Forbes Lists Top 20 Arab Women in Government, Highlighting UAE's Leadership
The inaugural Forbes Middle East list acknowledges influential Arab women in government roles, with a significant representation from the UAE.
Forbes Middle East has unveiled its first-ever list of the "Top 20 Arab Women in Government," recognizing twenty women who have made a notable impact in leadership positions across governmental and international institutions.
The list highlights the contributions of Arab women in driving change within public institutions, representing their countries in global organizations, and shaping policies in critical sectors such as diplomacy, culture, technology, media, and the environment.
The United Arab Emirates leads the list with eleven representatives, followed by Saudi Arabia with four, and Egypt with three.
This distribution reflects the increasing influence of Arab women in the governmental sector and underscores their pivotal role in defining the future of public administration in the region.
According to Forbes Middle East, the leading figure for 2025 is Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of the Qatar Museums, and founder of Doha Film Institute, as well as the education-focused Reach Out to Asia (ROTA) and the Qatar Leadership Centre.
She is followed by Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, who takes the second position.
In third place is Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq).
Fourth place is held by Sheikh Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, while Mona Al Marri, Deputy Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, occupies the fifth position.
The rankings are based on several key criteria, including leadership position, additional roles held by the leaders, the scope of their experience, and prominent initiatives executed during the year 2024.
Forbes Middle East noted that the list includes women in leadership roles across various sectors, such as diplomacy, culture, technology, media, and environment.
In the UAE, women occupy two-thirds of jobs in the public sector, with 30% of them in leadership positions and 15% in technical and academic roles.
The UAE Gender Balance Council's strategy for 2026 aims to reduce gender disparities across all sectors and achieve balance in decision-making positions.
The list highlights the contributions of Arab women in driving change within public institutions, representing their countries in global organizations, and shaping policies in critical sectors such as diplomacy, culture, technology, media, and the environment.
The United Arab Emirates leads the list with eleven representatives, followed by Saudi Arabia with four, and Egypt with three.
This distribution reflects the increasing influence of Arab women in the governmental sector and underscores their pivotal role in defining the future of public administration in the region.
According to Forbes Middle East, the leading figure for 2025 is Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of the Qatar Museums, and founder of Doha Film Institute, as well as the education-focused Reach Out to Asia (ROTA) and the Qatar Leadership Centre.
She is followed by Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, who takes the second position.
In third place is Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq).
Fourth place is held by Sheikh Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, while Mona Al Marri, Deputy Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, occupies the fifth position.
The rankings are based on several key criteria, including leadership position, additional roles held by the leaders, the scope of their experience, and prominent initiatives executed during the year 2024.
Forbes Middle East noted that the list includes women in leadership roles across various sectors, such as diplomacy, culture, technology, media, and environment.
In the UAE, women occupy two-thirds of jobs in the public sector, with 30% of them in leadership positions and 15% in technical and academic roles.
The UAE Gender Balance Council's strategy for 2026 aims to reduce gender disparities across all sectors and achieve balance in decision-making positions.
