Egypt’s business landscape is becoming increasingly diverse, with women taking influential leadership positions across finance, healthcare, energy, logistics, education, technology, and publishing. From leading major corporations to building innovative companies, Egyptian women CEOs are helping shape the country’s private sector and contributing to regional economic growth.
According to the American University in Cairo’s 2025 Women on Boards Observatory report, women’s representation on boards across listed companies, banks, non-bank financial services, and public enterprises reached 24.8% in 2025, compared with 24.3% in 2024. The report also identified more than 1,160 board-ready women in Egypt.
The following list highlights 10 prominent women CEOs and senior women business leaders connected to Egypt. It is a curated leadership list rather than an official ranking.
Who are the top women CEOs in Egypt?
1. Dalia Khorshid – Beltone Holding
Dalia Khorshid is one of Egypt’s most prominent female corporate leaders and serves as Group CEO and Managing Director of Beltone Holding. She assumed the role in 2022 after previously founding MASAR Financial Advisory and Eagle Capital for Financial Investment.
Khorshid also served as Egypt’s Minister of Investment, giving her experience across both government and private-sector finance. Forbes Middle East ranked her 12th on its 2025 list of the region’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen, making her the highest-ranked Egyptian woman on the list.
Her leadership reflects the growing role of women in Egypt’s investment, financial services, and capital markets sectors.
2. Hend El Sherbini – Integrated Diagnostics Holdings
Hend El Sherbini is Group CEO of Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH), one of the region’s major diagnostic healthcare providers.
She became CEO of IDH in 2012 after serving as CEO of Al Mokhtabar from 2004. Under her leadership, the company has expanded its healthcare footprint across Egypt and other regional markets. Forbes reported that IDH operated 608 branches across Egypt, Jordan, Nigeria, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia as of September 2024.
Her career demonstrates how women can lead large-scale healthcare organizations while managing expansion across multiple countries.
3. Dalia Wahba – Hassan Allam Utilities
Dalia Wahba is CEO of Hassan Allam Utilities, the investment and development arm of Hassan Allam Holding.
She assumed her current position in 2023 after joining the company in 2021. Wahba brings more than two decades of industry experience and previously worked as a senior manager for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Finance Corporation.
Her leadership is particularly significant in Egypt’s energy and infrastructure sectors. Hassan Allam Utilities has been involved in major renewable-energy projects, including solar and battery-storage developments.
4. Merette Elsayed – Legacy
Merette Elsayed is CEO of Legacy, a Hassan Allam company operating the Grand Egyptian Museum, while also serving as Chief Commercial Officer of Hassan Allam Holding.
She was appointed CEO of Legacy in November 2022 and has played an important role in the group’s regional expansion. Forbes highlighted her involvement in establishing Hassan Allam Holding’s regional headquarters in Riyadh in 2024.
Her career illustrates the growing presence of women in construction, real estate, commercial strategy, and major tourism-related developments.
5. Dalia Ibrahim – Nahdet Misr Publishing House
Dalia Ibrahim is CEO of Nahdet Misr Publishing House, one of Egypt’s established education and publishing businesses.
She joined the company in 1994 and became CEO in 2011. Beyond publishing, Ibrahim has been active in entrepreneurship and education technology. In 2024, EdVentures, the investment arm of Nahdet Misr, partnered with the Mastercard Foundation on an EdTech Fellowship in Egypt.
She has also served on boards and initiatives supporting entrepreneurship, education, and women-led businesses. Forbes ranked her 73rd on its 2025 list of the region’s most powerful businesswomen.
6. Abir Leheta – Egytrans
Abir Leheta is CEO of Egytrans, an Egyptian logistics company.
Her career at Egytrans began in 1996 when she joined as head of software development. She later moved into senior management and became CEO in 2015.
Leheta represents the growing role of women in Egypt’s transportation and logistics industries, sectors traditionally associated with male leadership. She also holds leadership positions within business associations focused on transportation and logistics.
7. Pakinam Kafafi – TAQA Arabia
Pakinam Kafafi is CEO of TAQA Arabia, an Egyptian energy company operating across areas including gas distribution, power, and renewable energy.
She joined TAQA Arabia when it was established in 2006 and became CEO in 2013. Her background includes strategy, investment banking, and energy-sector leadership.
Kafafi has also been involved in initiatives supporting renewable-energy development in Egypt. Forbes included her among its 2025 Most Powerful Businesswomen, ranking her 85th.
8. Hadeer Shalaby – Talabat
Hadeer Shalaby is another notable Egyptian woman in technology and digital commerce leadership. The American University in Cairo identifies her as Managing Director of Talabat, highlighting her position within one of the region’s major digital delivery platforms.
Her career represents a newer generation of women leaders working in technology-driven businesses, digital platforms, and rapidly changing consumer markets.
9. Dina El-Mofty – INJAZ Egypt
Dina El-Mofty is CEO of INJAZ Egypt, an organization focused on entrepreneurship, employability, and workforce development.
Her leadership connects business with education and youth development. Through entrepreneurship programs and partnerships, organizations such as INJAZ help prepare young Egyptians for employment and business creation.
AUC identifies El-Mofty among its notable alumni as CEO of INJAZ Egypt.
10. Azza El Shinnawy – PortfolioTech
Azza El Shinnawy is Co-Founder and CEO of PortfolioTech, according to the American University in Cairo’s notable alumni profile.
Her career highlights the expanding participation of Egyptian women in technology, entrepreneurship, and investment-related businesses. Women-led technology companies are becoming increasingly important as Egypt develops its digital economy and startup ecosystem.
Why are women CEOs important to Egypt’s economy?
Women CEOs bring leadership, expertise, and diverse perspectives to major industries. Their presence can strengthen corporate decision-making, encourage innovation, and create opportunities for other women to enter senior management.
Egypt’s progress is visible in corporate governance as well. The Women on Boards Observatory reported that women held 24.8% of board seats across covered sectors in 2025, although it also noted that the pace of improvement has slowed.
Which industries have the most prominent women CEOs in Egypt?
Women leaders are active across a broad range of industries, including:
- Banking and financial services
- Healthcare
- Energy and renewable power
- Construction and infrastructure
- Logistics
- Technology
- Education
- Publishing
- Entrepreneurship
- Digital commerce
This diversity shows that women’s leadership in Egypt extends well beyond traditional sectors.
What challenges do women CEOs in Egypt still face?
Women entrepreneurs and executives continue to encounter challenges involving access to capital, professional networks, leadership opportunities, and gender bias.
A 2026 Visa study associated with its She’s Next program reported that women entrepreneurs in Egypt cited a 58% bias challenge, while many relied on personal savings and family or friends to finance their businesses. At the same time, the study found strong adoption of digital tools and AI among women entrepreneurs.
These findings suggest that opportunity is growing, but access to resources and equal business opportunities remains important.
What can aspiring women entrepreneurs learn from Egypt’s female CEOs?
The careers of Egypt’s leading women CEOs demonstrate several practical lessons: develop deep industry expertise, build strong professional networks, embrace technology, remain adaptable, and pursue leadership opportunities with confidence.
Their stories also show that successful leadership does not follow one formula. Some leaders have built careers in finance, others in healthcare, energy, technology, logistics, education, or entrepreneurship.
What is the future of women’s leadership in Egypt?
The future looks increasingly promising. Egypt already has a substantial pipeline of women prepared for senior corporate roles, while initiatives supporting entrepreneurship, board participation, digital skills, and access to finance continue to expand.
The challenge now is to turn that pipeline into more CEO, board, founder, and executive positions. The AUC Women on Boards Observatory’s identification of more than 1,160 board-ready women demonstrates that Egypt has significant female leadership talent available.
Final takeaway: Why do these women CEOs matter?
The top women CEOs in Egypt represent more than individual corporate success. They reflect a broader transformation in Egypt’s business environment.
Leaders such as Dalia Khorshid, Hend El Sherbini, Dalia Wahba, Merette Elsayed, Dalia Ibrahim, Abir Leheta, Pakinam Kafafi, Hadeer Shalaby, Dina El-Mofty, and Azza El Shinnawy demonstrate how women are influencing finance, healthcare, energy, logistics, education, publishing, technology, and entrepreneurship.
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