From groundbreaking entrepreneurs to visionary corporate leaders, women in MENA are leaving their mark in every sector and industry. For example, Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of the First Abu Dhabi Bank, who leads the list for the second consecutive year, was also recognized on Forbes’ list of the World’s Most Powerful Women 2023, ranking at 63 overall and 14th in the finance category globally. Shaista Asif, Cofounder and Group CEO of PureHealth Holding, led one of the region’s largest IPOs, raising a total of $986 million by offering 10% of its issued share capital on the first market of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
This year’s list of the Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2024 features 100 entries, with 104 women from 27 different sectors and 28 nationalities. The banking and financial services sector leads the list with 26 entries, followed by healthcare with 13, and investments and technology with six entries each. There are 35 newcomers to the list, from 15 different sectors.
Methodology
When creating the ranking, we considered the following criteria.
• The impact that the leader has had on the region and the markets that she serves.
• The achievements and performance of the leader in the last year.
This story is from the Feb 2024 edition of Forbes Middle East - English.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Feb 2024 edition of Forbes Middle East - English.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Celebrating Emirati Businesswomen and Entrepreneurs on Emirati Women's Day
As part of the U.A.E.’s annual Emirati Women’s Day celebrations, the Abu Dhabi Business Women Council and the Abu Dhabi Chamber hosted an event on August 28, 2024, under the theme “We Collaborate for Tomorrow,” celebrating the role and achievements of Emirati women.
THE MIDDLE EAST'S TOP 100 HEALTHCARE LEADERS 2024
MENA’s healthcare landscape is evolving towards integration, marked by the rise of fully comprehensive ecosystems. Industry giants are setting future trends, driven by systems that thrive on data abundance, accessibility, and intersectoral collaboration.
SCOUTING FOR OPPORTUNITIES
Ayman Cheikh-Lahlou, Chairman and CEO of the Morocco-based Cooper Pharma, took the helm of the family-owned pharmaceutical company in 2005 and has seen business boom over nearly 20 years. Now, he’s exploring expansion opportunities in new markets.
TURNING THE TIDE
Irina Zaporozhets, President and General Manager for Eli Lilly Suisse S.A. in the META region is driving expansion, focusing on innovation and patient-centric care. As she navigates regional challenges, her commitment to expanding access to medicine remains at the forefront.
Supercharging AI
Armed with a newly raised 640 million, GROQ thinks it can challenge one of the world’s most valuable companies with a purpose-built chip designed for Al from scratch.
How Technology is Accelerating Digital Equality in Diverse Markets
The rise of smartphones and digital technologies has transformed our daily lives, contributing to the evolution of connected consumers.
Rare Fortune
Money manager JAMES LITINSKY turned a bad junk bond bet into a $400 million fortune. His MP Materials operates a strategic mine and will begin manufacturing supermagnets for electric vehicles next year.
The State of Mental Health in the Middle East
While mental health awareness is on the rise, the Middle East faces some challenges in providing care. Still, we're seeing some progress.
Big Breakthroughs
From gene therapy to nasal sprays, these were some of the most significant healthcare breakthroughs in the last year.
MENA's 5 Most Valuable Healthcare Companies 2024
The combined market cap of 57 healthcare companies listed on MENA's stock exchanges hit $83.7 billion on August 13, 2024, with the top five companies accounting for about 62.4% of the total market cap. These are MENA's five most valuable healthcare companies in 2024.
