Women entrepreneurs in the Middle East face far greater challenges than men when trying to access financial services. This is especially concerning, as many of the sectors that are critical for economic growth in the region rely heavily on women.

In emerging markets worldwide, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with female ownership represent 30% to 37% of all SMEs – that’s 8 million to 10 million women-owned firms. These business women have unmet financial needs between US$260 billion and $320 billion a year, their single biggest barrier to growth and development. In the Middle East, however, the situation is even worse: Women owners account for only 14% of all SMEs in the region, the lowest rates in the world outside South Asia.