Ayah Bdeir - Lebanese woman who has been a mentor on Stars of Science

Still best known for her snap-together circuit board business littleBits, Ayah Bdeir is continually lauded as one of the most creative young minds to pay attention to.

Having developed the first littleBits prototype in 2008, the business was launched in 2011, aiming to “put the power of electronics in the hands of everyone, and to break down complex technologies so that anyone can build, prototype and invent”. A TED fellow, and founder of Karaj - Beirut’s first non-profit lab for experimental arts, architecture and technology - Bdeir has also been a mentor on Stars of Science - the Middle East’s first reality show focusing on innovation.

Nadine Labaki - successful female film directors and actresses from the Arab world

One of the most successful female film directors and actresses from the Arab world, Nadine Labaki continues to make and star in top feature films.

After 2013 smash hit Rock The Casbah, Labaki had a busy 2014, appearing in three films - Mea Culpa, Rio, I Love You, and La Rancon de la Gloire. Perhaps still best known for her directorial debut, Caramel, which she also starred in, Labaki is a known name within the global film industry, having been listed on Variety’s annual run-down of ten directors to watch.

Nancy Ajram - Lebanese woman who is one of Arabic music’s biggest stars

One of the most recognisable names and faces in the Middle East, Nancy Ajram is one of Arabic music’s biggest stars.

The Lebanese singer boasts more than five million Twitter followers, built on the back of eight hit albums - the most recent of which, Nancy 8, was released during 2014. A regular award winner and live performer, Ajram has put her fame to good use, participating in numerous charity events and concerts. In 2009 UNICEF chose Ajram as the first female regional ambassador for MENA. Her appeal and recognition is not confined to the Arab world, however. Oprah Winfrey branded her one of the most influential personalities in the Middle East.

Fairouz - Lebanese woman who is a popular singer for decades

Perhaps still the most iconic Middle Eastern female singer, Fairouz has been one of the region’s best known and popular singer for decades.

Starting her musical career in the 1950s, the ‘Jewel of Lebanon’ enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top, singing about her home country’s beauty, and calling for peace and freedom.

Often received by royalty and presidents, one of Fairouz’s most prized posessions in the key to Jerusalem, though she has never performed in the Holy City.

Reine Abbas - Lebanese woman who succeeded in Technology

Only two years ago Reine Abbas was name as one of the five most powerful women in the gaming industry, and it’s easy to see why.

Abbas launched game development company Wixel Studios in 2007, alongside her husband and business partner. Focusing largely on games with a political bent, Wixel’s products have been downloaded regularly across the world. Popular titles include Survival Race, and Little Heroes, Big Deeds - an edutainment game aimed at children. As managing partner and lead artist, Abbas has her hands full, but still finds time to be an active educator in gaming, programming, and design.

Hind Hobeika - Lebanese women who achieved in Technology

It is testament to her success that Hind Hobeika is now a regular participant at summits and conferences across MENA.

Recently, the Lebanese tech entrepreneur took part in the first ever Women in the World Summit, Middle East, and is due to be one of the highlights at the forthcoming STEP Conference in Dubai.

Hobeika founded her sports technology start-up, Instabeat, in 2011, and hasn’t looked back since. The performance tracker for swimmers that tracks heart rates, calories burned and lap times, is worn on a pair of swimming goggles and has been supported by investors and the community alike, with the company comfortably surpassing its crowd-funding target, as well as winning seed investment from Berytech. The first batch of Instabeats are scheduled to be sent to customers in the coming months.