That desire to work is supported by a government that wants to see women far more actively involved in the economy. Its policies to encourage women into further education and the workplace are bearing fruit. But there is another reason why more women are finding jobs, particularly in business. The perception that it is largely an all-male affair goes hand-in-hand with a commonly heard — but very different one — that Gulf women work harder, are far more focused, more reliable and more capable than men.

Certainly, as this year’s list of the 20 top companies run by Gulf businesswomen shows, they can be as good at running a business as their male counterparts. Nor is the field limited to areas of interest traditionally associated with women such as fashion or cosmetics. A construction and engineering business such as Almoayyed Contracting Group, run by Hala Farouk Almoayyed, which tops this year’s list and which deals in air-conditioning, scaffolding and building cleaning and maintenance, among other things, can hardly be said to fit the traditional concept of a “women’s” business. The same is equally so of the number two on the list, Alkhobar-based Al-Sale, headed by Nadia K. Al-Dossary. It is not only the country’s leading scrap metal reprocessing business, it is now a major regional and international player in the field — a field that even in the West is still largely seen as a male preserve.

Inevitably in a society where gender segregation is, to a lesser or greater degree, a reality, the list contains a number of companies specializing in areas of particular interest to women such as Luthan (No. 11) with its all-women hotel and spa business or I Love Hisma (No. 18), specializing in redesigning the abaya and hijab for the fashion-conscious modern Muslim woman. But catering to women can be big business, whether in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere, as anyone with shares in L’Oréal or Estée Lauder can attest. The fact that these women, as opposed to men, are doing business in the field, is simply a case of making the most out of the available opportunities.

One interesting and potentially significant fact to emerge from compiling this year’s list is the number of Gulf businesswomen not interested in letting others find out how successful they have been.  There has been a marked reticence to indulge in self-promotion, a trait many Gulf businessmen cannot be accused of lacking. This may be a case of women simply wanting to get on with the job during a period that is generally perceived as having been difficult. On the other hand, it may stem from a practical appreciation of the challenges facing the businesswoman or would-be businesswoman. But whatever the reason, the fact is that when able to break through the barriers, Gulf businesswomen have shown that they can do what men do just as well, sometimes even better. That can only help change the position of women in the workplace.