Revealed: GCC’s 26 most influential women in finance 2025

In today’s fast-paced and competitive financial landscape, the contributions of women leaders have become increasingly vital. Across the GCC, women in finance are driving growth, fostering innovation and shaping the future of the region’s financial sector. Their leadership extends beyond managing balance sheets—they are influencing strategic decisions and navigating complex economic challenges with resilience and foresight. In this context, we are proud to present the GCC’s Most Influential Women in Finance 2025 list, celebrating 26 exceptional women who have made significant contributions to the industry. These leaders have demonstrated remarkable expertise, leadership and vision, playing a critical role in advancing the financial ecosystem across the region.

Methodology

The editorial team compiled this list through extensive data collection from direct submissions, industry insights and publicly available information. Candidates were evaluated based on criteria including professional experience, career trajectory and tenure; the size, performance and influence of their organisations; their impact on the industry, innovation in financial practices and thought leadership; and notable achievements throughout their careers. This thorough process ensures the list reflects the most influential and inspiring women shaping the region’s financial future.

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Dr Amina Al Rostamani, executive board member, shareholder and director at AW Rostamani Group is the COO of the Group, overseeing the Group’s corporate services and functions. She also oversees the Group Properties division and is the CEO of AWR Properties. She serves as a non-executive board member at HSBC Bank Middle East, Al Jalila Foundation, Sandooq Al Watan, Dubai Chambers and Ajman University’s Board of Trustees. She is a member of the UAE National Election Committee and the Advisory Board of Tharawat Family Business Forum. Dr Rostamani holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate in Engineering from George Washington University and has published work on wireless technologies in leading journals.

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Amnah Ajmal is the Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA at Mastercard, overseeing acceptance, acquiring, merchants, digital partnerships, fintech, strategy and M&A for the region. Previously, she led Mastercard’s North America product organisation, managing consumer and small business payment solutions. Since joining Mastercard in 2015 as Head of Products for Middle East and Africa, Ajmal has focused on driving innovation in consumer and commercial payments. She has held senior roles at Standard Chartered in Malaysia and Citigroup across the UAE, Egypt, UK and Poland. Ajmal holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and has been recognised globally as a top woman in fintech by Lattice80, IBM and Fintech Magazine.

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Dalal Al Qais has been the Group CEO of Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) since December 2021. Al Qais has 19 years of experience in retail banking across the GCC, holding senior roles at Bahrain Islamic Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, where she managed retail banking, SMEs, credit cards  and wealth management. During her tenure, Standard Chartered Bank Bahrain was awarded the “Best Retail Bank in Bahrain” in 2014 and 2015 and the “Best Credit Card Value Proposition” in 2015.

Al Qais is also a member of the technical board at Bahrain Polytechnic and a board member at Ebdaa Bank.

She holds a Master’s degree in finance from AMA University and a Bachelor’s in management and marketing from the University of Bahrain.

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Dana Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah has served as Group CEO of KIPCO since January 2022 and as a board member since 2020. Under her leadership, KIPCO reported $205.7 million in profits and $41.6 billion in assets in the first nine months of 2024. She oversaw the OSN Group’s acquisition of a 55.45% stake in Anghami and the merger of OSN+ with Anghami in 2024.

Al Sabah is the founder and chair of the American University of Kuwait and chairs the United Education Company, Jordan Kuwait Bank, OSN Group and Anghami Inc. She also serves on the board of Kamco Invest and was previously the CEO of Al Futtooh Holding Company. She holds an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Dartmouth College, a BA in English literature from Kuwait University and studied at Indiana University Bloomington, USA.

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Elham Mahfouz has been CEO of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) since November 2014, with her 38 years of banking experience. She joined CBK in 2000 as Manager of International Banking and held several executive roles, including General Manager of the New York Branch and General Manager of International Banking. She was promoted to Deputy CEO in 2012 before assuming her current role.

Before CBK, Mahfouz worked with several Kuwaiti financial institutions, gaining extensive experience in banking and finance. She chairs multiple executive committees and leads the CEO’s Committee at the Kuwait Banking Association. A recognised figure in Kuwait’s banking sector, she frequently participates in industry forums and presents discussion papers on financial and banking topics locally and internationally.

Mahfouz holds a Bachelor’s degree with honours in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo.

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Enji Al Ghazzawi has been the COO of Riyad Bank since 2022, bringing over 28 years of banking experience. She joined the bank in 1998 and has held senior roles, including EVP of Operations, EVP of Corporate Banking and Head of Corporate Banking. In 2024, Riyad Bank launched the Riyad Bank SME Index with S&P Global and opened Saudi Arabia’s first AI centre in the banking sector.

Al Ghazzawi previously served on the boards of GOSI and SIMAH Credit Bureau and was named among Forbes’ most influential businesswomen in MENA in 2017 and 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Translation from King Saud University.

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Finali Fernando has been with HSBC for 30 years, including 24 years with GPS UAE. She began her career at HSBC Sri Lanka and moved to the UAE in 2002. Fernando has held key roles across Operations, Client Services and Client Implementation and currently leads Product, Risk and Business Management for the MENAT region.

Passionate about talent development, she has contributed to HSBC’s Graduate Programmes in the UAE for over two decades. Fernando is a certified Springboard Women’s Development Programme Trainer, a mentor for the HSBC UAE Toastmasters Club and the founder of the first HSBC Gavel Club in the UAE.

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Hana Al Rostamani is the Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE’s largest bank, with over $300 billion in assets. She became FAB’s first female CEO in 2021 after serving as Deputy Group CEO and Group Head of Personal Banking, where she led the bank’s consumer transformation with a digital-first approach.

Al Rostamani has over 25 years of banking experience, holding roles at First Gulf Bank, Citibank and AW Rostamani Group. She chairs the Global Council on Sustainable Development Goals and serves on the boards of Buna, the Institute of International Finance, IMD and the US-UAE Business Council. A graduate of George Washington University, she holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Information Management. She was ranked first in Forbes Middle East’s list of the region’s most powerful businesswomen.

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Hanadi bint Nasser is the Founder and Chairperson of Amwal, Founder and CEO of Al Waab City Real Estate and Vice Chairman of Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani & Sons Group. She also chairs Q-Auto and is key in corporate social responsibility initiatives. She serves as Chairperson of INJAZ Qatar and INJAZ Al Arab and is a trustee of Qatar University’s College of Business and Economics.

Bint Nasser has held board positions at Dana Gas, Silatech and the MIT Legatum Center and has advised Standard Chartered Bank. She co-founded the 30% Club GCC chapter, advocating for women’s leadership. Recognised globally, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and listed among the most influential Arabs by Arabian Business. She holds an Executive MBA from London Business School, a Master’s in Economics from the University of London and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Qatar University.

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Huda Sabil

CFO

Emirates Islamic

Huda Sabil Abdulla is the CFO of Emirates Islamic, the Islamic subsidiary of Emirates NBD Group. She has led the bank’s finance and strategy functions since 2019. With over 30 years of experience in banking and finance, she has held roles across conventional and Islamic banking, including HR, financial accounting, business finance, performance and asset liability management and investor relations. Sabil Abdulla has played a key role in developing financial tools and systems to enhance operational efficiency. She led the implementation of the fund transfer pricing (FTP) framework, improving pricing and liquidity management and establishing an economic profit framework aligned with Basel standards. Her leadership in strategic planning, cost management and P&L oversight has contributed to Emirates Islamic’s continuous profitability and balance sheet growth. In 2019, she became the first Emirati woman appointed CFO in the UAE banking sector.

Sabil Abdulla holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ajman University of Science and Technology. She has earned several professional qualifications, including a Certified Islamic Professional Accountant (CIPA) from AAOIFI, a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) from the Institute of Management Accountants, USA and a Certificate in Management (CIM) from the University of Wollongong Dubai. Sabil Abdulla completed the Essential Leadership Program at London Business School and the Blue Ocean Strategy Program at INSEAD. She is also a graduate of the Dubai Economic Leadership Program from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development.

Her contributions to the banking sector have been recognised with the 17th Middle East Future Excellence Award and the Distinguished Woman Award in Banking and Finance from the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies. Sabil Abdulla continues to lead Emirates Islamic’s financial strategy, ensuring sustainable growth while enhancing operational and financial efficiency.

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Dr Leonie Ruth Lethbridge has served as the COO and Executive General Manager at Commercial Bank since July 2017. In 2024, the bank reported total assets of QAR 165.8 billion ($) and a net profit of QAR 3.03 billion ($).

Before joining Commercial Bank, Dr Lethbridge was the CEO of ANZ Royal Bank in Cambodia and has been a board member of Alternatif Bank and Alternatif Lease Company since 2018. She oversees the bank’s innovation entity, CB Innovation Services. Dr Lethbridge holds a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship from Swinburne University of Technology and a Master’s degree in Applied Science from RMIT University in Australia.

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Lubna Al Olayan made history in 2004 as the first woman to join the board of a Saudi publicly listed company, Alawwal Bank. In 2018, she became the first Saudi woman to lead a bank after being appointed CEO of the merged Saudi British Bank (SABB) and Alawwal Bank. She was CEO of Olayan Financing Company from 1986 to 2019 and remains a board member of Olayan Investments Company. Al Olayan serves on the World Economic Forum’s Board of Trustees and has held advisory roles at Rolls-Royce and Citigroup.

She holds degrees from Cornell University and Kelley School of Business and an honorary PhD from Trinity College Dublin.

Najla Al Midfa is the Vice-Chairperson of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), a government-backed organisation focused on developing Sharjah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

She was Sheraa’s Founding CEO from 2016 to 2024. Under her leadership, Sheraa supported over 180 startups, which raised more than $170 million in investment, created over 1,900 jobs, and generated over $250 million in revenue.

In 2017, she launched the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF), which has hosted over 780 speakers and attracted more than 30,000 attendees globally.

Najla serves on the boards of Dana Gas, United Arab Bank, Emirates Development Bank, Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, and the Sharjah Education Academy.

She holds an MBA from Stanford University and is a fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Middle East Leadership Initiative and the Eisenhower Global Fellowship.

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Najla Al Shirawi, with over 27 years of investment banking experience, has been the Group CEO of SICO BSC since 2014. She joined SICO in 1997 and has held various leadership roles, including Deputy CEO in 2013. Under her leadership, SICO’s assets under management grew to approximately $6 billion by 2024, up from over $4.5 billion in 2022. In the first half of 2024, SICO reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of BHD 3.2 million ($8.4 million), with total operating income for the second quarter increasing by 14% to BHD 4.9 million ($13.0 million) compared to the same period in the previous year. Al Shirawi also serves as a board member of the Bahrain Economic Development Board and the Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration and Finance from the American College in London and a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Bahrain.

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HE Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif serves as Bahrain’s Minister of Sustainable Development and CEO of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB). She began her career with Deloitte LLP in the UK, working as a statutory auditor and assurance advisor for over seven years.

In 2019, she joined Bahrain’s Ministry of Finance and National Economy as Director of the Information and Economic Indicators Directorate, later advancing to Assistant Undersecretary for Economic Affairs. In June 2022, she was appointed Minister of Sustainable Development and, in February 2024, she assumed the role of Chief Executive at the EDB.

Alkhulaif holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is a Chartered Accountant certified by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She is a member of the Supreme Council for Women, the Civil Defense Council and serves as a trustee of the Isa bin Salman Charity Educational Endowment.

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HE Raja Al Mazrouei has served as CEO of Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) since late 2022, leading the UAE’s federal export credit agency with a focus on digitising trade credit insurance, supporting exporters and promoting sustainable trade.

Al Mazrouei’s career includes executive roles at Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai Holding, National Bonds Corporation and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), where she was pivotal in establishing the region’s leading fintech ecosystem as EVP of DIFC FinTech Hive.

She holds an MBA from UAE University and has completed executive education at Harvard, London Business School, UC Berkeley, Singularity University and Hawkamah Institute. Al Mazrouei is a board member at MBR School of Government, Al Ansari Financial Services, Zand Digital Bank, Al Masraf Bank and Ittihad International Investments and chairs the Harvard Business School MENA Advisory Board. She has been recognised by Forbes Middle East, Arabian Business and Dow Jones for her influence in finance and trade.

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Rania Nerhal

Chief Client Experience and Conduct Officer

Mashreq

 Rania Nerhal is Mashreq’s Chief Client Experience & Conduct Officer, leading the bank’s strategy to enhance client experiences while ensuring ethical and effective business conduct. She established the Client Experience and Conduct Group (CXCG), positioning Mashreq as a pioneer in customer-centric banking. Under her leadership, Mashreq’s Net Promoter Score (NPS) rose to 63, covering both Wholesale and Consumer segments, with Wholesale Banking ranked as the leading bank in the UAE.

With over 25 years of experience in client relationship management, Nerhal has held senior roles at Credit Agricole, Commercial Bank of Dubai, ABK and HSBC. At HSBC, she was the Senior Corporate Banker and Head of Corporate Banking, Dubai, overseeing diverse portfolios across industries and public sectors. Her deep understanding of customer behaviour and market dynamics has been pivotal in crafting customer-centric strategies at Mashreq.

Nerhal’s vision for Mashreq centres on leveraging digitisation, AI and operational efficiency to deliver superior customer experiences. She has championed a transformative approach to Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), ensuring seamless, personalised and efficient customer interactions. Recognising the evolving landscape shaped by fintechs and digital platforms, Nerhal has driven digital transformation to meet growing customer expectations.

Under her leadership, Mashreq has demonstrated adaptability and resilience in responding to changing market dynamics, strengthening customer loyalty and maintaining a competitive edge. Her focus on enhancing customer experience has been instrumental in expanding NEO’s customer base and scaling Mashreq’s presence across markets, contributing to the bank’s efforts in promoting financial inclusion.

Nerhal holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from the Faculty of Commerce and Foreign Trade, Cairo, Egypt. Her strategic vision and leadership continue to redefine customer experiences at Mashreq, ensuring the bank’s leadership in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

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Rasha Badawi, CEO of Barclays Private Bank UAE, specialises in private banking with extensive experience managing UHNWIs, family offices and royal and merchant families across the Middle East. She joined Barclays in 2011, previously serving as Head of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Badawi has also held roles at HSBC, Standard Chartered and Bank J. Safra Sarasin.

She holds a CEFA with distinction and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut. Focused on growing Barclays’ presence in the UAE, she leads a team providing bespoke strategies and sustainable investment solutions, leveraging the broader Barclays Group.

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Renée McGowan is the CEO of Marsh McLennan for India, Middle East and Africa, leading the firm’s operations across Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With over 20 years at Mercer, she has held senior roles including President of Asia, Middle East & Africa and Global Leader for Individual Wealth.

Passionate about financial inclusion, girls’ education and advancing women in society, she mentors entrepreneurs in developing nations as part of the Cherie Blaire Foundation’s Mentoring Women in Business Program and is also a mentor with StreetWise, a non-profit that empowers unemployed individuals with skills and resources. McGowan serves on the board of Marsh Management Services (MENA) and is a member of the Dubai Business Women Council, Boardroom by EMIR and Chief Executive Women.

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Rola Abu Manneh is the CEO of Standard Chartered UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, and the first Emirati woman to lead an international bank in the region. She serves on the boards of Standard Chartered Pakistan, Standard Chartered Uganda, MyZoi, Dubai International Chamber and Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE. A champion of women’s empowerment, she is a member of the Global Council for SDG5, a UAE delegate to G20Empower and part of the NYUAD Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Council.

Recognised by Forbes Middle East and Arabian Business, she holds a BSc in Mathematics and Operational Research from the University of London.

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Dr Saeeda Jaffar is Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Visa GCC, leading business growth with key financial, governmental and corporate partners. With 20 years of experience, she has worked across the Middle East, Europe and the US on strategic, M&A and financial services projects.

Previously, she was Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal ME and held leadership roles at McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company. She serves on the Board of Trustees at Kuwait University and has held board positions at United Arab Bank and Bahrain Fintech Bay. Dr Jaffar holds a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from MIT.

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Sahar Al Rumaih, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait, has over 33 years of experience in banking and finance. She began her career in Kuwait, working for two banks before joining a major commercial bank in 2000. Al Rumaih served as General Manager of the Corporate Credit Division from 2011 to 2018 and concurrently led the Retail Banking Division from 2015 to 2018. As Deputy CEO from 2018 to 2021, she oversaw the bank’s Corporate and International Banking divisions and held board and committee roles across ALCO, credit, investment and loan committees.

In 2021, she became Deputy CEO for Corporate Banking at another leading Kuwaiti bank before assuming her current role at the Central Bank of Kuwait.

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Sarah Al-Suhaimi is the Chairperson of Saudi Tadawul Holding Group, the largest exchange in the Middle East, where she leads efforts to align the Saudi capital market with global standards. She also serves as Chairperson of Lazard Ltd. in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa and sits on the boards of the General Authority of Statistics, Saudi Telecom Company, Saudi Arabian Airlines Public Agency, Cultural Development Fund and the Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company.

Previously, Al-Suhaimi was CEO of SNB Capital from 2014 to 2021, where she grew assets under management by over four times and expanded brokerage market share by more than 10%. She also held senior roles at Jadwa Investment as Chief Investment Officer and Samba Capital in asset management. Al-Suhaimi served as Vice-Chairperson of the CMA Advisory Committee from 2013 to 2015. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting with honours from King Saud University and completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.

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Shaikha K. Al-Bahar is the Deputy Group CEO of the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the country’s leading financial institution and one of the largest in the Middle East. She previously served as CEO of NBK-Kuwait from 2010 to 2013, contributing over 70% of the Group’s profits. Al-Bahar chairs NBK France S.A. and NBK Egypt and serves on the board of NBK International in the UK.

With extensive experience in commercial, investment and corporate banking, Al-Bahar played a critical role in shaping NBK’s strategic vision, leading its digital transformation and launching Kuwait’s first digital bank. She has managed significant transactions across the Middle East, helping NBK operate in 13 countries with total assets of $111.7 billion and net profits of $1.2 billion in 2021.

Al-Bahar holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Marketing with a minor in Statistics and has attended executive programmes at Harvard, INSEAD, Wharton, Stanford, Duke and the National University of Singapore.

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Shamsa Al Falasi, an Emirati national, was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Citibank, N.A. UAE Onshore Branch on April 2023. She is also the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for all Citi entities operating onshore and offshore in the UAE.

Al Falasi began her career with Citi in 2004 as a graduate trainee and has since amassed nearly two decades of experience across various geographies, including Dublin, London and São Paulo. In 2015, she was appointed Head of the Global Subsidiaries Group (GSG) for the UAE and Iraq, a role expanded in 2018 to include regional responsibilities as Head of GSG for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Iraq.

In early 2023, Al Falasi assumed interim positions as Citi Country Officer (CCO) and Interim CEO of Citibank, N.A. UAE Onshore Branch, before her permanent appointment as CEO. Al Falasi holds a degree in Financial Services and Banking from the Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE.

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Sheikha Yousuf Al Farsi is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Operations at Bank Muscat, Oman’s largest financial institution.

Since joining the bank, she has held pivotal roles, including Chief Strategy and Corporate Services Officer and General Manager of Strategy and Organizational Development. Before her tenure at Bank Muscat, Al Farsi contributed to the Omani Centre for Investment Promotion and Export Development. She also serves as an independent board member at the Housing Bank for Trade and Finance. Al Farsi earned her undergraduate degree from Sultan Qaboos University and a graduate degree from Bayes Business School.