Middle East Moving Towards Equity Powered by GCC's Vision 2030

By: Rachita Sharma, Managing Editor | Tuesday, 16 September 2025

Women’s empowerment and growth has been undergoing an evolution in the Middle East.

Traditionally a male dominated society, for decades women in the Middle East lacked the opportunities regarding accessing education and financial independence. However, with time, this has evolved. In 1970s Saudi Arabia’s King Saud University became the region’s first higher educational institute to open its doors for women. From then women’s education has risen manifold, with women now making up nearly 50 percent of university students in the GCC.

With the rise of education, women’s presence in business and entrepreneur has also been on a rise, albeit a gradual progression. A 2022 report by Heidrick & Struggles found that the Middle East lags behind in gender diversity when it comes to women in leadership as compared to the global average.

However, affirmative action has been undertaken by the region’s governments and companies to improve gender balance in the workforce and boost women’s representation in leadership roles. The GCC has also undertaken an audacious goal under the GCC’s vision 2030 targets which aims to promote women's leadership by implementing legal and policy reforms, increasing women's participation in the workforce, investing in their education and skills, and fostering supportive company cultures.

A key role in motivating women is by presenting inspirational role-models across all mediums. To this end, the current edition of WER magazine highlights women CEOs from the Middle East. These women are not just boss-ladies steering their businesses to success but are also paving the road ahead for future female leaders.

One such leader featured in the current edition of WER magazine is Rema Omar. She stands at the forefront of communication services industry as the CEO of Universal Group. Her commitment and determination are propelled by innovation and service excellence, determined to influence strategic execution and client-focused delivery. One of her major milestones is when in 2007, she took on the role of Manging Director of QSAT, where she successfully led the company through seven years of sustained growth.

Rema is joined by Fay, a seasoned 3D design and production specialist with architectural training from the UK and professional roots in Hong Kong. Her strategic vision drives BIDllc’s core philosophy and has contributed to numerous large-scale global projects. Fay consistently delivers cutting-edge, high-quality 3D solutions, with a continued commitment to precision, quality, and innovation that shapes both her company’s future and the industry’s evolution.

These women are harbingers of change in Middle East’s business world.