Women's Empowerment Undergoing Evolution in the Middle East

By: Rachita Sharma, Managing Editor | Thursday, 13 June 2024

Women’s empowerment and growth has been undergoing a renaissance of sorts in the Middle East lately. Historically known to be a male dominated society, the Middle East has seen women’s underrepresentation the work sphere for years. A 2022 report by Heidrick & Struggles concluded that standing at three percent of female leaders, the Middle East lags behind in gender diversity as compared to the global average of seven percent.

However, swift action is being undertaken by the region’s governments and companies to foster gender balance in the workforce and boost women’s participation as leadership figures. A recent survey revealed that 61 percent of UAE’s workforce is positive about women leaders’ impact on organizational success. 39 percent of responders in the same survey envision the future top leader of their current organization to be female.

Other than perception, positive change has been set in motion on ground too. Q1 of 2023 saw women’s participation grow manifolds in the workforce. The numbers well exceeded GCC’s vision 2030 targets with Saudi Arabia clocking 37 percent women representation, the highest in the region.

Women leaders in the Middle East need to lauded for their pioneering work in setting the right examples as role models for inclusive growth. The current edition of Women Entrepreneurs Review magazine takes a step in that direction by highlighting some of the prolific women from the Middle East.

In this month’s magazine edition read about Jane Drury is the Group CEO of ME Digital Group. With a background in corporate finance and digital publishing, she pioneered EXPATWOMAN and led the acquisition of Cobone. Drury drives growth through geographical expansion, product diversification, and B2B initiatives, embodying innovation and leadership in the digital realm.

We also highlight the story of Dr. Grace El Tayar, CEO, GTRANCE. She is an accomplished lawyer, and a chartered governance professional is a polymath with expertise in law, governance, strategy, sustainability, and holistic living. With multiple master's degrees, Harvard education, and diverse certifications, she guides personal and corporate transformation, emphasizing a purpose-driven life and sustainable results for future leaders.

Tanvi Garg, Owner and Managing Director of Convention 360 DMCC & Convention 360 LLC, is another woman leader from the Middle East who has been featured in this month’s magazine. She is a dynamic entrepreneur with a diverse background in legal research, corporate law, and consulting. Her journey from Thomson Reuters to founding Convention 360 reflects resilience and innovation in providing tailored solutions to clients.

We also introduce readers to Candice El Khoury, the Group Marketing Director at Medad Holding. With a focus on digital transformation, she excels in strategic planning, brand & product development, and campaign execution. Candice's leadership skills drive impactful outcomes, helping to advance Medad Holding's vision to become a leader in the tech landscape.

Read on and do let us know your thoughts.