The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is witnessing a remarkable economic transformation, one increasingly powered by an untapped yet formidable resource: its women entrepreneurs. Across Dubai, Riyadh, Cairo, and beyond, female founders are launching innovative ventures that are not only succeeding commercially but also fundamentally reshaping the region’s business landscape.
Their rise represents one of the most promising developments in the region’s economic diversification efforts – a quiet revolution with implications far beyond mere statistics.
From e-commerce platforms transforming how families shop to fintech solutions providing increased access to financial services, women-led startups are addressing critical market needs while simultaneously breaking long-standing cultural barriers. These pioneering entrepreneurs are creating new economic frameworks, employment opportunities and societal shifts that could ultimately contribute trillions to the region’s gross domestic product.
“We recognized the opportunity in tapping into an idle talent pool which comprises 50% of our society. It makes economic sense for [them] to earn income and spend it in the country,” observed prominent Middle East businesswoman Lubna Olayan in remarks for International Women’s Day.
This recognition of women’s economic potential comes at a much-needed time. Women-led startups receive just 1.2% of venture capital in MENA – not much less than the global figure of 2%. This funding gap persists despite compelling evidence that gender-diverse founding teams consistently deliver more substantial returns on investment.
What’s interesting about the MENA case is the stark contrast between education and entrepreneurship. In some countries – Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia – women comprise over 50% of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) graduates.
This figure significantly outpaces, for example, the US, where only 20% of engineering students are reportedly female. Such an exceptional talent pipeline represents enormous untapped potential for economic growth and innovation.
Leading regional governments and institutions have recognized this opportunity and are implementing tangible support structures.
Initiatives such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) National Strategy for Empowerment of Emirati Women are creating policy frameworks specifically designed to increase female participation in the private sector and entrepreneurial activities.
These aren’t merely symbolic gestures but strategic economic imperatives as Gulf nations accelerate their post-oil diversification efforts. This supportive ecosystem is yielding impressive results, with pioneering women creating ventures across diverse sectors.
Mona Ataya’s Mumzworld is a prime example of this success. Her e-commerce platform, serving 2.5 million mothers across the Gulf, has revolutionized the way families access childcare products and information. “Every day is a balancing act – it’s a personal choice,” Ataya said in an interview with The National, capturing the determination that characterizes many female founders balancing multiple responsibilities while building market-defining companies.
The healthcare sector has seen equally impressive innovation from women entrepreneurs. Iman Abuzeid, who grew up in Saudi Arabia before attending Wharton, founded Incredible Health – a staffing platform that achieved unicorn status with a $1.65 billion valuation.
With over $80 million raised from investors, her company played a critical role during the pandemic’s healthcare staffing crisis, demonstrating how women-led ventures can address urgent global challenges.
In sustainability and agriculture – areas of particular strategic importance to the region – Dr Derya Baran’s RedSea Technologies is making remarkable progress. Founded in 2018, after her research at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the company has developed agricultural technology that reportedly reduces water and energy usage by 90% compared to conventional methods.
With almost $37 million in funding secured, including from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, RedSea exemplifies how women-led innovation can tackle the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The financial technology sector is also being transformed by female founders like Nuha Hashem, whose neobank, Zywa, targets the region’s digitally native younger generation. By focusing on financial literacy and inclusion, these entrepreneurs are addressing critical gaps in traditional banking services while opening new markets.
These success stories are being increasingly amplified by a growing support ecosystem specifically designed for women entrepreneurs. Across the region, specialized accelerators, investment funds and mentorship programmes are providing the targeted resources female founders need to succeed.
Visa’s “She’s Next” initiative exemplifies this approach, offering grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, along with access to an exclusive network, including leaders from major regional financial institutions such as First Abu Dhabi Bank, National Bank of Kuwait, and Bank Muscat.
The programme’s structure recognizes that beyond capital, network access remains crucial for entrepreneurial success.
Even Saudi Arabia, historically the region’s most gender-conservative market, is making remarkable strides. At the LEAP 2024 conference in Riyadh this February, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology unveiled its comprehensive “Women in Tech” programme, providing substantial resources to female-led startups in strategic sectors.
The institutional infrastructure continues to evolve rapidly. The Dubai International Financial Centre, in partnership with Standard Chartered, operates a dedicated accelerator for women-led fintech ventures.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s national gender balance council has successfully advocated for legislative reform, which mandates equal pay for men and women. It follows reforms in other Gulf countries looking at anti-gender discrimination. This creates as well a more equitable foundation for female economic participation.
The health sector has seen similar targeted initiatives, with global pharmaceutical firm Organon partnering with regional venture capital firm Flat6Labs to launch the Women’s Health Accelerator Programme in 2023.
This accelerator specifically supports femtech startups developing digital solutions for women’s health across MENA and Turkey, addressing critical needs while creating new market opportunities.
Despite significant progress, reliable data collection remains challenging. According to MAGNiTT, startups with at least one female founder represent approximately 24% of funded ventures in the region since 2018. However, in early 2023, they closed just 23 deals, compared to 90 for all-male teams, which accounted for about 20% of the total deal flow. Better measurement frameworks would help direct resources more effectively toward closing these persistent gaps.
The economic case for supporting women entrepreneurs extends far beyond equity arguments. In a 2022 report, State Street Global Advisors said that closing the gender inequality gap for entrepreneurs in the MENA region could generate $2.7 trillion by 2025. These are numbers that no growth-focused economy can afford to ignore.
What distinguishes many women-led ventures in the region is their nuanced understanding of local market dynamics. Female founders often bring cultural insights that create competitive advantages, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, education and financial services, where family considerations heavily influence purchasing decisions.
These women aren’t just building companies – they’re reshaping economies. Their success signals a new era in which innovation and talent, rather than gender, define the future of the Middle East.
Source: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/05/how-women-entrepreneurs-are-reshaping-the-middle-east-s-business-landscape/