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Inc Arabia announced the release of its Women of Influence 2026 list on August 11, featuring 60 female leaders in business across the MENA region. According to the publication, it received more than 300 applications for the edition, a threefold increase over the prior year that led editors to expand the roster from the 30 honorees selected in both 2024 and 2025. Inc Arabia staff described the selection as a difficult process that still left many deserving candidates unrecognized, noting that no such undertaking can fully capture every inspiring story in the ecosystem. The outlet stated that the list seeks to illuminate even a fraction of the women driving change in regional commerce.
The 2026 compilation includes three Emirati women on its cover, timed to coincide with Emirati Women’s Day celebrations in the UAE, Inc Arabia reported. They comprise HE Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center known as Sheraa, Hajar Bakhit Alketbi, Director of Government Communication at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and Ousha Al Ahbabi, founder and CEO of OBM Academy. Inc Arabia expressed particular pride in highlighting their contributions alongside the full roster of executives, founders and innovators. The publication linked the emphasis to national observances of women’s advancements in the country.
Inc Arabia’s list encompasses leaders from diverse sectors including technology, finance, sustainability and entrepreneurship, its announcement detailed. Honorees include Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of the Technology Innovation Institute, Rama Chakaki, President of Qatar Science and Technology Park, and Sabina Abuova, co-founder and chief brand and vision officer at Snoonu. Further names range from Pinar Alpay, group chief product and marketing officer at Network International, to Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, according to the outlet. The special edition also directs readers to individual profiles for several participants.
Inc Arabia staff wrote, “Their stories are a testament to the remarkable depth of female leadership across the MENA region today—and we hope you’ll find them every bit as inspiring as we did.” The initiative builds directly on prior editions, with the publication providing links to its 2025 and 2024 Women of Influence selections that similarly recognized trailblazers. By amplifying these accounts, Inc Arabia aims to foster greater visibility for female executives shaping commercial landscapes from the Gulf to North Africa.
The recognition arrives as World Bank data places the MENA female labor force participation rate at 19 percent, the lowest globally compared with a 48 percent worldwide average. A World Bank assessment found that women lead just 7 percent of firms in the region, though targeted reforms have driven progress in select economies. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, policy changes lifted the female participation rate from 22 percent to 35 percent within a few years, exceeding national targets, the institution reported. Such figures underscore persistent gaps even as entrepreneurship and leadership networks expand.
Inc Arabia noted that applications for the 2026 list came from a broad cross-section of industries and countries, reflecting heightened interest in the recognition. The publication framed the doubled roster as a direct response to the elevated caliber of submissions received before the deadline. Additional honorees include executives from organizations such as Mubadala, G42, Careem and Aramco, its list indicated. The full compilation appears in a dedicated digital edition accessible via the outlet’s platforms.
