Egypt made a strong showing on Forbes Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2025, with 18 women making the list — the second-highest national representation after the UAE. These leaders span industries from banking and energy to healthcare and law. Below are profiles of several, with their education, key roles, and recent achievements.
Absolutely — here is the refined, well-structured article without hashtag signs, and now including all 18 Egyptian women listed in Forbes Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2025. Each profile is represented, integrated smoothly into the narrative flow, and written in a native-English, SEO-optimized style.
Leading Egypt’s representation is Dalia Khorshid, ranked at number 12. As CEO and Managing Director of Beltone Holding, Khorshid has played a pivotal role in the financial sector, overseeing one of Egypt’s most influential investment banks. Her work has helped Beltone reposition itself for regional growth and global relevance.
Following her is Soha El-Turky at number 15, who serves as Deputy CEO of the National Bank of Egypt. With decades of experience in banking and financial management, El-Turky is recognized for steering Egypt’s largest public bank through macroeconomic turbulence, helping stabilize the national financial ecosystem.
Ranked 42, Hend El Sherbini is the CEO of Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH), a regional leader in healthcare diagnostics. Under her leadership, IDH has expanded its presence across Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, and Nigeria, offering millions access to affordable and reliable lab testing services.
Mona Zulficar, listed at number 48, is a force in both law and finance. As founding partner and Chair of the Executive Committee at Zulficar & Partners Law Firm, and Chairwoman of EFG Holding, she has helped shape corporate governance frameworks in Egypt. Her work on landmark legal reforms and corporate transactions continues to influence Egypt’s economic trajectory.
At a joint rank of 49 are two influential women in infrastructure: Merette El Sayed, Chief Commercial Officer of Hassan Allam Holding and CEO of Legacy, and Dalia Wahba, CEO of Hassan Allam Utilities. Both women are behind some of Egypt’s largest projects in construction, utilities, and sustainable urban development—sectors key to Egypt’s long-term growth vision.
Elham Mahfouz, ranked 54, is another seasoned leader whose influence extends beyond Egypt. As CEO of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait, she brings strategic leadership to cross-border banking operations between Egypt and the Gulf. Her presence on the list reflects growing Egyptian influence in the GCC financial sector.
Tech and digital innovation are represented by Hoda Mansour, ranked 62. Now the COO for Asia Pacific, Japan, Middle East, and Africa at IFS, Mansour has led transformation strategies across global markets. She previously held top roles at SAP and is widely recognized for enabling digital acceleration across multiple industries.
Mirna Arif, ranked 66, is General Manager at Microsoft Egypt. Since taking the helm, Arif has championed Egypt’s digital transformation, expanded cloud services, and built partnerships in education, healthcare, and AI. Her leadership underscores the role of women in shaping the country’s tech ecosystem.
Dalia Ibrahim, CEO of Nahdet Misr Publishing House, is ranked 73. A serial entrepreneur and founder of EdVentures—Egypt’s first EdTech-focused venture capital arm—she’s reshaping how education, publishing, and innovation converge in the Arab world.
At number 79, Rasha El-Azhary is the Chief Financial Officer of Vodafone Egypt. A strategic thinker and financial expert, she has played a key role in large-scale telecom investments, infrastructure projects, and partnerships that have fueled Vodafone’s national growth.
Abir Leheta, ranked 82, serves as CEO of EgyTRANS. With a focus on integrated logistics and transport, she’s leading one of Egypt’s most established logistics companies into its next era—incorporating technology and sustainability into core operations.
Ranked 85, Pakinam Kafafi is CEO of TAQA Arabia, a leader in energy distribution and renewable power. Her recent work includes a groundbreaking MoU for a 3.2 GW renewable energy project with Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity—one of the largest in the country’s history.
Ghada Kandil, listed at number 86, is a top executive at the Bank of New York Mellon, overseeing operations across Egypt and North Africa. With a background in international finance, Kandil has been instrumental in advancing institutional investment and cross-border partnerships in the region.
At number 96, Heba Korra serves as Vice Chairperson of Korra for Energy and Investment Projects. She recently led the commissioning of a 4.8 MW solar plant in Sadat City, furthering Egypt’s renewable energy targets and showcasing female leadership in the clean tech space.
Omnia Kelig, ranked 97, is Group Deputy CEO and Managing Director of Naeem Holding. A veteran of investment banking, private equity, and capital markets, Kelig has helped position Naeem as a major player in Egypt’s financial services and investment sectors.
Abeer Saleh, ranked 98, is Managing Director of Misr Life Insurance – Takaful. Her work is driving financial inclusion by expanding access to insurance products tailored to the Egyptian market, especially for underserved and low-income populations.
Rounding out the list at number 100 is Ahella El Saban, co-founder and Vice Executive Chairperson of Exits MENA. An active figure in Egypt’s venture capital and startup ecosystem, El Saban focuses on facilitating exit strategies for entrepreneurs and scaling investment readiness across the region.
Together, these 18 women represent a new era of Egyptian leadership—one that is global, strategic, and deeply impactful. Their influence extends far beyond Egypt’s borders, shaping sectors from Silicon Valley-aligned tech hubs to oil and gas corridors in the Gulf. Many are graduates of the American University in Cairo (AUC), a testament to the role of quality higher education in building the next generation of business leaders.
In a region often criticized for underrepresentation of women in top corporate roles, Egypt’s contribution to the Forbes list is not just encouraging—it’s transformative. These women are not only occupying boardrooms; they’re leading billion-dollar enterprises, launching clean energy megaprojects, driving inclusive education, and designing policies that define national progress.
Egypt is no longer just participating in the global economy—it is helping to lead it. And at the forefront of that charge are 18 women rewriting the rules of leadership, one sector at a time.
