As the Middle East accelerates its efforts toward climate resilience, energy transition, and sustainable economic growth, a new generation of female executives is rising to the forefront. Forbes Middle East’s 2025 list of Sustainability Leaders recognizes a select group of women who are not only driving ESG integration in some of the region’s most influential corporations, but also reshaping how business and sustainability intersect across finance, infrastructure, and industry.
From Egypt, these leaders are bridging policy and innovation, helping to align the region’s development priorities with global climate targets.
From sustainable banking and green manufacturing to financial innovation and inclusive growth, these women are not only driving internal change in their organizations but also setting a benchmark for ESG-driven transformation across industries.
Here’s a closer look at the five women who made this year’s list:
Hana Al Rostamani — Steering the Gulf’s Largest Bank Toward a Greener Future
Group CEO, First Abu Dhabi Bank (UAE)
Appointed in 2021 as the first woman to lead a major UAE bank, Hana Al Rostamani has quickly emerged as a regional trailblazer in sustainable finance. As CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), she has led the institution to commit $136 billion in sustainable and transition financing by 2030 — with more than 50% of that already deployed.
Under her leadership, FAB has become a founding member of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, set science-based emissions targets for carbon-intensive sectors, and pioneered green bonds and sukuk across multiple currencies.
Al Rostamani is redefining what it means to be a financial leader in the Gulf — combining robust profitability with long-term climate responsibility.
Ghada Hammouda — Embedding ESG at the Core of Egypt’s Industrial Transformation
Chief Sustainability & Marketing Officer, Qalaa Holdings (Egypt)
With over three decades of multi-sectoral experience, Ghada Hammouda serves as the Chief Sustainability and Marketing Officer at Qalaa Holdings, one of Egypt’s most prominent investment groups in energy, logistics, and infrastructure.
Hammouda has spearheaded ESG integration across Qalaa’s diverse portfolio — from launching green insulation products under GlassRock to expanding sustainable farming and dairy production through Dina Farms. She has also played a leading role in advancing sustainability disclosures, stakeholder engagement, and gender equality across the group.
In 2024, she was elected Chairperson of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets’ Sustainability Committee, reinforcing her regional leadership on sustainable finance and policy reform.
Dalia Khorshid — Pioneering Green Finance and Carbon Markets in Egypt
Group CEO & Managing Director, Beltone Holding (Egypt)
A former Egyptian Minister of Investment and a seasoned banking executive, Dalia Khorshid is now reshaping financial services at Beltone Holding, a rapidly expanding firm under her leadership since 2022.
Beltone became the first Egyptian company licensed to trade in carbon emissions reduction certificates and futures, signaling a leap forward in the country’s environmental finance infrastructure. Khorshid has also led the firm in setting ambitious climate targets — including a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.
Beyond emissions, Beltone has invested in green mobility startups, circular economy initiatives, and financial literacy programs — all while posting triple-digit revenue growth in the first half of 2025.
Hanaa Helmy — Championing Social Equity and ESG Integration in Capital Markets
Head of ESG, EFG Holding (Egypt)
As Head of ESG at EFG Holding, one of the leading investment banks in the Middle East, Hanaa Helmy plays a crucial role in steering the firm’s sustainable investment agenda.
Helmy has helped develop EFG’s ESG policy framework, ensuring that environmental and social factors are embedded in the firm’s underwriting, asset management, and advisory services. She also leads on impact-driven community investments and initiatives targeting education, women’s empowerment, and financial inclusion.
With a background in corporate philanthropy and sustainable finance, Helmy brings a unique blend of strategic insight and social responsibility, contributing to Egypt’s broader push toward inclusive and equitable development.
Manal Hassan — Decarbonizing Egypt’s Power and Manufacturing Sectors
Chief Sustainability Officer, Elsewedy Electric (Egypt)
As Chief Sustainability Officer of Elsewedy Electric, a major player in Africa’s energy and industrial sectors, Manal Hassan is driving the company’s ambitious climate transition strategy.
She oversees the firm’s efforts to cut emissions across its operations, expand renewable energy projects, and adopt circular manufacturing practices. Under her guidance, Elsewedy Electric has ramped up investments in solar infrastructure, sustainable cables, smart grids, and energy-efficient industrial parks across Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa.
Hassan is also a prominent advocate for women in engineering and clean energy, mentoring the next generation of female climate professionals while representing Egypt in international climate forums.
A Regional Shift, Powered by Women
Together, these five women represent a new model of leadership — one that integrates business growth with long-term environmental and social responsibility. Their presence on Forbes Middle East’s 2025 Sustainability Leaders list is not just symbolic; it reflects the growing influence of women executives in shaping the green agenda of the Arab world.
As the region prepares for its next climate milestones, including COP30, the leadership of Al Rostamani, Hammouda, Khorshid, Helmy, and Hassan will continue to shape how the Middle East builds resilient economies, inclusive societies, and a low-carbon future.
