Even in a world shadowed by uncertainty and rapid change, women across the Middle East are refusing to lose faith in the future. A new study by KPMG — Middle East Female Leaders Outlook 2025: A Call for Clarity — reveals a striking statistic: 78% of female leaders in the region believe their companies will grow over the next three years.

Optimism, it seems, is becoming a defining trait of women in leadership. But so too is resilience. For every executive who speaks of progress, there is another who quietly recounts the bias and barriers that persist. Sixty-five per cent of respondents say they have faced gender-based challenges in the past three years. Yet, rather than deter them, these experiences have shaped a generation of leaders determined to drive growth, inclusion, and purpose on their own terms.

A new kind of confidence
The survey paints a portrait of women who are pragmatic about the future and ready to shape it. Nearly half (49%) say their organisations need clearer strategies around artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability, while 44% list AI as their top investment priority. They’re not waiting for change; they’re building the roadmaps themselves.

What stands out, however, is that many still view people not technology as their organisation’s greatest strength. Sixty per cent of respondents said they are investing more in human capital than in digital systems. It’s a subtle but powerful message: progress in the region will depend as much on empathy as on innovation.

Breaking ceilings, building systems
Across the Gulf and wider Middle East, women are entering leadership in record numbers from boardrooms to government offices, from tech start-ups to global enterprises. But, as many of these women point out, success is not about meeting quotas; it’s about changing cultures.

Three-quarters of those surveyed believe gender equity in senior leadership would boost overall growth, but they argue that lasting progress comes from mentorship, policy reform, and a deep sense of inclusion not tokenism.

In countries like the UAE, women make up around 70% of university graduates, and more than half of those in STEM fields. In Saudi Arabia, female participation in the labour force has risen sharply to over 36%, surpassing Vision 2030 targets. In Oman, the government continues to open new pathways for women in diplomacy, business, and innovation evidence of a regional movement that is gaining real momentum.

The challenges that remain
Still, the path ahead is not free of obstacles. Nearly half the women surveyed said they’ve seen a rise in online harassment and cyberbullying — a reminder that progress in the workplace must be matched by safety and respect in the digital space.

Meanwhile, there remains uncertainty around how to effectively embed ESG (environmental, social, and governance) frameworks into corporate strategy. A third of respondents admitted their organisations are still unsure about meeting net-zero targets by 2030. The ambition is there, but the clarity is not.

Clarity as the new leadership currency
Kholoud Moussa, KPMG’s Head of Advisory for the Levant, summarised the findings succinctly: “Women leaders are showing that resilience and clarity.