Forbes list: Seven Emiratis among 50 most powerful businesswomen in Middle East


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Seven Emiratis have been named among Forbes’ 50 most powerful businesswomen in the Middle East in 2021.

The UAE, along with Egypt, had the most entries in the list of the Middle East and North Africa’s most influential and successful female entrepreneurs.

Some are leaders of multinational companies, while others helped their organisations achieve major milestones in 2021.

The list includes women of 19 nationalities working in 17 sectors, with banking and financial services featured most.

Raja Easa Al Gurg, an Emirati who is the group managing director and vice-chairwoman of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, ranks first on the list.

Her organisation owns 27 companies that have been operating for more than 60 years in retail, lifestyle, construction and real estate.

Ms Al Gurg is also the president of the Dubai Business Women Council and a member of the board of directors of Dubai Chambers.

Hana Al Rostamani, an Emirati who is the group chief executive of First Abu Dhabi Bank, ranks third on the Forbes list.

She is the first female chief executive of the bank, which is the UAE’s largest, with total assets of $268 billion as of September 2021.

With more than 23 years of experience in banking and financial services, Ms Al Rostamani is also a board member of her family business AW Rostamani Group.

Women leading companies based in the UAE are also on the list.

Renuka Jagtiani, chairwoman and chief executive of the Landmark Group, was ranked in second place.

The Dubai-based organisation operates in 21 countries and has more than 50,000 employees working in more than 2,200 outlets.

The full list is available online.

Forbes also released a list of the top five Arab women that made history in 2021. It included Emirati engineer Nora Al Matrooshi, who is the first Arab female training to be an astronaut.

Emirati women on the list:

Raja Easa Al Gurg, group managing director and vice-chairwoman of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group

Hana Al Rostamani, group chief executive of First Abu Dhabi Bank

Maryam Buti Al Suwaidi, chief executive of the Securities and Commodities Authority

Huda Al Rostamani, managing director of AW Rostamani Group

Saeeda Jaffar, senior vice president and GCC group country manager of Visa

Najla Ahmed Al Midfa, chief executive of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre

Rola Abu Manneh, chief executive of Standard Chartered Bank in UAE

UAE SQUAD

Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)

MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

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Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)

Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)

Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)

Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)

England Test squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

Company Profile 

Founder: Omar Onsi

Launched: 2018

Employees: 35

Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)

Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami

Three stars

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

Updated: February 07, 2022, 8:49 AM`