Today: 11 July 2025
10 July 2023
2 mins read

Forbes unveils MENA’s Trailblazing Women in Tech

Selected from a vast pool of talent, the top 20 entries have astounded investors and consumers with their exceptional achievements, securing external funding and generating impressive revenues…reports Asian Lite News

As MENA continues to evolve as a hub for visionary female founders igniting a technological revolution, Forbes Middle East has released its annual ranking of the most successful 20 Women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands for 2023. These remarkable entrepreneurs have not only established robust tech-enabled platforms but are also pushing the boundaries of creativity, innovation, and impact in their respective industries.

Selected from a vast pool of talent, the top 20 entries have astounded investors and consumers with their exceptional achievements, securing external funding and generating impressive revenues. Forbes Middle East’s evaluation encompassed a comprehensive assessment of their entrepreneurial prowess, weighing their ability to create waves in diverse sectors such as Fintech, e-commerce, logistics, agri-tech, healthtech, and proptech, among others. The 20 entries were evaluated based on the amount of external funding they have raised, as well as their creativity, innovation, impact, and revenues.

The U.A.E. reigns as the preferred home for these companies with 11 entries, followed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia with three and two, respectively. Jordanians dominate the list with four founders, followed by Egyptians, British, and Turkish, each with two founders. Among the 20, 15 listees have more than one founding member.

Four of the top five women behind tech brands operate in the U.A.E. For the second consecutive year, iMile’s Founder & CEO Rita Huang Zhen tops the ranking. Between 2018 and 2023, the logistics player expanded its presence to 14 countries, with the most recent expansion being into Poland and Australia in 2023. Mumzworld’s Mona Ataya and Leena Khalil and agri-tech RedSea’s Derya Baran round up the top three. Proptech Rent Now Pay Later platform PRYPCO, established by Amira Sajwani, is the youngest tech company to feature on the list.

Top 5 Women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands 2023

1 | Rita Huang Zhen

  • Brand: iMile
  • Category: Logistics
  • Established: 2017
  • Nationality: Chinese
  • HQ: U.A.E.

2 | Mona Ataya & Leena Khalil

  • Brand: Mumzworld
  • Category: E-commerce
  • Established: 2011
  • Nationality: Palestinian; British
  • HQ: U.A.E.

3 | Derya Baran

  • Brand: RedSea
  • Category: Agri-tech
  • Established: 2018
  • Nationality: Turkish
  • HQ: Saudi Arabia

4 | Nour Sleiman  

  • Brand: Cartlow
  • Category: E-commerce
  • Established: 2019
  • Nationality: Spanish  
  • HQ: U.A.E.

5 | Ioanna Angelidaki

  • Brand: InstaShop
  • Category: E-commerce
  • Established: 2015
  • Nationality: Greek
  • HQ: U.A.E.

ALSO READ-‘Beban’ expands to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Previous Story

Harmanpreet Kaur-led Team India eye fresh start

Next Story

Deliveroo presents snack to the future 

Latest from Business

Apple Appoints Sabih Khan as New COO

Khan will take over from Jeff Williams, who is stepping down from the role this month and will retire later this year…reports Asian Lite News Apple has announced that Sabih Khan, an

Northeast Is Growth Engine

Scindia also provided updates on the government’s efforts to facilitate the entry of SpaceX’s Starlink service into India. “All due diligence from the Ministry’s side is complete Union Minister for Communications and

India to Empower Global South

India is emerging as a pivotal force in the global transition to clean energy, with Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, asserting that the country is empowering the Global

Maruti’s Global Push Breaks Record

June shipments hit 37,842 units, signalling robust global demand Maruti Suzuki India recorded its highest-ever monthly exports in June, shipping 37,842 units and marking a new milestone that highlights the company’s expanding

Qatar Debut For Tata

Tata Motors emphasised that its international offerings are backed by strong research and development capabilities, with vehicles that are thoroughly tested and adapted to local conditions Tata Motors has unveiled its all-new
Go toTop

Don't Miss

CE-Creates merges with hatch & boost in MENA’s first venture-builder merger

CE-Creates, the business incubation platform of Crescent Enterprises, has completed

MMA SMARTIES honours MENA 2021 winners

MMA SMARTIES honoured the most innovative and effective modern marketing