain Bourse and the Muscat Stock Exchange. The Bahrain Bourse’s market capitalization stood at $30.2 billion as of January 2023. Jamal is also a board member at Bahrain Clear, which is fully owned by the Bahrain Bourse. In August 2022, Bahrain Clear launched the Bahrain Private Market, a new comprehensive platform for closed shareholding companies.

91 Fazeela Gopalani

• Head of Middle East Company: ACCA Nationality: British Sector: Education

Gopalani joined ACCA in 2015 as the Head of Education Middle East before being promoted to Head of ACCA Middle East in April 2019. She leads operations in 11 countries and represents more than 20,000 students, affiliates, and members across the region. ACCA launched “The ACCA Middle East 2022 Student Financial Champion” initiative for students between the ages of 13 and 16. ACCA Middle East has also launched a Women in Finance program.

93 Donna Sultan

• President & CEO

Company: KEO International Consultants

Nationality: American Sector: Architecture

Sultan has been the CEO of KEO International Consultants since 1991 and assumed her current role as CEO and President in 2016. She has over 40 years of industry experience. KEO has worked on some major construction projects in the region, including four stadiums for the FIFA 2022 World Cup, the QSTP Solar Test Facility in Qatar, the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City in Qatar, the Capital Markets Authority and KIA headquarters in Kuwait, and Oman’s Institute of Public Administration. Sultan also oversees the development of allied projects by subsidiaries InSite, C-Quest, and F&M+.

92 Suzy Salman Kanoo

• CEO & President Company: Khalil bin Ebrahim Kanoo Company

Nationality: Bahraini Sector: Diversified

Kanoo leads Khalil bin Ebrahim Kanoo Company and IMTA, which is a distributor of Mazda, JAC Vehicles, Sailun tires, Elito Batteries, Veedol Lubricants, and other auto-related products. Kanoo is also a member of the YPO topCEO network. She published a book titled “Hear Us Speak: Letters from Arab Women” in 2021.

95 Adwa AlDakheel

• Founder & CEO

Company: Falak Investment Hub

Nationality: Saudi Sector: Entrepreneurship

AlDakheel founded the Falak Investment Hub in 2018 which is a hybrid business incubator, accelerator, academy, and angel investment company with a portfolio of multi-industrial startups, including Hospitalia, Qreeb, and JoeyCo. In July 2022, the Falak Investment Hub signed an MoU with Zoho, a global technology company, for an initiative by the “Zoho for Startups” program. In November 2022, it partnered with Standard Chartered to launch the “SC Women in Tech” program in Saudi Arabia. AlDakheel has also founded and co-founded multiple startups, including Ns3a Recruitment, and she is a board member for the Saudi Squash Federation.

94 Luma Fawaz

• CEO Company: Oasis500

Nationality: Jordanian Sector: Investments

Fawaz was appointed to her current role in 2018 after serving as head of investments since 2015. She has more than 20 years of experience in the finance and investments industry and previously worked as an investment and finance manager at a subsidiary of Nuqul Group. Oasis500 has a diversified portfolio of startups, including Abjjad, Amwalcom, and MadfooatCom, among others.

96 Amna Al Owais

• Chief Registrar Company: DIFC Courts Nationality: Emirati Sector: Law and Policy

Al Owais oversees operations and quality management, supervising the courts’ judicial officers and registry personnel. She led the establishment of the DIFC Courts’ Pro Bono Program in 2009. In 2021, the DIFC Courts established the Digital Economy Court Division and the Courts of Space project in cooperation with the Dubai Future Foundation. In the first half of 2022, DIFC Courts heard 447 claims cases with a total value of $517.7 million. Al Owais is also the chairperson of the DIFC Courts’ Users’ Committee and the DIFC Courts’ In-House Counsel Committee, and a member of the Consulting Council for the University of Sharjah College of Law.

97 Poonam Bhojani

• CEO

Company: Innoventures Education

Nationality: Indian Sector: Education

Bhojani has more than 18 years of experience in the education industry. At Innoventures Education, she is responsible for leading some of Dubai’s best-known educational institutions, including Dubai International Academy at Emirates Hills and Al Barsha, the Collegiate American School, Raffles International School, Raffles World Academy, Raffles Nurseries, and Raffles Starters. Innoventures Education provides world-class education to over 7,700 children from over 120 countries through about 1,100 teachers and administrative staff across the globe.

99 Abeer Helmy Saleh

• Board Member & Managing Director Company: Misr Life Insurance Takaful Nationality: Egyptian Sector: Insurance Saleh was appointed to her current role in 2022. Misr Life Insurance Takaful was established as a joint venture between Misr Insurance Holding Company, the National Bank of Egypt, and Banque Misr, with a capital of over $5 million. Saleh previously held a number of managerial positions, including managing director and board member at Wafa Life Insurance Company and managing director of Bupa Egypt Insurance.

98 May Nasrallah

• Founder & Executive Chairman

Company: deNovo Partners

Nationality: Emirati-Lebanese

Sector: Investment Banking

Nasrallah founded deNovo in 2010. She previously spent over 15 years with Morgan Stanley and was the youngest woman to be named managing director and the first Arab woman to hold this position at the company. She established, led, and grew Morgan Stanley’s first Middle East headquarters in Dubai in 2005. Nasrallah also serves as chairwoman of the Lebanese International Finance Executive. In 2020, BlackRock appointed Nasrallah as non-executive chairman and senior advisor for its Middle East Business.

100 Rita Huang Zhen

• Founder & CEO

Company: iMile Delivery Nationality: Chinese Sector: Logistics

Zhen cofounded iMile Delivery in 2017. As CEO, she oversees operations across the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. iMile offers a wide range of services, including last-mile delivery, cash on delivery, real-time online tracking, the international transport of goods, and overseas warehousing. In 2023, iMile partnered with the Turkish e-commerce platform, PttAVM.com. Zhen also founded ePanda, a non-profit initiative that connects investors in China with MENA. Before founding iMile Delivery, Zhen previously worked for Alibaba and Huawei.