The Middle East’s Power Businesswomen 2021
Rank: #42

Najla Al Shirawi

Title: CEO
Nationality: Bahraini
Company: SICO
Sector: Banking and Financial Services

Al Shirawi has been with SICO for more than 20 years and became the CEO in 2014. She is also a board member at several organisations and committees, including the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Eskan Bank, the Deposit Protection Scheme in Bahrain, Bahrain Associations of Banks, and Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance. SICO recorded $21.5 million in total income in the first nine months of 2020. Al Shirawi has focused on expansion efforts, with the Saudi Capital Markets Authority giving SICO regulatory approval to offer asset management services in 2019. In 2020, SICO signed an agreement with Bank Muscat to acquire a majority stake amounting to 72.71% in Saudi-based Muscat Capital. It also launched a global markets platform.