Six Omanis Make it to Forbes Middle East's Top Businesswomen List

Six Omani women were named in Forbes Middle East's annual list of the region’s most powerful businesswomen for 2023, including Amal Suhail Bahwan Vice-Chairperson of Suhail Bahwan Group and Chairperson National Bank of Oman (NBO) ranked first in the country and 26th regionally.

Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of the First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), climbed two spots to land first place this year. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson and Managing Director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, and Lubna S. Olayan, Chair of the Saudi British Bank and Chair of the Executive Committee and Deputy Chair of Olayan Financing Company, rounded up the top three in the Forbes Middle East list.

The 2023 Forbes Middle East's list of the region’s most powerful businesswomen had representation for 27 nationalities. Oman was the 5th most represented country on the list with 6 listees, after UAE (15), Egypt (12), Saudi Arabia (11), and Kuwait (8).

The six Omani businesswomen who made the 2023 Forbes Middle East list are:

Amal Suhail Bahwan

Company: Suhail Bahwan Group; National Bank of Oman (NBO)

Title: Vice-Chairperson of Suhail Bahwan Group; Chairperson National Bank of Oman (NBO)

Ranking: 26th 

Founded by her billionaire father, Suhail Bahwan, the group is one of the largest conglomerates in Oman. Amal has been the vice chairperson and a board member of Suhail Bahwan Group since 2016. She is also chairperson of the National Bank of Oman and a director and board remuneration committee member of Oman Oil Marketing Co. (SAOG).

Lujaina & Areej Mohsin Haider Darwish

Company: Mohsin Haider Darwish

Title: Lujaina: Chairperson - ITICS; Areej: Chairperson - ACERE

Ranking: 28th 

With over 1,000 employees, Mohsin Haider Darwish group is one of the largest family businesses in MENA. Lujaina heads the Infrastructure, Technology, Industrial, and Consumer Solutions (ITICS) cluster of Mohsin Haider Darwish, while Areej heads the Automotive, Construction Equipment & Renewable Energy (ACERE) cluster.

Hind Bahwan

Company: Bahwan CyberTek Group (BCT Group)

Title: Founder & Chairperson

Ranking: 51st 

Bahwan is also the chairman of HBTI DMCC, a privately-owned commodity company trading crude oil and oil products, and is the founder and chairperson of Bahwan Lifestyle. The Bahwan CyberTek Group focuses on IT, logistics, and engineering projects.

Haifa Al Khaifi

Company: Petroleum Development Oman LLC (PDO)

Title: Finance Director & Oil and Gas Board Secretary

Ranking: 54th

Al Khaifi joined PDO in 1995 and assumed her current role in 2012. With 27 years of experience, she is also the Board Director and Secretary General of the Omani Business Friendship Association.

Huda Al Lawati

Company: Aliph Capital

Title: Founder & CEO

Ranking: 89th

Al Lawati founded Aliph Capital in 2021, which is a GCC-centric fund manager with a focus on mid-market companies. In November 2022, Aliph Fund I (LP) completed a 100% buyout of the Pet Shop in the U.A.E.

Click here to view the full list of the Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2023.