I have achieved million-dollar deals and been treated like a queen.
And yes, the Middle East treated me better as a woman in business. There is a persistent narrative that women are not respected in business here.
That being a woman in the Middle East is a disadvantage. That support is limited. That doors are closed.
That was not my reality.
And if you think Middle Eastern men do not support women in business, then you have never met the ones I worked with.
People often assume that being a woman in business in this region must have been difficult. My experience was the opposite.
In my early twenties, I was working in precious metals. Walking through the gold souq. Negotiating million dollar deals. Sitting across from traders, senior bankers, and central banks. These were high-stakes rooms where credibility mattered deeply.
I was treated with respect everywhere I went.
Not despite being a woman. But because I showed up prepared.
I knew the business. I understood the market. I spoke the language. I respected the work.
The men I worked with, from the most traditional traders to the most senior financial leaders, were collaborative, generous, and deeply supportive. Many opened doors for me. Many vouched for me. Some helped me win my earliest clients. Not out of charity, but out of professional respect.
I felt safe. I felt respected. And yes, I was treated like a queen.
People ask me if it was hard. They expect stories of resistance or exclusion. My lived reality was different. Competence was recognised. Effort was valued. Integrity travelled ahead of me before I ever entered the room.
This does not mean challenges do not exist for women anywhere in the world. But it does mean that blanket narratives flatten reality and erase lived experiences that do not fit the story.
Respect is universal. But preparation is non-negotiable.
When you show up informed, fluent, and grounded in your work, people respond. When you carry yourself with integrity and consistency, trust follows. Respect is not demanded. It is earned and then reinforced over time.
The narrative says women struggle here. My career proves the opposite.
Being a woman never limited me in the Middle East. It strengthened every room I walked into.
To explore training, coaching or workshops on communication, relational leadership, contact: [email protected] +971 58 971 2626