Women Making Waves in UAE’s Tech Industry 2025
The presence of women in technology is on a steady rise, reshaping industries and redefining the limits of innovation. While tech has historically been a male-dominated space, recent years have seen a significant shift as more women break barriers, lead groundbreaking projects, and drive technological advancements across various sectors. From fintech to space exploration, AI to blockchain, these leaders are not just participants in the digital revolution—they are at its forefront.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is crucial to recognize and amplify the voices of the women shaping the future of technology. Their contributions go beyond innovation—they are inspiring the next generation, advocating for inclusivity, and proving that technology thrives when diverse perspectives come together.
In this feature, we spotlight 15 remarkable women who are making waves across industries, driving change, and paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic tech ecosystem. These trailblazers are not only pushing boundaries but also proving that the future of technology is diverse, equitable, and filled with limitless possibilities.
H.E. Sarah bint Yousef Al-Amiri
Designation: Minister of State for Advanced Sciences; Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates; Chairperson of the United Arab Emirates Council of Scientists; Deputy Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission
Tech Industry: Space Exploration
H.E. Sarah Al-Amiri is a pioneering figure in the UAE’s space and technology sectors. As Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, she oversees the country’s ambitious space program, including the successful Emirates Mars Mission (Hope). Al Amiri played a crucial role as the science lead for the Hope mission, which reached Mars orbit in February 2021, coinciding with the UAE’s 50th anniversary.
Beyond space exploration, Al-Amiri holds several key positions in the UAE government. She serves as the Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, chairs the Emirates Scientists Council, the Fourth Industrial Revolution Council, and the Emirates School Establishment. Her multifaceted role involves driving innovation across various sectors, fostering a knowledge-based economy, and enhancing the contribution of advanced sciences to the UAE’s development.
Dr. Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr
Designation: Former Director-General of Smart Dubai Office; Vice President of Digital Transformation at The Global Diwan
Tech Industry: Smart Cities
Dr. Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr is a pioneering figure in digital transformation and smart city initiatives. With over 27 years of experience, she has championed ICT advancements across various public and private sectors. Dr. Aisha previously served as the Director General of the Smart Dubai Office from December 2015 to July 2020, where she led Dubai’s city-wide smart transformation.
In her role at Smart Dubai, Dr. Aisha spearheaded the implementation of the Dubai Blockchain Strategy, aiming to make Dubai the first government to conduct 100% of applicable transactions via blockchain by 2020. She also led the creation of ‘The Smart City Index’ – the first-ever benchmark for smart city implementation globally.
Dr. Aisha’s expertise extends beyond her work in Dubai. She has served on various boards, including Emaar Development, the University of Wollongong in Dubai, and the Higher Colleges of Technology. Currently, she holds positions such as Non-Executive Chairwoman at Shaffra and Board Member at Arab Financial Services.
Her contributions to digital transformation and smart city development have earned her international recognition. Dr. Aisha has been named the Leading Woman in Public Sector 2015 by the Global WIL Economic Forum and received the Community Service Medal in 2013 from Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Nora Al Matrooshi
Designation: First Female Emirati Astronaut
Tech Industry: Space Exploration
Nora Al Matrooshi made history as the first Emirati and Arab woman to be selected as an astronaut in 2021. A mechanical engineer by training, she holds a bachelor’s degree from the United Arab Emirates University and completed a semester at Vaasa University of Applied Sciences in Finland. Before her astronaut career, Nora worked as a piping engineer at the National Petroleum Construction Company and served as Vice President of the Youth Council, fostering innovation among young professionals.
In 2024, Nora graduated from NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Class, becoming a fully qualified astronaut ready for future space missions. Her rigorous training included spacewalking, robotics, and survival exercises. Nora’s achievements inspire women across the Arab world, embodying the UAE’s vision for scientific advancement and gender equality in STEM fields. She dreams of landing on the Moon aboard an Emirati spacecraft, further elevating the UAE’s reputation in global space exploration.
Ambareen Musa
Designation: CEO of Souqalmal
Tech Industry: Fintech
Ambareen Musa is a pioneering entrepreneur in the Middle East’s fintech sector. She founded Souqalmal.com in 2012, which became the leading financial comparison platform in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, offering insights into over 3,200 personal finance products. Musa’s journey began with her first digital venture at age 21, an online property portal for international students in Australia. She later worked with GE Money in London, where she launched Moneybasics.co.uk, the UK’s first online financial literacy initiative.
Musa’s experience includes roles at Bain & Company Middle East and setting up the consulting arm of MasterCard in the Middle East and Africa. Her entrepreneurial spirit and leadership have earned her numerous awards, including “Entrepreneur of the Year” and “Leading Women in Business.” Souqalmal was acquired by SHUAA Capital in 2022, marking a significant milestone in her career. Musa continues to focus on financial education through Souqalmal’s MoneyDoctor platform, aiming to enhance financial literacy across the region.
Raja Al Mazrouei
Designation: CEO of Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), Former Executive Vice President of FinTech Hive at DIFC
Tech Industry: Fintech
Raja Al Mazrouei is a prominent figure in the UAE’s financial technology and trade finance sectors. As the CEO of Etihad Credit Insurance since May 2023, she leads the UAE’s federal export credit company, focusing on advancing trade credit insurance and supporting the nation’s economic diversification goals.
With over two decades of experience in financial services and technology, Al Mazrouei has been instrumental in transforming ECI’s operations. She has implemented data-driven systems to improve service delivery and provide real-time insights to clients, while developing tailored financial solutions to help businesses, particularly SMEs, mitigate trade risks and expand internationally.
Prior to her role at ECI, Al Mazrouei served as the Executive Vice President of DIFC FinTech Hive, where she played a crucial role in establishing one of the world’s top fintech innovation labs. Her efforts contributed to attracting over 500 tech and innovation companies to the Dubai International Financial Centre.
Mona Ataya
Designation: CEO and Founder of Mumzworld.com
Tech Industry: E-commerce
Mona Ataya is a prominent Palestinian-Lebanese entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to the e-commerce landscape in the Middle East. She founded Mumzworld.com in 2011, which grew to become the leading e-commerce platform for mother and child products in the region. Under her leadership, Mumzworld reached over 2.5 million mothers across more than 20 countries, offering over 200,000 products.
In February 2024, Ataya stepped down as CEO of Mumzworld. She has since founded Digitise 360 Advisors in the UAE in June 2024, continuing her entrepreneurial journey in the digital space. Ataya’s experience includes co-founding Bayt.com, a leading job site in the Middle East and North Africa, where she served as Vice President of Marketing.
Alya Al Mazroui
Designation: Director of UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science
Tech Industry: Climate Technology
Alya Al Mazroui is a pioneering figure in weather modification and climate technology in the UAE. As the Director of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science since 2014, she leads international initiatives to advance the science and technology of rain enhancement. Al Mazroui also serves as the Acting Director of Research and Weather Enhancement Department at the UAE National Center of Meteorology (NCM).
Under her leadership, the program has made significant strides in weather modification research, including the development of the Arabian Peninsula Integrated Radar Observing System. Al Mazroui has been instrumental in fostering international collaborations and capacity-building in the field of weather modification.
Joy Ajlouny
Designation: Co-founder of Fetchr and Bonfaire
Tech Industry: E-Commerce and Logistics
Joy Ajlouny is a renowned entrepreneur and investor known for her transformative contributions to the e-commerce and logistics sectors. Born to Palestinian parents in California, Joy’s entrepreneurial journey began at a young age. She co-founded Bonfaire, an e-commerce platform for luxury fashion, which was acquired by Moda Operandi in 2013.
In 2015, Joy co-founded Fetchr, a Silicon Valley-backed logistics company based in Dubai. Fetchr revolutionized delivery in emerging markets by using GPS technology to address the “no address” problem. Under her leadership, Fetchr raised over $100 million in funding and expanded across six countries with over 6,000 employees.Joy has since left Fetchr but remains a shareholder. She continues to inspire entrepreneurs globally with her insights on innovation and fundraising. Her entrepreneurial spirit and achievements have made her a role model for women in tech, particularly in the Arab world.
Tanaz Dizadji
Designation: Founder and CEO of BuzzBee, Brand Ripplr, and Insydo
Tech Industry: Digital Marketing and Influencer Marketing
Tanaz Dizadji is a prominent entrepreneur in the Middle East’s digital marketing landscape. She founded Brand Ripplr, the region’s leading influencer marketing platform connecting brands with over 60,000 content creators across the MENA region. Dizadji also established BuzzBee, a barter/gifting influencer platform, and Insydo, a digital lifestyle publisher and video content producer.
As a female entrepreneur in the Middle East, Dizadji advocates for mentorship and support within the industry. She emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, relationship-building, and pushing boundaries in the communications and marketing sectors. Dizadji’s success story exemplifies the UAE’s supportive environment for entrepreneurs and its commitment to fostering innovation in the digital space.
Dr. Anushka Patchava
Designation: Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Wellx; Chief Growth Officer & Clinical Safety Officer at Mindstep
Tech Industry: HealthTech InsurTech
Dr. Anushka Patchava is a multifaceted healthcare leader and innovator in the HealthTech and InsurTech sectors. With a medical background from Cambridge University and Harvard Medical School, she has successfully transitioned into the world of digital health and insurance technology.
Dr. Patchava’s expertise extends beyond her corporate roles. She is a Senior Director/Expert Advisor in Health, Emerging Technologies, and Artificial Intelligence at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and an Invited Advisor at the World Economic Forum.
Dr. Patchava’s unique blend of medical expertise and business acumen, coupled with her passion for leveraging technology to transform health systems, positions her as a leading figure in the intersection of healthcare and technology.
Dana Baki
Designation: Co-founder of MUNCH:ON; Chief Commercial Officer at The Exploration Company
Tech Industry: Space Technology and Food Tech
Dana Baki is a Lebanese-American entrepreneur and business leader known for her innovative ventures in both food technology and space exploration. She co-founded MUNCH:ON (formerly LUNCH:ON) in 2015, a pioneering food delivery app that disrupted the traditional food ordering process by leveraging restaurant downtime to offer discounted meals. Under her leadership as COO, MUNCH:ON experienced rapid growth, expanding across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other regions, and was eventually acquired by Careem in 2022.
Currently, Dana serves as the Chief Commercial Officer at The Exploration Company, a leading space firm developing reusable space capsules and lunar landers. Her transition into the space industry highlights her adaptability and passion for innovation across diverse sectors.
Nadine Mezher
Designation: Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Sarwa
Tech Industry: Fintech
Nadine Mezher is a pioneering fintech entrepreneur and co-founder of Sarwa, the Middle East’s first hybrid robo-advisor platform. Her journey into fintech began with a realization that traditional financial services were inaccessible to many, particularly young professionals in the MENA region. Mezher joined forces with Mark Chahwan and Jad Sayegh to launch Sarwa in 2017, with the mission to democratize investing by reducing barriers such as high fees and minimum account requirements.
With over 18 years of experience in growth strategies across industries, Mezher brings a multidisciplinary background to Sarwa. She has worked in consultancy and executive roles for government entities and multinational corporations. Her expertise in marketing and retail strategy has been instrumental in positioning Sarwa as a leading fintech brand in the region.
Ola Younis Doudin
Designation: Co-founder and CEO of BitOasis
Tech Industry: Cryptocurrency and Blockchain
Ola Younis Doudin is a pioneering figure in the Middle Eastern cryptocurrency landscape. As the co-founder and CEO of BitOasis, she has established one of the region’s leading digital asset trading platforms. BitOasis allows users to buy, sell, and trade digital assets against the UAE Dirham, making cryptocurrency more accessible in the Middle East.
Doudin’s success with BitOasis has earned her recognition as one of the top women in tech in the Middle East. Through BitOasis, Doudin aims to make digital assets more accessible and tradeable in the region, contributing to the growth of the cryptocurrency ecosystem in the Middle East. Her journey exemplifies the changing landscape for women in tech and business in the region, as she navigated from traditional corporate roles to pioneering a new industry.
Sarah Toukan
Designation: Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Ziina
Tech Industry: Fintech
Sarah Toukan is a prominent figure in the fintech industry, serving as the Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Ziina, a pioneering peer-to-peer payment application based in Dubai. Ziina allows users to send and receive payments using just a phone number, eliminating the need for traditional banking details like IBAN or SWIFT codes.
Under her leadership, Ziina has secured significant funding, totaling over $9.4 million, and is expanding into new markets such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Sarah advocates for women’s empowerment in fintech, emphasizing the need for inclusive economic ecosystems and family-friendly policies to support women in their careers. Her work continues to influence how digital payments are perceived and utilized across the region.
Najla Al Midfa
Designation: Vice-Chairperson at Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa)
Tech Industry: Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation
Najla Al Midfa is a prominent figure in the UAE’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. She served as the CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) for eight years, stepping down from the role in 2024. During her tenure, Al Midfa transformed Sheraa into a powerhouse of innovation, fostering an environment where entrepreneurs could flourish.
Under Al Midfa’s leadership, Sheraa built a portfolio of over 150 startups, raising around $161 million in investment, creating over 1600 jobs, and generating over $247 million in cumulative revenue. She also spearheaded the annual Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF), which has drawn participation from 300 high-level speakers and over 13,000 attendees worldwide.
Al Midfa is also the founder of Khayarat, a platform that empowers young, high-potential Emiratis to make informed career choices and succeed in the private sector.
