Female entrepreneurs are founding companies at an ever increasing rate across the world and the MENA region is no exception. Increased opportunity and new lending options have drastically improved the resources available to women in the Arab world.

1. In The Middle East
Female
Entrepreneurship
Female entrepreneurs are founding
companies at an ever increasing rate
across the world and the MENA region
is no exception.
A PORTRAIT OF FEMALE
ENTREPRENEURS IN MENA
Female entrepreneurs are on par with their counterpart
in Western Europe and North America.
REVENUE
Jordan
6%
USD100,000
UAE
33%
USA
13%
=
of female run enterprises generate revenues in excess of
THIS COMPARES TO
THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF FEMALE ‘SOLE OWNERS’
IN THE MENA REGION
THE
PERCENTAGE
OF SOLE
OWNERSHIP
RANGES
60%
Bahrain
40%
Lebanon
OWNERSHIP
6 Jordan
FEMALE OWNED
FIRMS CREATE BETWEEN
19 Tunisia
JOB CREATION
5.9
UAE Average
Female entrepreneurs in the region
have extensive experience ranging from
10.6
Lebanon Average
EXPERIENCE
WOMEN ARE OPTIMISTIC AND
POISED FOR GROWTH
Female entrepreneurs are confident in the region’s economic
potential with expansion a universal future goal.
The UAE has some of the region’s most ambitious women with
8 OUT OF 10
planning to expand their operations.
60% OF FEMALE
ENTREPRENEURS
expect growth in their national economy
to support their growth
INTERNATIONAL TRADE MATTERS
TO FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS
The MENA region’s female entrepreneurs are keen
to participate in global trade.
OF FEMALE
33%
are actively importing AND
exporting products.
ENTREPRENEURS
OVER
importing internationally
manufactured goods exclusively
20%
are exporting local goods
6%
KEY CHALLENGES FOR
FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS
There are several obstacles which female entrepreneurs
feel are impacting their potential to grow.
Learning Financial
Management Skills
Finding and Keeping
Good Employees
Access to Capital
High Cost of
Public Services
01
02
03
04
WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED?
In face of these challenges the community has voiced solutions
to help improve the state of female entrepreneurship.
POLICY MAKERS
Address the issue of cost and time taken to register a business.
Consider policies that would encourage greater access to capital
for all SMEs.
WOMEN BUSINESS
ORGANIZATIONS
Offer financial management training for members.
Provide information and training on new technologies for
business development.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Reach potential women clients through closer networking with
businesswomen’s associations.
FEMALE VOICES OF
THE MENA REGION
We spoke with some of the region’s leading female entrepreneurs
to learn about their businesses and experiences.
Founded
2012
Founder & CEO
Loulou Khazen Baz
Advice for Future Female Entrepreneurs:
Entrepreneurship is a marathon, it is long, hard, requires a lot preparation and discipline.
Perseverance is key if you want to make it to the finish line.
Nabbesh helps companies find and hire freelance talent and offer project management
services for large projects.
Founded
2014
Co-Founder & CMO
Dunia Othman
Advice for Future Female Entrepreneurs:
Don’t let anyone make you feel that being a female is a disadvantage in the business
world. An entrepreneur is as good as their skills and abilities; gender has nothing to do
with it.
mrUsta is an online marketplace that helps residents find quality service providers such
as painters, plumbers, mechanics, cake makers, and more.
Founded
2012
Co-Founder & CEO
Noha Al Yousef
Advice for Future Female Entrepreneurs:
If you dream big and work hard, you will find your way to success. Always keep in mind
that when there is a will there is a way.
Ithraa Consulting Group (ICG) offers development services such as creating initiatives,
executing campaigns, and marketing support for public and private sectors in all that is
relates to youth.
INFOGRAPHIC POWERED BY