Meet the Arab world's 'most powerful' women

Gulf Business just released its annual ranking of the 100 Most Powerful Arabs, and one-quarter are women.

Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, a billionaire businessman and Trump's Twitter nemesis, was named >as the most powerful Arab and men dominated the top 10. But 25 women made it to the list, proving once again that women are smashing the glass ceiling throughout the Arab world.

Here's a closer look at the five most powerful women in the region, according to the ranking.

The UAE's Noura Al Kaabi ranked No. 15 on the list. As the head of Abu Dhabi's Media Authority and twofour54, Kaabi saw her responsibilities expand in 2016, when she was appointed as the UAE minister of state for Federal National Council affairs. 

In the past year, she has seen significant success in her ministerial work as well as her media role. She signed a three-year deal with MBC to film Arabic dramas in Abu Dhabi and hosted twofour54's longest feature film to date, Bollywood’s Dishoom.  As a minister, she led a number of government initiatives, including those that engage with the country’s youth. 

Kaabi also serves as the chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company and a board member of the UAE’s National Media Council, Abu Dhabi Media, Image Nation and Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

Sheikha Luban, who is a member of Sharjah's ruling family, ranked No. 18 on the list. As one of the UAE's most respected female leaders, she was the first woman in the nation to hold a ministerial post and has gone on to head various government ministries.

She has served as minister of economy, minister of foreign trade, minister of international cooperation and development and> most recently she took on the role of minister of state for tolerance last year.

In addition to her government role, she serves as president of Zayed University and on the boards of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and The Emirates Foundation for Youth Development. Internationally, she is well-recognized as a powerful voice for female empowerment, and for promoting Islam as a religion of tolerance and coexistence.

She became the first Emirati, and only the second person ever from a GCC country, to receive the Clinton Global Citizen Award in 2015

Coming in at No. 20 on the ranking, Lubna Olayan is accustomed to being featured on power lists. Widely considered to be one of the most influential businesswoman in the Middle East and the Arab World, she oversees more than 40 companies under family finance business.

Olayan joined the family firm in 1983 as the only woman. Since then, she has been praised for her progressive business practices, bringing more than 400 women to join the company's team. She became the first woman to ever be elected to the board of a Saudi company in 2004: the Saudi Hollandi Bank.

The company formed a joint venture with Fortune 500 engine and power generation firm Cummins and partnered with asset manager Chelsfield to acquire New York’s Sony building for $1.4 billion last year.

Qatar's leading lady, Sheikha Moza, came in at No. 28. The former first lady and social reformer continues to wield significant power and global influence through her role as the chair of the Qatar Foundation.

Through the Qatar Foundation, Sheikha Moza has led the 2008 Silatech initiative to address growing youth unemployment in the Middle East and North Africa and Education Above All in 2012 to bring education to poor and marginalized children around the world. The United Nations has recognized her efforts and given her various ambassador, advocate and membership positions.  

Her travels and work ensure she is constantly brushing shoulders with big names, including Pope Francis, Michelle Obama and many others. And of course, Sheikha Moza's style is always on point, something noted by her more than 200,000 followers on Instagram.

Zainab Salbi, the Iraqi author, women's rights activist, humanitarian, social entrepreneur and media commentator ranked No. 35. She has dedicated her life to helping others through a variety of means. 

Salbi most recently launched The Nida’a Show – a talk show dedicated to addressing and inspiring women in the Arab world. This was followed-up with The Zainab Salbi Project in November last year. In the latter, the Salbi travels the world to tell stories of personal struggle that shed light on global issues. 

In 1993 she founded Women for Women International, running the company as CEO until stepping down in 2011. The organization has helped female survivors of war rebuild their lives, distributing more than $100 million in direct aid and impacting close to two million people under her leadership.