9 Jordanians among ‘most powerful’ Arab women

AMMAN — Nine Jordanian women were among the most powerful 100 Arab women for 2015, according to a Forbes Middle East list released Thursday. 

Social Development Minister Reem Abu Hassan and Industry and Trade Minister Maha Ali were among the top 10 most powerful Arab women in government.

Jordan, with 11 entries into the competition, had the fourth highest number of entries following Egypt (22 entries), Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates (17), and Kuwait (13).

The list includes seven achieving Jordanian women in the corporate and business sector, including Ittihad Bank General Manager Nadia Al Saeed, Munir Sukhtian Group CEO Deema Sukhtian and Randa Ayoubi, founder and CEO of Rubicon Group Holding.

In the list were also Mary Nazzal Batayneh, founder and chair of Landmark Hotels, as well as founder and CEO of Handasiyat.net Nermin Saad and Commercial Lead for the Middle East at Monsanto Rand Abu Ghanimeh.

Saudi Arabian Lubna Al Olayan, CEO of Olayan Financing Company, was at the top of the list, followed by Emirati Raja Al Gurg, managing director of Isa Saleh Al Gurg, and Qatari Sheikha Mayasaa Al Thani, chair of Qatar Museum.

According to Forbes Middle East website, 60 per cent of the most powerful businesswomen hold executive management positions, while another 24 per cent have worked their way up to the top of their family business. 

For the third consecutive year, the list hounours the successes and positions of the most powerful Arab women, who are “smashing through the glass ceilings and paving the way for future generations”, said Khuloud Omian, editor in chief of Forbes Middle East.

However, the Middle East still has a lot to do to reach true equality in the workplace, she noted.