Shafaq News / Forbes Middle East magazine launched its second annual edition of “Women Behind Middle Eastern Brands 2020” featuring the female trailblazers that have managed to sustain their successful brands and push the boundaries despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

The women on this list either have Middle Eastern roots, or created brands that are based in the Middle East.

Iraqi-American Huda Kattan, who was named amongst America’s Richest Self-Made Women 2019 by Forbes with a fortune estimated at $610 million, tops the list again this year. Her brand Huda Beauty has approximately 46 million followers on Instagram.

The fashion sector represents 42% of the list with 17 entries. These are led by designer Reem Acra.

 The jewelry sector came in second with nine entries, led by Azza Fahmy and her daughters Amina and Fatma Ghali with their eponymous brand Azza Fahmy Jewellery.

The magazine also created a “Women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands 2020” list, which features 10 women behind successful tech-based brands in the Middle East that have succeeded in gathering millions in funding.

 Mona Ataya and Leena Abi Khalil top the list with their brand Mumzworld, which has gathered a total of $50 million in funding from notable investors.

Women of Lebanese origin top the  lists with 14 entries, followed by Saudi origin with 10 entries, Egyptian origin with 10, and Jordanian origin with five.