Economy Middle East

As International Women’s Day approaches on March 8, Economy Middle East celebrates 30 visionary women across the region who are breaking barriers, driving change, and shaping a more inclusive future. The Middle East is undergoing a profound transformation, with women at the forefront—leading businesses, redefining industries, and challenging norms. Their growing influence is not only reshaping boardrooms but also fostering a culture of inclusivity, equality, and opportunity. As more women rise to leadership roles, they become beacons of inspiration, proving that ambition and talent know no gender.  Here are 30 visionary women making a lasting impact: Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, President and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of American University of Sharjah Alia Abdulla AlMazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurship Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarah bint Yousif Al-Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, Director-General of Government of Dubai Media Office H.E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation Jomana R. Alrashid, CEO and board member at SRMG Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) Amira Sajwani, Founder and CEO, Prypco real estate  Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Martina Strong, US Ambassador to the UAE Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Chair of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court; GCEO of 2PointZero, a subsidiary of IHC Shaista Asif, group CEO, PureHealth Dr. Raja Al Gurg, Managing Director & Board Member, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group Raja Al Mazrouei, CEO of Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) Rania Nashar, Chairperson of Audit Committee of FII Institute and Board Member, stc Samia Bouazza, Group CEO and Managing Director, Multiply Group Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President, Dubai Design District Dr. Aishah Alyammahi, Strategic Advisor, Alef Education Nadia Zaal, Co-founder and CEO, Zaya Group Dr Saeeda Jaffar, GM GCC, Visa He Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi , Former UAE Minister and Vice President, Kalimat Foundation Nora Al Matrooshi, Astronaut Dalal Al Qais, Group CEO, Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports Elham Mahfouz, CEO, Commercial Bank of Kuwait Hanan Al Kuwari, Member of the board of governors, Sidra Medicine Renuka Jagtiani, Chairwoman, Landmark Group Salma Albaloushi, Pilot, senior investigator, UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Check out the full list: https://lnkd.in/dd74E9_w #InternationalWomensDay #IWD #WomenInLeadership #VisionaryWomen

At EFG Hermes One on One conference in Dubai, Karim Awad, group CEO of EFG Holding, shares with Economy Middle East how the event fosters transparent dialogue between investors and companies—crucial in today’s uncertain climate. He emphasized the need to empower the private sector, citing the UAE and Saudi Arabia as strong examples of public-private synergy. Awad also discussed key drivers of investment in MENA: proactive leadership, a skilled labor force, and the region’s embrace of technology. On Egypt, he noted signs of economic improvement and encouraged global investors to take a closer look at its evolving opportunities. For more insights, watch the full interview. #EfgHolding #Economy #Privatesector #Investment

The manufacturing sector has produced the highest number of new billionaires over the past decade, according to The Wealth Report 2025 by Knight Frank. Since 2014, it has generated a total of 509 billionaires, half of whom are based in China. The tech sector ranks second, having created 443 billionaires—once again, with China leading the way. #manufacturing #industry #billionaire #China #Tech

ADIB - Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank announced today the official launch of its fractional sukuk platform, “Smart Sukuk”, a new digital investment solution that enables customers to invest in fractionalized sukuk certificates directly through the ADIB Mobile App. With this launch, ADIB becomes the first bank to introduce an innovative investment solution that significantly lowers the traditional entry barriers for sukuk investments, allowing investors to participate with as little as $1,000 compared to the usual $200,000 minimum and expanding access to Sharia-compliant investment products to retail investors. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e_h7Q7Ya #AbuDhabi #Sukuk #IslamicBanking #Investment #ADIB

According to Gartner, information security in the MENA region is expected to reach $3.3 billion by 2025, highlighting the growing importance of digital protection. Swipe to learn more. #CyberSecurity #MENA #TechGrowth

HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, met today with His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, in the country’s capital New Delhi. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dBaMvBQe #UAE #India #NewDelhi #SheikHamdan #Partnerships

With rising U.S. tariffs and growing global tensions, the world is facing big questions about inflation, growth, and the future of global trade. At the 19th annual EFG Hermes One-on-One Conference in Dubai, Economy Middle East spoke with Mohamed Abu Basha, managing director and head of macroeconomic analysis at EFG Hermes, who shared his views on what’s ahead for the global economy and how the MENA region can prepare for the challenges. From the risk of a global recession to the impact of changing trade norms, Abu Basha highlights the key trends to watch and the sectors that could stay strong during uncertain times. Full interview: https://lnkd.in/eFZCcQ-B EFG Holding #EFGHermes #GlobalEconomy #MENA #Trade #Inflation #Recession #EconomyMiddleEast

The UAE and Türkiye recently convened the second session of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) in Abu Dhabi, aimed at strengthening their trade and commercial ties and advancing the objectives of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which took effect on September 1, 2023. Highlighting their deepening relationship, both sides reported an 11.5% increase in non-oil trade in 2024, reaching $40.5 billion. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ei735x4n #UAE #Turkiye #AbuDhabi #Trade

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU’s proposal for a “zero-for-zero” tariff scheme, aimed at averting a retaliatory trade war and reinforcing the bloc’s commitment to fostering cooperative trade relations. However, U.S. President Donald Trump insisted that the European Union must agree to purchase $350 billion worth of American energy in exchange for any tariff relief. He dismissed Brussels’ proposal of “zero-for-zero” tariffs on cars and industrial goods. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eanzZn78 #EU #US #PresidentTrump #Tariff #Trade

#LinkedIn today released its annual list of top companies in the #UAE and #SaudiArabia, highlighting workplaces that offer strong career growth and meaningful opportunities in a fast-changing job market. Check the complete list of 15 companies: https://lnkd.in/dG9RCpER