Female business leaders across the Middle East are turning global uncertainty into opportunity, with 78 per cent expressing confidence in their companies’ growth prospects over the next three years, according to KPMG’s Middle East Female Leaders Outlook 2025 report, “A Call for Clarity.”
The study highlights that women executives across the region remain optimistic about business and talent growth, but are urging clearer corporate strategies on artificial intelligence (AI), environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, and workforce development.
Despite 65 per cent of respondents reporting experiences of gender bias in the past three years, the report notes that many women continue to redefine leadership through empathy, resilience, and collaboration.
Female business leaders
Government-led reforms across the Gulf are also accelerating change and supporting greater participation in leadership and technology sectors.
In the UAE, the Gender Balance Council has played a key role in advancing women’s participation in leadership and STEM, with women now comprising 70 per cent of all university graduates and 56 per cent of STEM graduates at public universities.
In Saudi Arabia, female labour force participation reached 36.3 per cent in Q1 2025, exceeding the Vision 2030 target of 30 per cent by 2030.
In Oman, ongoing reforms continue to expand women’s representation in diplomacy and international organisations.
Balancing technology and people
KPMG’s report reveals that 64 per cent of Middle East female leaders expect their companies’ earnings to rise between 2.5 and 9.9 per cent over the next three years, driven by a balance between investing in technology and human capital.
While 60 per cent of regional respondents said their organisations are investing more in people than in technology, globally 56 per cent are prioritising technology.
This contrast underscores the region’s emphasis on human capital as a long-term competitive advantage.
Kholoud Moussa, Partner, Head of Our Impact Plan at KPMG Middle East, said: “Women leaders in the Middle East are demonstrating that resilience and clarity move together. Their confidence in growth is clear, matched by a call for stronger alignment between vision and execution within organizations.
“Our findings show that meaningful progress will rely on how clearly companies set their priorities, from AI and ESG to how they invest in people and culture.”
AI, ESG and the clarity challenge
Although 44 per cent of women business leaders in the Middle East said AI is a top investment priority, a similar share remained neutral, signalling uncertainty about how to integrate the technology into their business strategies.
Most respondents (62 per cent) identified efficiency and productivity gains as the primary benefits of AI adoption.
In parallel, 45 per cent of respondents said ESG principles are fully embedded in their organisations, but one in three remained uncertain about the extent of implementation.
Nearly half also questioned whether their companies are on track to meet net-zero goals by 2030.
The findings reveal that women leaders see both AI and ESG as critical to future competitiveness — but many are still seeking clarity, measurable frameworks, and actionable roadmaps to make these ambitions deliverable.
Leadership and inclusion
KPMG’s research also explored the evolving risks women face in leadership positions. Nearly half (49 per cent) of Middle East respondents — and 57 per cent globally — said online abuse has increased over the past three years.
Among those affected, 54 per cent reported harassment or abuse from fake profiles, while 39 per cent experienced cyberbullying and defamation.
Beyond these social challenges, respondents expressed confidence that inclusive leadership can directly drive growth.
Seventy-four per cent said achieving gender equity in the C-suite would help their organisations meet business targets, though only 36 per cent supported mandated quotas.
Most preferred mentorship networks, leadership programmes, and organisational flexibility to achieve sustainable progress.
The outlook
As Middle Eastern economies continue to diversify, female leaders are reshaping boardroom conversations around purpose-driven leadership, sustainable growth, and digital transformation.
The KPMG Female Leaders Outlook 2025 concludes that the region’s women executives are not only confident in their growth prospects but are actively redefining what corporate resilience looks like — balancing human empathy with technological ambition.
