Forbes Names British-Egyptian Nemat Shafik The Most Powerful Arab Woman

Forbes Middle East have released a list ranking the most powerful women with Arab origins and claiming the top spot is British-Egyptian, first-ever female deputy governor of the Bank of England, Nemat Shafik, who will become the next Director of the London School of Economics in September 2017.

The impressive 55-year-old popularly known as ‘Minouche’ was born in Alexandria and would go on to become the youngest vice-president at the World Bank before becoming the first-ever deputy governor of the Bank of England. Forbes describes her role as being “the sheriff of the markets and the most powerful woman in London.” Taking charge at the second oldest central bank in the world, Shafik oversees reshaping management practices, stabilising the UK’s dropping inflation levels, and most recently dealing with the aftermath of Brexit.

As if those weren't enough accomplishments for a lifetime, she was also named the first-ever female director of the London School of Economics, given the title by Queen Elizabeth II as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and lands 59th on the most powerful women on the planet.

Claiming the second spot on the list was Human Rights Lawyer Amal Clooney, who garnered international popularity for marrying George Clooney, but who more importantly helped free the infamous ‘Al Jazeera three’, who arrested in Egypt in the aftermath of 2013 uprising.

(Photo by The Times)