Talah Turk (ABU DHABI)

In a celebration of achievement and resilience, two remarkable women based in the UAE have earned their well-deserved spots in Forbes' prestigious 50 Over 50: EMEA list for 2024. This annual list recognizes individuals shaping the future across various fields, from science and fashion to finance and humanitarian efforts.

Farah Foustok: Pioneering Financial Visionary

Farah Foustok, a seasoned financial executive with a distinguished career at Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley, took the spotlight in Lazard Asset Management’s Middle East operations from 2014 to 2023. The 54-year-old left the role last summer, as she embarked on a new journey as the founding chair of a family office committed to ensuring the success of third-generation family-owned businesses well into their fourth generation. Foustok went the extra mile by championing women's leadership in financial services through TARA, a personal foundation she established in 2020. Her commitment extends to personal investments in female-founded companies focused on fintech and climate tech.

Renuka Jagtiani: Unstoppable Force at the Helm of Landmark Group

  • Source: Landmark Group on Facebook

Renuka Jagtiani, chair of Dubai's prominent retail conglomerate Landmark Group, has played an integral role in the conglomerate's success since joining in 1993. At 69, she stands as a key business strategist, leading the group's foray into e-commerce and pioneering new business ventures. Having founded the fashion brand Splash, Jagtiani has emerged as a driving force in the retail industry. Now, as chair and majority shareholder following her husband Micky Jagtiani's passing in 2023, the Indian-born businesswoman, boasting a net worth of $4.8 billion, envisions expanding Landmark Group with the addition of hundreds of stores in the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia.

These exceptional women exemplify the spirit of accomplishment and determination, embodying the UAE's commitment to fostering leadership and innovation on a global scale. Their inclusion in Forbes' prestigious list reflects not only personal success but also contributes to the narrative of the UAE's thriving business landscape.

Other Arab Nationalities on the List

Notably, a total of seven women on the list are based in Arab countries including Saudi Arabia’s Author-Illustrator Halla bint Khalid. In addition to Morocco’s first female Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, and Nuclear Physicist, Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli. Last but not least, two Lebanese women made it onto the list: Chair of Fattal Holding and Founder of Stand for Women, Caroline Fattal Fakhoury, as well as renowned singer Elissar Zakaria Khoury, also known as Elissa.