Long and thankfully gone are the days when the world of business was predominantly led by men. Women have been making their mark throughout the entrepreneurial landscape and business worlds for decades now. From real estate to retail and everything in between, there are women in senior management roles, shaping the future of business across the globe. Today, we are delighted to be introducing you to some of the most successful Emirati businesswomen. Women who have truly excelled in their respective fields and whose influence stretches way beyond the UAE.
EMIRATI BUSINESSWOMEN PART OF THE UAE GOVERNMENT
MARYAM ALMHEIRI
Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri (known as Maryam Almheiri/Mariam Almheiri/Maryam Eid Almheiri) is the Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office, as well as the CEO of the Media Zone Authority for Abu Dhabi. Additionally, she is the Vice-Chair of twofour54.
Prior to her current role, she was the Minister of State for Food and Water Security. As a minister, she spearheaded many initiatives to promote climate-smart agricultural solutions and address the challenges of food and water scarcity. She has also been a significant driving force of marine conservation efforts in the UAE.
Maryam Almheiri graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) in Germany.
DR AISHA BIN BISHR
Dr Aisha Bint Buti Bin Bisher (commonly known as Dr Aisha Bin Bishr) serves as the Director-General for the Smart Dubai office. She is responsible for enacting the city’s ‘Smart Transformation Goal’.
Dr Aisha is also credited with the creation of “The Smart City Index”, a groundbreaking benchmarking tool that allows for the assessment of smart implementations across the globe.
Recognised globally as a thought leader in smart city development, Dr Aisha serves as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council Smart City Readiness Index Team. She is also the chairperson of the Dubai Future Council for Digital Transactions – which forms part of the Dubai Future Councils initiative.
OHOOD AL ROUMI
Formerly the first Emirati Minister of Happiness, Ohood Al Roumi is the current Emirati Minister of the State for Government Development and Future. In 2015 she was appointed as a member of the UN’s Global Entrepreneurship Council, becoming the first Arab member to secure that position. Ohood Al Roumi was listed by Fortune magazine as one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders in 2017.
She holds an Executive Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Sharjah.
SUCCESS STORIES OF EMIRATI BUSINESSWOMEN IN THE UAE’S BANKING SECTOR
HANA AL ROSTAMANI
Hana Al Rostamani made headlines in 2021 when she was appointed as the first female CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank, the biggest lender in the UAE. She has 22 years of experience within the banking and finance industry.
She has formerly served as an Independent Director in Emirates Integrated Telecommunication and has also been Vice-Chairperson of the Emirates Institute for banking and financial services.
Currently, she’s serving as the Group Chief Executive for First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and has recently spearheaded the offer of purchase of EFG Hermes by FAB.
ROLA ABU MANNEH
Rola Abu Manneh is an outspoken activist for women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship. We all know her as the CEO for Standard Chartered Bank UAE but what you may not know is that she has also been serving on the Board of Directors panel at the Dubai International Chamber.
Rola has been featured on Forbes Middle East’s Top 10 most successful Emirati Power Businesswomen in 2021 and on the Arabian Business World Most Powerful Arabs 2019. This epitomises her highly successful business career which is inundated with accomplishments and honours.
RAJA EASA AL GURG
Raja Easa Al Gurg is the first Emirati woman on the Board of HSBC Bank Middle East Limited. She is also the Managing Director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, the biggest conglomerate in the Middle East that focuses on retail, construction, industrial and joint ventures.
Raja Easa Al Gurg also heads the Dubai Business Women Council as president and is a board member of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Raja Easa Al Gurg recently made headlines by being nominated in Forbes’s top 50 over 50: EMEA 2022.
She is an alumni of Kuwait University with a degree in English Literature. What sets her further apart is that she is one of the first Emirate businesswomen to write and release an autobiography – which is a truly fascinating read.
INFLUENTIAL BUSINESSWOMEN IN THE UAE’S REAL ESTATE SECTOR
MAITHA AL DOSSARI
Maitha Al Dossari is the CEO of Emaar Entertainment, an Emaar Properties subsidiary. She directs the operations of all the entertainment assets headed by Emaar Properties which include Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Sega Republic, Dubai Ice Rink, Reel Cinemas and others.
Maitha has occupied several key roles within Emaar. She has been General Manager – Corporate Services of Emaar Properties PJSC, as well as the Chief Operating Officer of Emaar Entertainment.
Maitha has wide experience in logistics, procurement and operations entailing several business functions, ranging from optimisation to auditing.
MAJIDA ALI RASHID
Majida Ali Rashid was nominated as Female CEO of the year in 2014’s CEO Middle East Awards. She was nominated for the award due to her valued contributions to the Investment Management and Promotion Centre of the Dubai Land Department (DLD).
She was instrumental in the launch of the “Commercial Property Price Index” by DLD in 2021 that serves as a key benchmarking tool for the analysis and performance of commercial real estate in Dubai.
PROMINENT EMIRATI BUSINESSWOMEN IN CORPORATE LEADERSHIP ROLES
NAJLA AHMED MIDFA
Najla Ahmed Al Mifda is widely considered the patron saint of entrepreneurs in the UAE. She serves as the CEO of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (SHERAA). Under her leadership, SHERAA has developed a portfolio of over 100 startups that have generated over $80 million in revenue.
Najla also serves as a board member of United Arab Bank, Emirates Development Bank and Emirates Schools Establishment. A fellow of the Aspen Institutes Middle East Leadership Initiative, she holds an MBA from Stanford University.
DR DALYA AL MUTHANNA
Our next pick is Dr Dalya Al Muthanna. She is the President of GE in the UAE and the global Chief of Strategy & Operations for GE International Markets. Her job involves ensuring the execution of market business strategy across different business verticals including aviation, energy and healthcare in the UAE.
She also leads the strategic direction of the organisation which enables GE to operate in complex, strategic, up-and-coming markets globally.
She joined the GE group in 2008 as a part of the organisation’s two-year Experienced Commercial Leadership Program and has taken up several leadership roles since then. She has created a growth strategy for North Africa, the Middle East and Turkey and took care of GE’s energy businesses.
OTHER NOTABLE EMIRATI BUSINESSWOMEN IN UAE’S OTHER INDUSTRIES
DR SAEEDA JAFFAR
Dr Syeda Jaffar is a veteran of the financial sector and currently serving as Senior Vice President of the Gulf Cooperation Council region and Country Manager for Visa Group. She has formerly held leadership positions in United Arab Bank, Alvarez and Marsal and Bahrain FInTech Bay.
An alumni of Boston University with a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering and a doctorate in Chemical Engineering from MIT, she has recently been named among Forbes’ most influential businesswomen in the MENA region.
MARYAM BUTI AL SUWAIDI
Maryam Buti Al Suwaidi became the first woman to become Chief Executive of the Securities and Commodities Authority in 2021. Formerly the acting chief of the UAE markets regulator, she has extensive experience in the field of capital markets. She is also credited as being the first Emirati female assessor expert in combating money laundering and terrorism financing.
Ms Suwaidi holds a Masters’s Degree in commercial law from Wales University and A PhD in Law from the University of Leeds in the UK.
SUZANNE AL ANANI
A key figure in Middle East Aviation, Suzanne Al Anani is the CEO of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects. She is credited with helming strategy and oversight for iconic projects like Dubai International and Al Maktoum International Airport.
She was named as one of the most influential women in the Arab world by Forbes in 2019 for her initiatives that directly contributed to the growth of the aviation sector.
AMINA TAHER
Amina Taher is the Vice President of Brand Marketing and Sponsorships for the Etihad Aviation Group. She’s a strong advocate for women’s empowerment and currently the only female on Etihad Aviation Group’s Executive leadership team.
She was celebrated as one of the top 50 Forbes Power Businesswomen in the Middle east in 2020. An avid tennis and squash player, she also formerly served as one of the first women on the UAE Tennis Federation Board.
LANA ZAKI
Lana Zaki Nuseibeh is credited with establishing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Policy Planning Department in 2009. She stayed as head of the department for three years. She later became the Ambassador and permanent representative of the UAE to the United Nations in 2013. She has also served as President on the UN Women Executive board.
She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in history from Queens College, University of Cambridge and a Master’s in Israeli and Jewish diaspora studies from the University of London.
FAQs ABOUT UAE BUSINESSWOMEN AND MORE
WHO ARE THE TOP EMIRATI FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS?
Impossible to name just one. There are a plethora of immensely talented female Emirate entrepreneurs out there achieving amazing things each and every day.
HOW CAN I START A BUSINESS IN DUBAI?
The key aspect to starting a business is to understand the requirements, rules and regulations. Read our guide on starting a business in Dubai to know more.
WHO TO SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM WHEN SETTING UP A BUSINESS IN DUBAI?
Starting a business can be a daunting task. Therefore, it is recommended to seek guidance from these business setup companies in Dubai to understand the initial stages of operation.
That brings an end to our list of Emirati businesswomen in Dubai who have made a mark in the world of business through their strength, knowledge and foresight. MyBayut congratulates these remarkable women on their amazing achievements, in the knowledge that there’s still so much more to come.
There are other women who are making their mark in different fields across the country. For instance, there are some fabulous female-led restaurants in Dubai. You can also visit the Women’s Museum Dubai to pay tribute to the incredible women of the UAE.
Similar to female counterparts, there are many Emirati businessmen in Dubai who have proved how a fusion of talent and purpose can help to achieve amazing feats in the world of business and beyond.
Talking about influential men, learn about the founding fathers of the UAE whose contributions have played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the country.
