Gender Dynamics in Arab Leadership Roles

Honoured to have my article published by the World Economic Forum – on how the UAE and Gulf governments are reshaping the landscape for women entrepreneurs in the region. Across the Gulf, and especially in the UAE, the message is clear – women-led innovation is no longer a footnote in the region’s economic story. It’s at the centre of it. We’re seeing more women step into senior leadership roles – both in government and in some of the UAE’s most dynamic companies – shaping decisions at the highest levels and setting new standards for what inclusive leadership can look like in the region. Initiatives like Visa’s “She’s Next” programme, and the Women’s Health Accelerator by Organon and Flat6Labs, are matching this ambition with capital and access. The results speak for themselves – unicorns, market-first solutions, and fast-growing platforms designed by and for the region. Still, the funding gap persists. Women-led startups in MENA attract just over 1% of total VC capital – despite consistent data showing they outperform. According to State Street Global Advisors, closing this gap could unlock up to $2.7 trillion in additional GDP by 2025. And the talent is already here. In the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia, women now make up over half of all STEM graduates – outpacing many Western economies. This is not just progress – it’s policy in action. The UAE has built a foundation where female founders don’t just survive – they lead. These women are not waiting to be invited in. They are building what comes next. #WEF #UAE #GulfEconomy #WomenInTech #Entrepreneurship #D33 #Vision2030 #Leadership #MiddleEast #GenderEquity #Innovation #FutureIsNow

Women in business, yes. Arab women in business? Also yes. Here’s what the mainstream doesn’t see: Arab women aren’t just entering the economy. They’re reshaping it—from the ground up. Western coverage of the SWANA region often centers crisis. There's more to our story—where Arab women are building businesses, creating jobs, sustaining families, and redefining leadership. Across the region, women’s business ownership is rising: Iraq: 11.9% (2019) → 13.5% (2022) Oman: 13.9% (2019) → 15.2% (2020) Saudi Arabia: 19.3% (2018) → 20.1% (2019) And performance tells a compelling story: a 2023 study found that companies with at least one female founder outperform all-male teams by 63%. In Egypt, a 2025 SWANA study found 53% of small businesses are women-owned—with over a quarter launched in the past five years. Women’s economic participation means: - More income directed toward children’s education, nutrition, and health - Greater household stability in fragile economies - Job creation at the community level—especially for other women - New role models shifting what girls believe is possible - Leadership styles that prioritize sustainability, collaboration, and long-term resilience Women run home-based enterprises, market stalls, agricultural cooperatives, digital microbusinesses—often while navigating unpaid care work, legal barriers, and social constraints. These are not side hustles. They are economic lifelines. Women with access to education are more likely to formalize businesses, scale revenue, adopt technology, hire others, and reinvest locally. Education doesn’t just raise income—it multiplies agency. Some women shaping this future: - Mona Ataya, CEO and Founder of Mumzworld.com, a regional e-commerce platform dedicated to mothers, babies and children, reaching 2.5M+ families and opening doors for women in tech and e-commerce. - Rola Fayyad, Founder and CEO of ViaVii ✈️, an AI platform that connects travelers to Jordanian heritage food—mobilizing $3.5M+ and impacting 10,000+ people across marginalized SWANA communities. - Lina Khalifa, a Jordanian Entrepreneur and founder of SheFighter Academy, teaches women self-defense—the first of its kind in the region. The Academy has empowered over 30,000 women and certified more than 700 instructors worldwide. And beyond high-profile founders, millions of less-visible women—street vendors, farmers, artisans, freelancers, caregivers—are quietly powering local economies. This isn’t just about entrepreneurship. It’s about economic power, social influence, and intergenerational change. - When women earn, communities become more resilient. - When women lead, workplaces become more humane and sustainable. - When girls see women build and own, their sense of possibility expands. We're not waiting to be included in the economy—we're building it. #WomenEntrepreneurs #WomenEconomicEmpowerment #ArabRegion #SWANA #InclusiveGrowth #EconomicJustice #GenderEquality #WomenInLeadership #EmergingMarkets

🌟𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙎𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥: 𝘼 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝘽𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 🇸🇦 Over the past few years, something remarkable has been unfolding in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With Vision 2030 paving the way for transformation, and the post-COVID era accelerating change, the Life Sciences and Healthcare sectors have witnessed a shift that deserves global attention: ➡️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀. ❌Not just in support functions. ❌Not just as a checkbox for diversity. ✅But as true drivers of business growth, leadership, and innovation. Having worked closely with the Saudi market for years, I’ve seen this evolution up close. It started quietly with talented Saudi women entering junior and mid-level roles. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄? 🔥 We are witnessing a 𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗣&𝗟𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀. In particular, 𝗛𝗥, 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 are areas where we’re seeing exceptional Saudi women stepping into senior roles in both local companies and multinational organizations. 💡 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨? Because just a few years ago, many of these opportunities simply weren’t accessible. But now: ✒️Saudi women are earning degrees from world-class universities. ✒️They return home with global mindsets, local understanding, and a relentless drive to contribute. ✒️They bring energy, discipline, emotional intelligence, and a hunger to succeed that’s turning heads in boardrooms. From my daily conversations with C-level leaders, one message is becoming consistent: “Hiring senior Saudi women has brought something fresh to our leadership dynamic.” This isn't about comparison. It’s not about saying one group is better than another. Talent is talent, in every gender, in every market. But in Saudi Arabia, the cultural leap happening now makes this talent shift particularly powerful. 📊 Companies aren’t just hiring Saudi women because of quotas. They’re doing it because 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜-𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚. Especially in client-facing roles, such as working with gynecologists or navigating patient access, having Saudi women in leadership simply makes strategic and cultural sense. This is not a trend. This is a strategic shift. And the companies embracing it early? They’re already seeing the difference. 𝙏𝙤 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥: 👏 We see you. 👏 We support you. 👏 And the industry is better because of you. SpenglerFox #Leadership #LifeSciences #SaudiArabia #Vision2030 #WomenInLeadership #TalentStrategy #Diversityandinclusion #FutureOfWork #SaudiWomen

Proud to share that my research paper has officially been published! 🌟 “The Reality of Emirati Women’s Political Participation in the Federal National Council” ‎واقع المشاركة السياسية للمرأة الإماراتية في المجلس الوطني الاتحادي 📄 Published in AL-ADAB JOURNAL University of Baghdad 🔗 DOI: https://lnkd.in/drtcwe_x This paper explores how the UAE turned a bold vision into reality by achieving gender parity in parliament in under 50 years. The case study is presented in Arabic and is grounded in the region’s sociopolitical context. 👉🏼 If you’re researching #gender and #politics in the Arab world, or looking for case studies on how #parliaments can achieve gender equality, I invite you to give it a read. Grateful to my advisor Dr. Ouassila Yaiche and the University of Sharjah for the guidance and support. #EmiratiWomen #PoliticalParticipation #UAE #FederalNationalCouncil #SDG5 #GenderEquality

Is it hard for a woman to do business in Saudi Arabia? When someone asked Lubna Olayan this question, she simply said: “Women have always done business, it’s just more visible today.” And she is right. Today, women in Saudi Arabia are taking They lead, they innovate, they invest, and their success is now visible, measurable, and inspiring. Names like Lubna Olayan, Sarah Al Suhaimi, Rania Nashar, and Jomana Al Rashid represent this new generation of Saudi female leaders. But behind them, there are hundreds of women entrepreneurs building the new Saudi economy: • Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) led by Jomana Al Rashid, one of the key figures in the Arab media landscape. • Tadawul Group, chaired by Sarah Al Suhaimi, the first woman to lead the Saudi Stock Exchange. • Nuqtah, a Web3 startup founded by Salwa Radwi, a pioneer in blockchain and digital creativity. • Samba Financial Group, managed by Rania Nashar, the first Saudi woman to become CEO of a major commercial bank. And these are not exceptions. Across the country, women are opening restaurants, agencies, brands, and tech startups, and many hold high positions in government, education, and the private sector. Saudi Arabia has changed profoundly. Women can now start a company in just a few days. They have equal access to salaries, financing, and leadership roles. They are active in every sector: finance, industry, culture, sport, healthcare, and technology. Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia is no longer rare, it is an economic reality. And what makes it even more impressive is that this movement also includes foreign women who choose to invest, work, and grow here. In your opinion, what industries will see the biggest female growth in the next five years? #SaudiArabia #WomenInBusiness #Leadership #Vision2030 #Entrepreneurship #Equality

Every time I read a new report about women in leadership, I pause not because the numbers surprise me, but because they finally reflect what I see every day. KPMG’s Middle East Female Leaders Outlook 2025 says 78% of women business leaders are confident about their company’s growth in the next three years. That confidence feels familiar I see it in every woman I work with across the GCC. They are not just holding positions; they are redefining leadership leading teams remotely, building businesses, and making bold strategic calls with empathy and foresight. Across the region, the shift is clear: 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia — Female workforce participation has reached 36.3%, surpassing Vision 2030 targets. Women now hold 43.8% of mid to senior roles, a major leap from 2017. 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates — Women make up 70% of university graduates and over half of STEM graduates, setting the foundation for a new generation of innovators. 🇧🇭 Bahrain — Women account for nearly 40% of the private sector workforce, with strong representation in finance and technology. 🇴🇲 Oman — Women are stepping into leadership across diplomacy, entrepreneurship, and public institutions — gradually reshaping decision-making spaces. Working remotely across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the wider GCC, I often see this change happen quietly in a thoughtful strategy call, a marketing brainstorm, or a late-night decision that transforms a project. It reminds me that progress isn’t always loud sometimes, it’s consistent, determined, and deeply human. The future of business in the Middle East isn’t just powered by innovation it’s being shaped by women who lead with purpose, clarity, and heart. #WomenInLeadership #CMO #MiddleEastBusiness #GCC #Leadership #GrowthMindset #MENA #Transformation #BusinessDevelopment #KPMG #WomenAtWork #KSA #UAE #Oman #Bahrain #Qatar #Kuwait

What Empowered Me Most as a Saudi Woman in Leadership. 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia is rising with pride. Not only in how we work, but in who shapes our future and leads the way. When Vision 2030 began in 2016, the focus was often on mega-projects and economic diversification. But for Saudi women in leadership, something even more transformative was unfolding: 🔹 Women’s labor participation has more than doubled since 2016, now over 36%. 🔹 Women in senior and middle management roles up 93% in the last decade (GASTAT, 2024). 🔹 Record-breaking appointments of women to boards, ministries, and global forums. 🔹 Saudi ranks among the top reformers globally in women’s economic inclusion (World Bank, 2024). 🔹 And in 2023, Rayyanah Barnawi became the first Saudi and the first Arab Muslim woman in space, carrying our story of empowerment beyond Earth itself. These aren’t just milestones. They’re markers of a shift, from symbolic presence to strategic influence. I’ve lived this journey firsthand. Early in my career, I was often the only woman in the room. Today, I sit with women who are building policy, shaping industries, and mentoring the next wave of leaders. Our presence is no longer questioned. Our impact is measured by the change we deliver. “Empowerment begins the moment you stop waiting for permission.” This didn’t happen by chance. It came from policy grounded in potential, from leaders’ men and women committed to building capability, and from every woman who chose to speak, lead, and stay the course. Now, the global question is shifting: Not “Can Saudi women lead?” But: “What will Saudi women lead next?” Because empowerment isn’t a title. It’s a legacy in motion. 👇 Comment if you’ve felt this as a woman in leadership. 🔁 Repost to inspire the next leader in your network. 🔔 Follow me Sahar Alhunaidi for more on women shaping Saudi’s future. #SaudiVision2030 #WomenInLeadership #PrideOfSaudi