Emirati Women Dominate Most Powerful Arab Women List

There are 26 Emirati women who made it to Forbes 2014 list of the Most Powerful Arab Women. Indeed, very surprising achievement! The ranking is separated into three categories – family business, executive management, as well as government. The United Arab Emirates has representatives in all three of them, making the country one of the top performers on this year’s list. Moreover, the most powerful Arab women in government and family business in 2014 are both from the UAE.

Emirati Raja Easa Al Gurg tops the ranking in the category family business. She is best known as the Managing Director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group. However, Al Gurg is also a dedicated philanthropist and presidents of the Dubai Business Women’s Council. In addition, she regularly participated in important global trade and commerce conferences and meetings.

UAE’s Fatima Al Jaber and Amna BinHendi are also among the top 20 on this list. Al Jaber, the COO of Al Jaber Group, is the 13th most powerful Arab woman with a family business, whereas BinHendi known as the CEO of BinHendi Enterprises, is 14th.

Forbes’ second list, dedicated to the most powerful Arab women in government is also headed by an Emirati woman. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi is leading this ranking in 2014. She is UAE’s Minister of International Cooperation and Development and President of Zayed University. Most importantly, however, Sheikha Lubna is the first ever women in the UAE to assume a cabinet position.

UAE’s Minister of Social Affairs, Maryam Mohammed Al Roumi, is in the top 10, as well. She has been on this post for about 8 years now. Nevertheless, Al Roumi had an impressive career even before her days as a minister. For instance, a few years back, she served as Chairwoman to the UAE’s Special Olympics committee.

The list focusing on executive management is the only one that is not topped by an UAE representative. Nevertheless, five Emirati women can be spotted on it. Salma Ali Saif Bin Hareb, CEO of Economic Zones World, is the highest rates of them with a third position on the list. Dr. Amina Al Rustamani is 6th this year. She is in the board of a number of private and public companies and Group CEO of TECOM Investments.

Last month Fortune published its list of the Most Powerful Women (MPW). Although the ranking focuses on all regions, the Middle East has only one representative – Saudi Arabia’ Lubna Olayan.