Egyptian-led and Egypt-based brands had a strong presence at this year’s Forbes Top Women behind Middle Eastern brands, which celebrated the Middle East’s biggest female entrepreneurs.

Leading the list overall is Huda Beauty’s Huda and Mona Kattan, whose brand hauls in an estimated $250 million in annual sales, with fashion designer Reem Acra in 2nd place, and Azza Fahmy Jewelry heads Azza Fahmy, and Amina and Fatma Ghali.

“Over the past decade, the number of female entrepreneurs has increased in the Middle East… And while many faced difficulties as the pandemic dampened demand for fashion and lifestyle products, others managed to adapt and thrive,” wrote Forbes.

The Forbes list is predominantly led by fashion and lifestyle brands, with all 12 of the Egyptian-led and Egypt-based brands mainly in the fashion, jewelry and accessories category.

Related > 8 Egyptians part of Forbes Middle East’s Power Businesswomen 2021

Topping the Egyptian list is Azza Fahmy Jewelry’s Azza Fahmy, and Amina and Fatma Ghali, ranked 3rd overall, Fahmy’s two daughters, Fatma and Amina Ghali, are the company’s Managing Director and Head Designer, respectively.

Worth a special mention is Palestinian Dima Rashid as, whose Egypt-based Dima Jewelry’s success ranks her as the 2nd top woman behind Egyptian-led and Egypt-based brands, and 4th overall in the Forbes list.

Following Rashid are Jude Benhalim with her namesake brand of jewelry (rank 10), sisters Aya and Mounaz Abdel Raouf of Okhtein (rank 12), designer Marmar Halim (rank 14), and Maison Yeya’s Yasmine Yehia (rank 16).

Comparatively, in Forbes’ Top 10 Women Behind Middle East Tech Brands, which did not have an Egyptian entry, showcasing that Egyptian women are at the forefront of the fashion, jewelry and accessories industry.