- Saudi women lead with 10 entries, followed by Lebanon and Egypt with 8 entries each (not including dual-nationalities).
- Forbes Middle East also revealed its first “Women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands 2020” list featuring female founders of digital platforms across a range of industries including e-commerce, Fintech, e-groceries, and cybersecurity.
Dubai, U.A.E.: Forbes Middle East has unveiled its second annual Women Behind Middle Eastern Brands list for 2020, featuring 40 of the most successful female entrepreneurs that have created and scaled some of the most loved brands in the Middle East. It has also released a Women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands list for the first time, highlighting 10 female founders of innovative and successful technology startups and established brands.
The fashion sector represents 42% of the Women Behind Middle Eastern Brands list with 17 entries. These are led by designer Reem Acra, who found fame in Hollywood by dressing celebrities such as Halle Berry and Beyoncé. The jewelry sector came in second with nine entries, led by Azza Fahmy and her daughters Amina and Fatma Ghali with their eponymous brand Azza Fahmy Jewellery. Iraqi-American Huda Kattan, who was named amongst America’s Richest Self-Made Women 2019 by Forbes with a fortune estimated at $610 million, tops the list again this year.
In creating the rankings, Forbes Middle East’s methodology included celebrity endorsements, revenues and growth rate, the number of countries the brand is present in, and media and social media reach. For the Women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands, it also looked at the amount of funding received. These entrepreneurs have succeeded in gathering millions in external investment. Mona Ataya and Leena Abi Khalil top the list with their brand Mumzworld, which has gathered a total of $50 million in funding from notable investors, making it the highest-funded women-led e-commerce business in the region.
Take a look at the full Women Behind Middle Eastern Brands list and the Women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands to get to know the Middle East’s most successful female business leaders.
Top 10 Women Behind Middle Eastern Brands
- Huda Kattan
Nationality: Iraqi-American
Brand: Huda Beauty
- Reem Acra
Nationality: Lebanese-American
Brand: Reem Acra
- Azza Fahmy, Amina & Fatma Ghali
- Nationality: Egyptian
Brand: Azza Fahmy Jewellery
- Dima Rashid
Nationality: Palestinian
Brand: Dima Jewellery
- Nada Ghazal
Nationality: Lebanese
Brand: Nada Ghazal Fine Jewelry
- Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch
Nationality: Moroccan
Brand: Yan&One
- Gemy Maalouf
Nationality: Lebanese
Brand: Gemy Maalouf
- Razan Alazzouni
- Nationality: Saudi
Brand: Razan Alazzouni
- Andrea Wazen
Nationality: Lebanese
Brand: Andrea Wazen
- Jude Benhalim
Nationality: Egyptian
Brand: Jude Benhali
See full list
https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/list/women-behind-middle-eastern-brands-2020
Forbes Middle East Communications Contact
Tabarek Jouini,
tabarek@forbesmiddleeast.com
© Press Release 2020
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