Growing up in a Libyan-Canadian family with 10 siblings was my first education in women’s rights. Despite all the chaos, my mama’s word ruled. And my family isn’t unique: across the world, including in the Middle East and North Africa, women have always been leaders, innovators, and game changers – from how we run our households to how we contribute to the workforce. Yet the global narrative often reduces us to one thing: oppressed (and that doesn’t change whether we’re in the region or the diaspora – it’s that pervasive). It’s an outdated, lazy trope that misrepresents our realities and erases our power. If a young woman from the region is reading this, I want her to see her future not as a fight for space but as a rightful continuation of the leadership legacy she’s already part of.
Like women around the world, our voices are often drowned out by outdated beliefs and old-school thinking. We’ve been told to be grateful for the progress that’s already been made on women’s inclusion and to be patient while we wait for actual, systemic equity and the breaking down of barriers that hold us back. But here’s the thing – we don’t have to wait for the world to catch up to our needs – our time is now.
Embracing women’s leadership is a seriously smart move for the entire region. Want proof? The economic case for women’s leadership is overwhelming. A McKinsey report highlights that closing the gender gap in labor force participation could add $12 trillion to the global GDP by 2025. That’s more than the combined GDPs of Japan, Germany, and the UK – let that sink in for a moment. Yet, despite the clear economic benefits, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions.
Let’s dig deeper. Studies consistently show that inclusive peace processes are far more successful than those led by men. Peace talks involving women are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years (fun fact: I was an advisor for this very study). By contrast, when women are excluded, 90% of those talks fail within five years. We can’t afford to ignore those numbers and what those additional years of peace mean for education, child survival, and economic repair in a region often defined by conflict. The future of peace and stability in our region – and not to be hyperbolic, but the world – depends on women leading and shaping the agenda, not merely contributing from the sidelines. This is mission-critical in conflict areas, where women are more likely to bear the brunt of the impact – in Palestine, for example, where 70% of casualties are women and children.
Real power means shifting from tokenism to trust – not just being in the room but leading it.Women across the region are doing just that. We are making strides in health, sustainability, security, climate, education, and beyond. Innovators like Dr. Salma Bougarrani in Morocco, transforming wastewater into food through innovation and sustainability, and Rama Kayyali, who created Little Thinking Minds, an edtech platform reaching nearly half a million youth. Or activists like Muzoon Almellehan, who has championed girls’ education in Syria since she was a teenager. At the highest levels of government leadership; we have leaders like H.R.H. Princess Reema bint Bandar- Al Saud, H.E Sheikha Amal Al-Thani, and Ministers H.E. Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy and H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri. Their inclusive approach to leadership, across climate, philanthropy, security, sports, and more, is transforming the region and creating global impact. It’s our collective responsibility to ensure their stories aren’t just shared as one-off successes but are recognized as part of the broader narrative that women are central to the region’s recovery and progress.
Arab women lead with a kind of emotional intelligence that’s strategic and generational. From raising families to negotiating peace agreements, our leadership is intuitive and lasting. In a region shaped by the long shadow of colonialism and foreign intervention – empathetic and forward-thinking leadership is essential to build a different future.
Alas, I’d be remiss to write a piece on women in the region and neglect the elephant in the room: men. Let’s be honest: We don’t need more male allies—we need accomplices. We need accomplices who will actively use their power and influence to ensure women are given equal opportunity in leadership. Only with the active partnership and vocal leadership of men will we be able to break these barriers down and create a world where women and men champion a level playing field.
Arab women are resilient. By that, I’m not talking about our own individual grit to work around systems that marginalize us. As a collective, this is not about working around the system. It’s about rebuilding it. Now, more than ever, the world needs to recognize that our voices are not optional; they are essential – for our communities, our economies, our children, and ourselves. Our leadership isn’t new. It’s just long overlooked.
To every young woman reading this: You don’t need permission. You don’t need to wait. Your time is now.
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