In Qatar, women are driving a major economic shift, accounting for a workforce participation of an estimated 51%, standing well above the global average and at the highest in the Arab world. Backed by the Qatar National Vision 2030 and equal-opportunity legislation, women have successfully moved beyond traditional roles to lead multi-million dollar corporations, tech startups, and international brands.
Key organisations supporting women entrepreneurs are the Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA); and the Qatari Businesswomen Forum, operating under the Qatar Chamber. At Qatar Foundation, a major employer and incubator, women occupy 40% of all leadership roles. Over the past few years, the number of women in business has rapidly increased.
According to the Qatar Chamber, 7,000 Qatari women have full or partial ownership of companies in Qatar, while the number of women who are authorised signatories and manage companies are estimated at 4,700 and 4,900 respectively. At QNB Group, the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, women leaders are contributing to critical functions including risk management, corporate and institutional banking, treasury, and digital banking.
Their impact spans markets from Qatar and Singapore to Tunisia and Egypt, reflecting both the scale of QNB’s international footprint and the depth of expertise supporting future-ready banking throughout the organisation. Sustained investment in talent development, leadership progression, and building a high-performing organisation continues to support stronger female representation across both the workforce and leadership pipeline at QNB Group.
Today, women represent 49% of QNB Group’s workforce, alongside 34% representation across senior leadership and middle management roles — figures that remain above international industry averages.
Qatar’s growing business and innovation ecosystem is now being shaped by a diverse group of women leading across technology, entrepreneurship, investment, tourism, communications and other key sectors. The momentum is reflected in Inc. Arabia’s Women of Influence 2026, which recognises 60 female leaders across the Middle East and North Africa region for their contributions to business, innovation and economic growth.
Among those recognised are several women who are playing an active role in shaping Qatar’s business and professional landscape. Their success stories highlight 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.
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.
Women are increasingly taking leadership positions, building companies, influencing investment decisions, developing technology and shaping the narratives that showcases Qatar’s strides across the globe.
And for the next generation of women entering Qatar’s workforce and entrepreneurial ecosystem, these new paradigms offer viable examples women empowerment across in the business world.
As the unstoppable run of artificial intelligence is becoming a driving force across the global economy, Qatari businesswomen are increasingly embracing AI through major national training programmes like the AI Skills 4 Women initiative launched by Microsoft and Founderz alongside partners such as the QBWA and US-Qatar Business Council, Doha.
Qatari labour laws strictly mandate gender equality in corporate registration, financing access, and real estate ownership without discrimination.
Qatari women are now redrawing the country’s corporate landscape, shifting from traditional corporate roles to executive leadership, venture creation, and tech-driven industries.
As a matter of fact, the transformation is rooted in the Qatar National Vision 2030, which prioritises gender inclusion and human capital growth.