30. Lubna Olayan

Lubna Olayan is a Saudi business woman. Olayan is one of the most influential businesswomen in the Middle East and was listed as one of the top 100 most influential people of 2005 by Time magazine.

She has also acted as a spokesperson for women's rights in the Middle East. She was the first woman to speak at a 'mixed' conference in Saudi Arabia - the Jeddah Economic Conference in 2004 - attended by Bill Clinton, Queen Rania of Jordan and others. According to the "Arab Business Magazine" - "Olayan was indirectly blasted by the grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, who also denounced all calls for greater women's rights, declaring the mixing of unveilled women with men at the Jeddah Economic Forum as a violation of Islamic teaching. Still this has not belittled her power or influence."