Welcome to our 14th #aroundtheworld! Today, we will be discussing 5 powerful women from the Middle East who are changing the market. Enjoy our article on Raina Nashar, Amina Al Rustamani, Shaikha Al Bahar, Elham Yoursy Mahfouz, and Aisha Bin Bishr. Enjoy!
Rania Nashar
Rania Nashar graduated from King Saud University with a degree in Computer Science and Technology.
Nashar is the first female CEO of Saudi commercial bank, Samba Financial Group. She becomes CEO at a time when Saudi Arabia is beginning to implement reforms that will promote gender equality as part of their Vision 2030. Samba Financial Group is Saudi Arabia's third-largest bank by assets. Nashar previously served as a board member for Samba's global markets subsidiary and has over 20 years of experience in the commercial banking sector.
Amina Al Rustamani
Dr Amina Al Rustamani is the force behind Dubai's efforts to become an innovative global fashion, design and business centre. Al Rustamani is the chief executive of Tecom Investments, a business park operator owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and is responsible for developing the Dubai Design District (D3), 2 million square metres of purpose-built epicentre for the region's design industry. Al Rustamani also founded and chairs the Dubai Design and Fashion Council, a state-funded body that aims to provide a unified platform for fashion in Dubai by organising events and offering industry insight. Her launch of Dubai Wholesale City and supporting role in the UAE government's Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030 further seeks to nurture the city's future innovators and industry leaders.
She received her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from The George Washington University in 1993, 1996, and 2001, respectively. More recently, Amina was involved in the development of Dubai Design District and Dubai Wholesale City. Al Rustamani left TECOM Group in February 2018 to take up the reins in her family business.
Shaikha Al Bahar
Shaikha Al-Bahar is the CEO of the National Bank of Kuwait. She is also on the board of the International Bank of Qatar. She was ranked as the 85th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes in 2012. Al-Bahar was ranked as the 8th most powerful Arab woman of 2012 by Arabian Business. Al-Bahar also serves as director of Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC, vice chairman of Watani Investment Company KSCC and vice chair of Watani Investment Company K.S.C.
Shaikha Al-Bahar received a Bachelor of Science degree in International Marketing from Kuwait University, additionally, she attended specialized management programs at different institutions, including Harvard Business School, Stanford University, Wharton School, and Duke University.
Elham Yoursy Mahfouz
One of the most prominent women in Kuwait, Elham Yoursy Mahfouz is the deputy chief executive of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK), a role she has held since 2012. She also manages three departments: corporate credit, retail banking and treasury. CBK is the second-oldest bank in Kuwait and was founded in 1960. Today it has more than 40 branches across the region.
Ms. Elham is a banker holding a Bachelor with honor degree in Business Administration
/ American University in Cairo and she is a Member in the legal bankers Institute in London.
Aisha Bin Bishr
Dr. Aisha Bint Buti Bin Bisher is Director General of the Smart Dubai Office, the government entity entrusted with Dubai’s city-wide smart transformation by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Dr. Aisha also leads the creation of ‘The Smart City Index’ - the first-ever benchmark for smart city implementation across the globe in cooperation with ITU and the United Nations. As an acclaimed digital transformation and Smart Cities thought leader globally, she represents Smart Dubai in City Protocol Society, Smart City Expo World Congress and GSMA. In addition to her responsibilities at Smart Dubai Office, Dr. Aisha serves as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Councils; The Fourth Industrial Revolution’s smart cities readiness index team; and the World Happiness Council where she heads The Council of Happy Cities. She is also a Non-Executive Director at Emaar Properties, and was elevated to its Board in 2017. The incredible work of. Dr. Aisha is recognized globally.
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