MOST POWERFUL WOMEN

With 25 per cent of our list made up by women – compared to 14 per cent in 2016 – it’s clear that female empowerment in the Arab world is growing. The rise is part of a global trend, with women increasingly populating the corridors of power. We look at 10 women who have smashed to glass ceiling and can lay claim to being the world's most powerful women. 1 Angela Merkel Chancellor of Germany Germany 2 Melinda Gates Co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Unites States 3 Janet Yellen Chair of the board of governors, Federal Reserve System United States 4 Christine Lagarde Managing director, IMF France 5 Mary Barra CEO and chairwoman, General Motors United States 6 Sheryl Sandberg COO, Facebook United States 7 Marilyn Hewson CEO, chairwoman and president, Lockheed Martin United States 8 Theresa May Prime Minister of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 9 Ana Patricia Botin Executive chairwoman, Santander Group Spain 10 Susan Wojcicki CEO, Youtube United States