Let’s set the stage for discussing the significant contributions and growing influence of women in the real estate investing sector…
Stake spotlights women in the finance and investing space!
Rising Economic Participation of Women in the UAE
The UAE has historically seen low economic participation rates among women, with only 20% of working-age women engaged in economic activities. However, recent trends in the UAE’s booming real estate sector show a shift, with a significant number of women now actively investing and building substantial financial portfolios. According to the Dubai Land Department (DLD), 26,698 women have made real estate investments totaling AED 58.8 billion, now owning 30% of Dubai’s property.
Profitable Ventures by Women-Led Enterprises
Women-led enterprises in the UAE have also reported high profitability, with over 23,000 businesses valued at AED 50 billion. Despite these gains, women remain underrepresented in the investment space, making up only 21% of investors in the UAE, while men constitute 79%.
Challenges and Opportunities For Women in the Real Estate Investing Sector
These positive developments are indicative of a potential shift in the traditionally male-dominated narrative in the Arab world, especially in areas affected by conflict. By acknowledging and supporting the achievements of women in finance and investing, the region can make significant strides towards achieving gender equity and fostering a prosperous future.
International Women’s Day 2023: Celebrating Women’s Achievements
As International Women’s Day approaches on March 8th, we celebrate the women who are reshaping the finance and investing industries. These pioneers have broken through glass ceilings, challenged traditional gender roles, and established themselves as influential figures. Their contributions have not only opened up more equitable opportunities for women in finance but also transformed the industry fundamentally.
Raja, a highly esteemed leader in digital transformation, boasts over 20 years of experience across the financial and tech sectors. Her dedication to pioneering industry-wide and community reforms in the UAE has garnered her numerous accolades.
Furthermore, Raja’s profound technical and financial acumen propelled her into her previous role as the Executive VP of DIFC FinTech Hive. At the region’s first and largest FinTech accelerator, she actively advanced the UAE’s national innovation agenda by collaborating with financial institutions, government entities, and entrepreneurs.
Moreover, her significant contributions have fueled the industry’s expansion, facilitating the creation of over 500 startups and elevating the sector to rank among the world’s top financial innovation labs.
Hana Al Rostamani
Rostamani currently serves as the Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the largest bank in the UAE as of 2021. She stands out as the only female group CEO of a major UAE-headquartered bank and a publicly listed corporation in the country.
With over two decades of experience in the banking and financial services sectors, Rostamani has proven herself as a visionary and a leader of change.
Previously, as the Deputy Group CEO and Head of Personal Banking at FAB, she spearheaded the transformation of their consumer banking division, advocating a customer-centric and digital-first approach.
Additionally, Rostamani holds positions on several advisory boards and was recently honored as one of Forbes Middle East’s most influential women in banking and finance. She also secured the third spot on their 2022 list of the region’s most powerful businesswomen.
Lubna Suliman al-Olayan
Olayan is a prominent Saudi-born businesswoman and the first woman to run a publicly traded bank in the Kingdom. For most of her career, she served as the CEO and deputy chairman of the Olayan Financing Company (OFC), the holding entity for the Olayan Group, founded in 1947 by her entrepreneur father, Sulaiman.
During her tenure, she oversaw the operations of some 40 companies across multiple sectors including distribution, manufacturing, services, and investments.
Olayan also serves on several boards and in 2014, Forbes named her the 86th most powerful woman in the world and in 2022, the 11th most powerful businesswoman in the region.
May Nasrallah
May is a highly accomplished business leader who has founded and serves as Executive Chairman of deNovo Corporate Advisors, an independent and highly-regarded corporate finance advisory firm focused on the Middle East region.
Her extensive experience working in various capacities and geographies over almost 16 years at Morgan Stanley, has enabled May to establish deNovo as a leading boutique advisory firm that provides expert services in mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and capital-raising transactions across a range of services and industries.
In addition to her role at deNovo, she is also the Non-Executive Chairman and Senior Advisor for the Middle East Region at BlackRock, a highly respected global investment manager and technology provider.
Sarah Al Suhaimi
Suhaimi is the first Saudi woman to serve as Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), the largest stock market in the Middle East.
Prior to this role, Sarah was the CEO and board director of NCB Capital, the investment arm of the National Commercial Bank, the largest bank in Saudi Arabia.
Under her leadership at NCB Capital, Suhaimi achieved remarkable growth in assets under management, which increased by over four times their original value, as well as boosted the company’s market share in both brokerage and corporate finance. In 2022, Forbes named her the 4th most powerful woman in the world and in 2022, one of Forbes Middle East’s most influential women in banking and finance.
Ending note:
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in female participation and leadership within the finance and investment industries in the Middle East. Their contributions have been significant, and their unique perspectives have generated innovative ideas, paving the way for future generations of women to take on increasingly prominent leadership roles. Onwards and upwards 🚀
