15. Rola Abu Manneh

Designation: CEO—U.A.E., Middle East & Pakistan
Company: Standard Chartered
Nationality: Emirati
Global Headquarters: U.K.
Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Abu Manneh joined Standard Chartered in August 2018 and assumed her current role in April 2024. In 2024, Standard Chartered led the financing of Abu Dhabi’s first waste-to-energy plant, developed by Tadweer Group, EWEC, and a Japanese consortium. In February 2025, it also secured $1.5 billion in financing for the Hafeet Rail project, which aims to develop a rail network connecting the U.A.E. and Oman. Abu Manneh is also a board member at myZoi, a member of the Global Council for SDG 5 (Gender Equality), among other roles.