In recent years, more women across the Middle East have moved into leadership roles, from public sector appointments to private enterprise ownership. With that shift has come a growing conversation about how to sustain careers while meeting the demands of family life—a conversation that has specific cultural and structural dimensions in the region. Rather than…
Aliye, you are heading the PR company TOPCITY. How did you come to this type of business, why PR? From childhood, I sang, played the piano, and danced, but I noticed a significant difference in promoting similarly talented children who were being mentored by professional producers. I had good resultsin competitions, always placing in the…
In the past five years, the Middle East has seen a steady rise in women-led tech startups—many of which are building apps designed for female users. These platforms are often rooted in personal experience and are focused on practical, everyday needs. In Saudi Arabia, apps like Labayh provide women with access to mental health professionals…
The idea of starting a business at midlife is gaining acceptance across the Middle East. Women who once prioritized family or worked in traditional careers are using their experience to create businesses that are sustainable, local, and personally meaningful. In Jordan, women like Lina Khalifeh, founder of SheFighter, are launching platforms with social impact. In…
Women with significant wealth in the Middle East are taking more control over how their money is managed and invested. Whether they inherited family wealth or built it through business, they are making decisions rooted in caution, stability, and values. Financial advisors in Dubai and Riyadh report that high-net-worth women often prefer portfolios that emphasize…
Across the Gulf, companies are rethinking workplace policies to better support women’s professional lives. This shift is being driven by both demographic changes and economic goals, as countries aim to increase female participation in the workforce. Saudi Arabia, under Vision 2030, has increased female labor force participation from 17% in 2016 to over 36% in…
