Women Shaping Qatar’s Next Chapter: Local Leaders Gain Regional Recognition
Qatar’s growing business and innovation ecosystem is being shaped by a diverse group of women leading across technology, entrepreneurship, investment, tourism, communications and other key sectors.
This momentum is reflected in Inc. Arabia’s Women of Influence 2026, which recognises 60 female leaders across the MENA region for their contributions to business, innovation and economic growth. Among those recognised are several women who are playing an active role in Qatar’s business and professional landscape.
Their stories offer a glimpse into the increasingly diverse ways women are contributing to Qatar’s continued growth, from building homegrown technology companies and investing in the next generation of startups to advancing innovation, shaping Qatar’s global image and driving new ideas across industries.
Among the recognised leaders is Sabina Abuova, Co-founder and Chief Brand and Vision Officer at Snoonu, who has played a key role in building one of Qatar’s most prominent homegrown technology companies. Her journey reflects the growing presence of women at the heart of Qatar’s digital economy and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Also recognised is Rama Chakaki, President of Qatar Science & Technology Park, whose work focuses on strengthening Qatar’s position as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and deep technology. Her leadership reflects the growing importance of research, technology and startup development to the country’s future economy.
Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje, Partner at Rasmal Ventures, represents another important part of this ecosystem: investment. Through her work in venture capital, she contributes to supporting and backing the next generation of entrepreneurs and technology businesses emerging from Qatar and the wider region.
The list also highlights women contributing to Qatar’s tourism, communications and creative landscape, including Sharifa AlBarami, Digital Content & Design Manager at Visit Qatar, and other Qatar-based leaders whose work connects local businesses and institutions with regional and international audiences.
Together, these women represent different sectors, experiences and career paths — but share a common thread: their work is contributing to an increasingly ambitious and dynamic Qatar.
Their recognition also comes at a time when the conversation around women’s participation in the economy is evolving beyond representation alone. Women are increasingly taking leadership positions, building companies, influencing investment decisions, developing technology and shaping the narratives through which Qatar is experienced both locally and internationally.
For the next generation of women entering Qatar’s workforce and entrepreneurial ecosystem, these stories offer something equally important: visible examples of what leadership can look like across different industries.
From technology and venture capital to tourism and innovation, the women being recognised today are not only achieving success within their respective fields, they are helping shape what comes next for Qatar.