This article is a part of Entrepreneur Middle East’s Special Edition: 50 Visionary Women

Rola Abu Manneh is the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered in the UAE, Middle East, and Pakistan. She is the first Emirati woman to head an international bank in the UAE and the wider region and have successfully managed to transform the UAE business into one of the top three markets for the Standard Chartered Group.

In early 2023, Abu Manneh joined as a Director on the Boards of both Standard Chartered (Pakistan) Limited and Standard Chartered Uganda. Rola is also on the Boards of MyZoi and Appro, digital ventures through the Bank’s subsidiary, SC Ventures. In 2021, she became a member of the Board of Directors of Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE and the Dubai International Chamber, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai.

Over the years, Abu Manneh has championed women empowerment and female entrepreneurship through different initiatives and is committed to supporting the wider community by providing university students with mentorship programmes, in collaboration with leading partners, which aim to prepare participants with the necessary skills to succeed in their chosen professions. Abu Manneh is also a member of the Global Council for Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality; a UAE delegate in G20Empower; and a member of the NYUAD Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Council.

In 2021, Abu Manneh was awarded Banking Leader of the Year at the Gulf Business Awards. In more recent years, she has also been recognized and awarded for her business prowess by leading media and business portals in the UAE and the wider region.

Abu Manneh completed her studies at the University of London – Royal Holloway and Bedford New College and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Operational Research. She is fluent in Arabic and English and is married with two children.