New York : Forbes has released this year’s the Top 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen. The region’s banks have raised several high-achieving and long-serving women to its highest positions, with the industry representing 28 percent of 2017 Forbes list.

Saudi Arabia took the lead in high-level appointments. Rania Mahmoud Nashar, CEO of Samba Financial Group, became the first woman to head a commercial bank in the Kingdom, Latifa Homoud Alsabhan was promoted to the CFO of Arab National Bank, and Sarah Al Suhaimi, CEO of NCB Capital, was appointed as chair of the country’s stock market, Tadawul, as the Kingdom looks to join MSCI emerging markets index.

The region’s governments have also appointed women to the main roles in finance and industry. Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt Lobna Helal, floated the country’s currency this year; Nezha Hayat is heading up the Moroccan capital market, and Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi chairs the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority.

The UAE has the highest number of women on the 2017 list with 18, followed closely by Egypt with 16. Saudi Arabia’s Lubna Olayan, who runs Saudi conglomerate the Olayan Group, tops the list while six Moroccans, led by Moroccan Capital Market Authority Chair Nezha Hayat, at number six.

This year we also once again have a list of the ten most influential women in government, highlighting ministers across the region. Sahar Nasr, who was earlier the minister of investments, has had international co-operation added to her portfolio, moving her up to number two. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi retains the top spot.

To compile these rankings, Forbes’ collected information from annual reports and company websites, as well as other primary sources as they looked at, including company revenues or GDP in the case of government departments and ministries, and years of experience.

—SM/IINA