50 Visionary Women: Farah Zafar, CEO and Co-Founder Lyvely
This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women
LYVELY is the UAE’s first homegrown Social monetization platform revolutionising the landscape of social media by creating a platform for creators, professionals and businesses to monetise their digital content through a Fiat and a tokenised ecosystem. With the launch and listing of “LVLY”, Lyvely is the first creator platform with a listed token across three centralised exchanges, with many more in the pipeline. Lyvely is also backed by the first multi-billion-dollar institution, Phoenix Group PLC, listed on ADX. They are one of the world’s largest bitcoin miners and the first tech, web3 and blockchain company to be listed in the region, on ADX.
Since Lyvely’s soft launch in August, it has experienced rapid user adoption and has earned significant brand recognition and a stellar reputation, having already garnered over 165,000 active users and more than 270,000 followers on social media with a highly engaged community. Zafar is very much a corporate powerhouse in the Middle East, known as the “Rockstar Lawyer” – Zafar has been the right hand to rulers and visionaries across the Middle East, has built and listed billion dollar corporations, this is what leads Lyvely to success.
She says: “We are the first social monetization platform which has launched and listed its own crypto token and listed it across centralised exchanges and created its own tokenised ecosystem. Our five-year goal is to be recognised Globally as UAE’s homegrown tech social monetization platform, rivalling big tech and transforming the lives of 100M people, by enabling them to fully monetise from their digital content.”
50 Visionary Women: Dr. Maryam Matar, Founder, UAE Genetics Diseases Association
This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women
Dr. Maryan Matar is celebrated as the most influential scientist in the UAE. Her exceptional contributions to preventive healthcare and the advancement of genetic sciences in the Arab world have placed her among the top 20 Arab scientists, as recognized by the British scientific community.
Dr. Matar has received over 35 prestigious awards for her achievements in science and leadership. She holds numerous recognitions and board memberships across the MENA region, acknowledging her contributions to preventive healthcare, epigenetics, regenerative therapies, and women’s leadership.
She was honored with the Pioneering Arab Woman in Healthcare Innovation award at the 21st Pioneer Leadership Award in Healthcare ceremony in Kuwait, as well as the Arab Excellence Award for Scientific Research by the General Secretariat of the Arab League.
50 Visionary Women: H.E. Alia Bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship
This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women
Her Excellency Alia Bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei was appointed as the UAE’s Minister of State for Entrepreneurship during the cabinet reshuffle in July 2024. A distinguished entrepreneur, she brings a wealth of experience from both the private and public sectors to her role, reflecting her unwavering commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and driving economic development in the UAE. H.E. Al Mazrouei has held several high-profile positions in leading government institutions. As the CEO of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, she spearheaded initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and support SMEs across the UAE. She also served as an Advisor to the Chairman at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Director General of the Human Resources Authority (HRA), and Director General of the Abu Dhabi School of Government (ADSG).
Before joining government service, she was the Group Chief Operating Officer at Mazrui International LLC, a family-founded Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate with a diversified business portfolio. Her accomplishments have garnered widespread recognition. In 2013, she was honored with the Arab Women’s Award for Entrepreneurship. She was ranked 26th on Forbes Middle East’s 2014 list of the world’s 200 most powerful Arab women and was named among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen in 2017.
Beyond her professional achievements, H.E. Al Mazrouei is deeply respected for her business acumen, creativity, and dedication to mentoring Emirati talent. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Management Information Systems (2001) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Global Leadership (2005) from the United Arab Emirates University. Her academic and professional journey reflects her passion for leadership and her drive to inspire innovation and economic growth in the UAE.
50 Visionary Women: Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President, Tahaluf
This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women
Annabelle Mader has been the Executive Vice President at Tahaluf since January 2023. Previously, Annabelle worked as a Group Director at Informa Markets and as a Sales Manager at Dubai World Trade Centre. Annabelle has extensive experience in sales and technology, having contributed to various B2B events in Saudi Arabia. Mander holds a degree in Business Management & Sport Science from Nottingham Trent University. Her primary focus is on the development and expansion of the business, ensuring alignment with the Kingdom’s vision.
Additionally, she is the custodian of the Food and Tech Portfolio, which has been making tremendous strides with historic events such as LEAP, Black Hat MEA, DeepFest, InFlavour, and a new launch, 24 Fintech. Tahaluf sets itself apart through strategic partnerships, a national focus, and its ability to generate economic impact. The unique shareholder structure – involving Informa PLC and Saudi Government entities – grants us unparalleled resources and expertise.
By aligning its events with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Tahaluf plays a crucial role in national development. The large-scale events, designed to attract foreign investment and foster collaboration, significantly contribute to economic growth, while the combination of Informa’s global reach and local Saudi knowledge enables the company to offer events appealing to both international and domestic audiences. Tahaluf’s emphasis on economic impact, strategic partnerships, and national development, which encompasses hiring exceptional talent and building an industry leading team, distinguishes it within the event organising sector.
50 Visionary Women: Naja Al-Midfa, Vice Chairperson, Sheraa
This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women
Najla Al-Midfa is the Vice Chairperson of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), a government-supported entity launched in 2016, with a mandate to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sharjah and support entrepreneurs as they build and grow innovative startups that will contribute positively to the region’s economy.
To date, Sheraa has built a portfolio of over 150 startups, raising around $161MM in investment, creating over 1600 jobs, and generating over US$247 million in cumulative revenue. Sheraa also hosts the annual Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF), which has drawn participation from 300 high-level speakers and over 13,000 attendees worldwide. Al-Midfa is a board member of the United Arab Bank and Emirates Development Bank.
She is also a member of the Dana Gas Board of Directors and the Emirates Schools Establishment and the Co-Chair of the 4th Industrial Revolution Working Group in the UK-UAE Business Council. She is also the Vice Chairperson of Young Arab Leaders and a board member of Endeavor UAE. She is a fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Middle East Leadership Initiative and an Eisenhower Global Fellow. Al-Midfa holds an MBA from Stanford University.
50 Visionary Women: H.E. Sheikha Intisar AlSabah, Philanthropist
This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women
A princess from the Kuwaiti ruling family, H.E. Sheikha Intisar AlSabah is committed to nurturing the next generation of authentic leaders -in Kuwait and beyond- by unlocking the transformative power of theater for their personal and professional growth. H.E. AlSabah is the founder of several initiatives. Her Intisar Foundation offers hope to women enduring the trauma of war through an innovative support program designed to help them recover psychologically.
Her non-profit organizations, Alnowair and Bareec, leverage positive psychology and theatre techniques to supplement formal education systems and drive meaningful organizational change. Her social enterprises, Intisars and Ebbarra, engaging in jewelry and poetry respectively, guide women on a journey of self-love and empowerment.
H.E. AlSabah received the insignia of the Knight in the Order of the Crown from His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium. She was also honoured with the insignia of the Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour from H.E. Former French President François Holland that was given by H.E. Former French Minister and Current Mayor of Nice M. Christian Estrosi.
50 Visionary Women: Alisha Moopen, Managing Director & Group CEO, Aster DM Healthcare
This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women
Alisha Moppen joined Aster DM Healthcare in 2013, initially serving as a Director for GCC operations before being promoted to Managing Director for the region. In 2023, she played a pivotal role in a $1 billion transaction, which ultimately led to her appointment as the Group CEO. In this capacity, Moopen is responsible for steering the company’s strategic direction and driving its expansion into new markets. Aster DM Healthcare is one of the region’s largest integrated healthcare providers, operating a vast network of 15 hospitals, 117 clinics, and 285 pharmacies across the GCC. With a workforce of over 13,000 employees, including 1,673 doctors and 3,692 nurses, the company serves millions of patients annually, reinforcing its position as a leader in the healthcare sector.
Moopen is a chartered accountant and began her career at Ernst & Young. She holds degrees in finance and accounting from the University of Michigan and a certificate in Global Leadership from Harvard University. She is also the first female Chapter Chair of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Dubai Chapter. As a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, Moopen launched Aster’s Women in Leadership program, aimed at fostering leadership development among female employees.
In November 2023, Aster DM Healthcare underwent a significant corporate restructuring, with a consortium led by Fajr Capital acquiring a 65% stake in the company’s GCC operations. This move, coupled with an increased Moopen family stake in Aster’s India operations, was designed to propel growth in key markets such as Saudi Arabia and Oman. The restructuring is expected to create 2,000 new jobs and strengthen Aster’s competitive position, including plans to open 250 new pharmacies in Saudi Arabia and launch the Medcare Royal Hospital in Dubai.
With a combined market capitalization of US$2 billion, Aster DM Healthcare is well-positioned for sustained growth across its diverse markets. Moopen, the daughter of Aster DM Healthcare founder Dr. Azad Moopen, continues to build on her father’s legacy while driving the company into a new era of innovation and expansion.
50 Visionary Women: Dr. Amina Al Rostamani, Executive Board Member, Shareholder and Director at AW Rostamani Group
This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women
Dr. Amina Al Rostamani is the Chief Operating Officer of the Group, overseeing The Group corporate services and functions. She also oversees the Group Properties division, being the Chief Executive Officer of AWR Properties. In addition, Dr. Al Rostamani is a Non-Executive Board member at HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, Non-Executive Board Member at Al Jalila Foundation, Non-Executive Board Member at Sandooq Al Watan, Non-Executive Board Member of Dubai Chambers, Non-Executive Board Member of Ajman University’s Board of Trustees, Committee Member of the UAE National Election Committee and Advisory Board Member at Tharawat Family Business Forum.
Dr. Al Rostamani holds degrees at both the Bachelor and Master levels, as well as a Doctorate in Engineering from George Washington University, Washington D.C. She is an acknowledged authority on wireless technologies, and her contributions have been published in several leading publications and journals.
50 Visionary Women: Raja Easa Al Gurg, Managing Director, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group
This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women
Raja Easa Al Gurg is a distinguished Emirati businesswoman and one of the most influential figures in the UAE’s corporate landscape. As the Managing Director of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, one of the UAE’s largest and most respected conglomerates, and President of the Dubai Business Women Council, Al Gurg has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s business environment, particularly in retail, real estate, construction, and manufacturing.
Born and raised in Dubai, Al Gurg has been a trailblazer for women in business in the UAE. She holds a degree in Business Administration from Lewis & Clark College in the United States. Her career has been defined by a steadfast commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, championing women’s empowerment, and driving business growth. Under her leadership, the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group has significantly expanded its operations, establishing a strong presence across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond.
The group is renowned for representing several prominent international brands and managing a diverse portfolio of businesses, particularly in the retail and construction sectors. Beyond her corporate achievements, Al Gurg is a passionate advocate for women in business and leadership. Through her work with the Dubai Business Women Council, she has championed gender equality and worked tirelessly to advance women’s roles in the UAE’s business and economic sectors.
She also serves on numerous boards and committees, furthering her impact on the region’s development. Al Gurg’s legacy is one of visionary leadership, determination, and dedication to social progress. She continues to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders in the UAE and beyond, serving as a role model for those aiming to leave a meaningful impact on society.
50 Visionary Women: SAHAR COOPER, Chief Executive Officer, Aldar Schools
This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women
Sahar Cooper brings 25 years of extensive experience in global education management, with the last 19 years spent in the UAE in senior leadership roles. She has served as the Chief Schools Operations Officer at GEMS Education and the Associate Director of Operations at the American University of Sharjah, where she gained extensive management experience.
Throughout her career, Cooper has excelled in handling large, complex, and multi-site educational projects, and is known for her ability to improve business performance in education through various means. These include operational delivery, supply chain management, risk and governance, health and safety, strategy development and execution, project management, M&A integration, facilities and asset management, talent development, succession planning, and change leadership.