The Arab women making noise in the Fintech and Blockchain industry
In an industry that deceptively appears to be dominated entirely by men, women in the Arab world are not only invested in cryptocurrencies, but are also redefining their role in the fintech and blockchain industries.
Although a study conducted by the World Economic Forum in 2021 indicates that “women are underrepresented in the blockchain industry”, the tide is changing – especially in the Arab region.
As the global crypto wave makes its way into the Arab world – with the opening of crypto startups and companies – more women are taking on important roles. Posing as founders, CEOs and blockchain specialists, these Arab women are riding the inevitable crypto wave.
Dina Samaan – Bahrain
A force to be reckoned with, Dina Samaan is the founder and CEO of CoinMENA, the fastest growing crypto exchange based in Bahrain. CoinMENA allows users to deposit, trade and withdraw cryptoassets in “secure, transparent and regulated ways,” notes Samaan.
Samaan has been in the crypto asset blockchain space for a long time and is one of the first to provide access to crypto assets in the MENA region.
Ola Doudin – United Arab Emirates
Known as the ‘Bitcoin Pioneer’ of the region’s cryptocurrency, Ola Doudin has established himself as a key player in the nascent crypto scene in the MENA region. Doudin is the CEO and co-founder of BitOasis, a bitcoin consumer wallet and instant exchange.
Established in the United Arab Emirates in 2015, her company is recognized as the largest and most trusted crypto platform in the MENA region.
Salwa Radwi – Saudi Arabia
Bringing NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) to the Saudi region, Salwa Radwi is the CEO of Saudi Arabia’s first NFT marketplace Nuqtah. With a passion for creating a community of blockchain advocates and art enthusiasts, Radwi’s ultimate goal is to grow Saudi Arabia’s creative economy.
Iman Mutlaq – Jordan
An entrepreneur, financier and social activist, Iman Mutlaq is the CEO and founder of INGOT, a consortium of multinational companies providing global crypto services. INGOT provides users with blockchain technology that aims to reduce transaction costs, create liquidity and provide efficient market pricing.
Noha Shaker – Egypt
Noha Shaker is the founder and secretary general of the Egyptian Fintech Association and the elected vice president of the African FinTech Network. She is also the founder of TechFin Holding, a company that builds and invests in financially inclusive businesses.
Shaker was selected as one of the leaders influencing the future of the financial industry for the 2019 FinTech Hotlist by Innovate Finance for her efforts in building inclusive and collaborative ecosystems for fintech startups.
Raja Al Mazrouei – United Arab Emirates
With over two decades of experience in the financial sector, Raja Al Mazrouei is a multi-award winning digital transformation leader specializing in the financial and technology sectors.
Al Mazrouei is executive director of FinTech Hive, and she oversees the region’s first fintech accelerator. Her financial and technical expertise has seen FinTech Hive become a leading contributor to the UAE’s digital economy.
Amber Ghaddar – Lebanon
Amber Ghaddar is the founder of Alliance Block, a company that aims to build a ‘decentralized financial ecosystem.’ She started her career in Global Investment Research at Goldman Sachs London and later led the Macro Systematic Trading Strategies effort at JP Morgan London, focusing on dynamic risk premium trading strategies for fixed income.
Ghaddar is a lecturer and speaker at various world-class conferences, including TEDx, Money2020, UN Women and Davos, where she speaks on capitalism and calibrocracy. She has also been featured in the Crypto Powerlist in Fintech Times in 2020.
