21 Saudis among 100 most powerful Arab women    

JEDDAH: 4 March 2015

Saudi Arabia has 21 women ranked in the top 100 list of the most powerful Arab women, determined by Arabian Business magazine every year for the past five years.

Number one on the list is Sheikha Lubna Al-Qasimi from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for her achievements in government. Lawyer Amal Clooney from Lebanon is in second.

Loujain Al-Hathloul from Saudi Arabia is in third place for her achievements on the cultural and social fronts, while Saudi businesswoman Lubna Olayan came in at fourth for her role in the banking and finance sector.

Reem Al-Hashimy from the UAE came in at fifth for her government work and the UAE’s fighter pilot Mariam Al-Mansouri came in at sixth. The seventh spot went to Saudi sociologist Mona Al-Munajjed.

Moroccan retail tycoon Salwa Idrissi Akkannouch ranked eight, the UAE’s Amina Al-Rustamani, the chief executive officer of TECOM Business Parks, came in at ninth, and the UAE’s Zainab Mohammed came in 10th for her work in the property sector.

Other Saudis on the list include Haifaa Al-Mansour in the arts and entertainment sector and ranked 13, Batan Mahmoud Al-Zahran in law at 14, Hayat Sindi in science at 15, Huda Al-Ghoson in energy at 19, Somayya Jabarti in media at 28, Samia Al-Amoudi in the health sector at 37, Samira Islam in science at 40, and Khawla Al-Kuraya in science at 41.

Others include Muna Abu Sulayman in society and culture and ranked 42, Samar Nassif in the health sector at 47, Ruha Al-Muharraq at 50 for climbing Mount Everest, Thoraya Obaid in culture and society at 56, Nahed Taher in the banking and finance sector at 68, Dima Ikhwan in banking and finance at 71, Nermeen Saad in the technology sector at 73, Badreya Al-Bishr in the media at 78, Manal Al-Sharif in culture and society at 82, and Mashael Al-Shammari in the aerospace industry at 97.