Why after decades of universal suffrage in most Arab countries are women less politically engaged than men? Importantly, why does the gender gap in voting all but disappear or reverse in some of the more conservative states such as Jordan and Morocco? This book chapter leverages linking capital to explain why personal connections drive political participation among not only women, but also men within and across countries. Using a trove of field research and original survey data, it argues and shows empirically that where women enjoy linkages with politicians (that is, linking capital)--whether through shared gender or tribal connections--or through work relationships, the gender gap in political engagement narrows. Like previous studies in western countries which locate participatory differences in nonpolitical institutions such as the family and work, this paper shows that social institutions--including membership in kin-based and civil society institutions--lie at the heart of women’s participation in Arab countries. Electing women also improves engagement by reshaping networks and providing new sources of linking capital. In addition to providing a vivid picture of some of the pathways through which women exercise political agency in the MENA region, this book chapter has important implications for comparative politics and policymakers working to make public institutions accessible and accountable to citizens regardless of their gender or group identity.