Forbes has just released its 2017 'Top 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen' list, revealing the business masterminds of the Arab world.
Emirati women dominated the ranking, with 18 women topping the list. This makes it the highest number of women from one specific country to appear on the listing.
From Raja Easa Al Gurg - managing director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group - to Dalya Al Muthanna - President and CEO of GE Gulf - Emirati women have been breaking barriers and accelerating the UAE's development.
"I’ve never seen a place so inspiring as the United Arab Emirates, and Dubai in particular. It’s like being in a modern-age Kennedy era where a young nation sees its future through empowering youth and creating a culture of public service—and women are front and center," writes Rahilla Zafar in an article on Quartz published earlier this month.
It's really no surprise considering the founder of the UAE had put women at the center of his plan to develop the nation.
"The woman is half of the society, any country which pursues development should not leave her in poverty or illiteracy. I am on the woman's side," Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan once said.
Raja Easa Al Gurg came in at No. 3
Raja Easa Al-Gurg runs the UAE’s Al Gurg Group, whose trade and commerce she has expanded to include 24 companies and 370 international brand partnerships.
She has also participated in multiple economic, political and social advancements in the UAE.
Dalya Al Muthanna came in at No. 13
Dalya Al Muthanna first made headlines in 2014 after she became the first Emirati to be appointed the President and CEO of GE Gulf. But, Muthanna has long been shaking grounds in the business world.
Egyptian women came in second, with 16 women on the list. Saudi Arabia's Lubna Olayan - head of the Saudi conglomerate, the Olayan Group - tops the list.
Coming in at No.1, Lubna Olayan is accustomed to being featured on power lists.
Widely considered to be one of the most influential businesswomen in the Middle East and the Arab World, Olayan oversees more than 40 companies under family finance businesses.
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.
Three Saudi women made it to the top 10
The next 10 in the ranking
Check out the full list here.