The Arab Women of the Year Awards, a prestigious annual event that recognises the achievements and excellence of Arab women, recently took place in London at the Jumeriah Carlton Tower Hotel.
Illustrious Middle Eastern and western representatives from governments and businesses came together to celebrate some of the region’s most impressive women.
Here’s who won:
HRH Princess Dina Mired: Achievement in Global Leadership in Cancer Control. The Jordanian royal, who is mother to a cancer survivor, is the first Arab to be elected president of the Union for International Cancer Control, the world’s largest cancer-fighting body. She is also the Director-General of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation.
Khalida Azbane Belkady: Achievement in Business. Moroccan Belkady has held the position of General Manager of the Azbane Group, a family owned and managed business specialising in perfumes and cosmetics, since1984. Azbane Belkady, a chemist, also acts as a board member for several important bodies.
Lojain Omran: Achievement in Television. Omran, the outstanding Saudi Arabian television presenter and social media personality, is mostly known for “Good Morning Arabs” on MBC1, as well as “The Situation with Lojain,” “Ya Hala” and “Around the Gulf.” “Forbes” listed Omran, who previously had a career in banking, at number 55 on their 2017 list of 100 Arabic celebrities.
Bana Al-Abed: Youth Achievement Award. Al-Abed, a Syrian child refugee from Aleppo, touched the world when she live-tweeted her experiences in the war-torn city, with the help of her English- speaking mother. The youngster has written a book called “Dear World: A Syrian Girl's Story of War and Plea for Peace.”
Dr Naeema Hassan Al-Gasseer: Achievement in Health Awareness. Al-Gasseer is a World Health Organization representative in Sudan. The Bahraini public health professional was recognised for her leadership role in standing for health development and the strong belief it is for everyone. She has worked in other countries like Iraq and Egypt for the organisation.
Dr Sharifa Al-Yahyai: Achievement in Social Development. Al-Yahyai is the former Minister of Social Development in the Sultanate of Oman and an academic expert in women’s rights. “My major concern is women’s education, leadership and empowerment,” she states on Twitter.
Sarah Essam: Achievement in Sport. The young footballer made history as the first Egyptian female to ever compete in a women’s premier league after she was officially signed with Stoke City Ladies Club as a forward. The Cairo-born athlete, who studies engineering, got other offers too.
Baria Alamuddin: Achievement in Media. Alamuddin is a well-known Lebanese political journalist and broadcaster in the Middle East, US and UK. Amal Clooney’s award-winning mother is the Editor-in-Chief of Media Services Syndicate and a prominent freelance writer who has interviewed numerous heads of state.
Additionally, Intisar Al-Aqeel, earned the Achievement in Literature award, while Kuwaiti actress Souad Abdullah, known for “My Aunt Qumasha,” picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The advisory board for the high-profile awards ceremony this year included well-known faces in the Arab community, such as Kuwaiti musical icon, Nawal El-Kuwaitia, journalist and television presenter Ola Al-Fares and H.E. Ibrahim Mohieldenn, Ambassador of League of Arab States.
Previous recipients and attendees of The Arab Women of the Year Awards include H.H Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain’s H.E. Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa and Kuwaiti H.H Sheikha Souad Al-Sabah.
The event was organised by London Arabia Organisation, which aims to promote Arab culture, while strengthening business and cultural ties between Britain and the Arab world. And for the third year in a row The Bicester Village Shopping Collection partnered with the orgnaisation that also runs The London Arabia Art & Fashion Week, another major initiative. Regnent’s University London was also involved with The Arab Women of the Year Awards.
