The Arab Women of the Year Awards were created in 2015 and are organized by the London Arabia Organisation with support from the Mayor of London and Regent's University London. They are now an annual event, hosted by London Arabia Organisation as well as partners and supporters. The advisory board of the London Arabia Organisation includes Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Hugh Robertson, Nusrat Ghani, Jeremy Purvis, Khawla Armouti, and various Arab corporate leaders. In 2022, HRH The Countess of Wessex, now the Duchess of Edinburgh, attended.
The Awards do not have set categories, to ensure the women are selected purely on merit, rather than their background or chosen field. Multiple awards are given each year in a wide range of categories and over fifty women have now been awarded.
Year Award Honoree Areas of Work Ref2025Achievement in Transformational LeadershipDr Manar Al Moneef2025Achievement in Educational DevelopmentHaifa Dia Al-Attia2025Achievement in Educational LeadershipDr Sonia Ben Jaafar2025Achievement in ScienceDr Najat Mokhtar2025Achievement in Social DevelopmentNahla Haidar El Addal2025Achievement in Social ImpactHer Highness Sayyida Meyyan bint Shihab2025Achievement in Preserving Cultural HeritageSheikha Bibi Al-Sabah2024 Achievement in Humanitarian Aid Tanya Haj-Hassan 2024 Achievement in Cyber Security EducationDr Noora Fetais 2024 Achievement in Social Development Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais2024 Achievement in Cultural Exchange Farrah El Dibany2024 Achievement in Creativity Shaikha Noor bint Rashid AlKhalifa 2024 Achievement in Cultural Pioneering Her Highness Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud 2024 Achievement in Business LeadershipShirine Khoury-HaqCEO of the Co-Op Group 2023Achievement in Community Services Her Royal Highness Shaikha Fatima bint Hazza Al Nayhan2023Achievement in EducationDr Shaikha May Al OtaibiFounder of the Bahrain Bayan School2023Achievement in DiplomacyHer Excellency Dr Najla Mangoush 2023Achievement in Media FreedomHer Excellency Dr May Chidiac 2023Achievement in Community Services Her Excellency Khawla Al-Armouti2023Achievement in Scientific Development Prof Manahel Thabet2023Achievement in Social Impact Nour Arida2023Achievement in InnovationDr Nada AlShammari2023Community Spirit AwardDima Aktaa 2022 Achievement in Community Service Mama Maggie 2022 Achievement in Media Caroline Faraj Vice President and Editor in Chief, CNN Arabic 2022 Achievement in Financial Services Sheikha Alanoud Al-Thani 2022 Achievement in Business Areej Mohsin Darwish 2022 Achievement in Social Leadership HE Shaikha Rana AlKhalifa 2022 Achievement in Social Awareness Nada Alahdal Activist 2022 Youth Achievement in Environmental Impact Fatema Al Zelzela Founder of EcoStar 2019 Achievement in Global Gender Equality HE Najat Vallaud-Belkacem 2019 Achievement in Economic Development & Leadership H.E. Mariam AlAqeel 2019 Achievement in Television Raya Abirached TV presenter 2019 Achievement in Family Support HE Rym Abdulla Al Falasy 2019 Achievement in Sport Ons Jabeur Tennis player 2019 Achievement in Special Needs Education HH Dania Al Saud 2019 Achievement in Business Lujaina Darwish 2019 Achievement in Journalism Ahdeya Ahmed 2019 Achievement in Cultural Exchange Ayoub Sisters Musical duo 2019 Achievement in Social Impact Rana Husseini 2019 Campaign for Social Change Abolish Article 153 2018 Achievement in Global Leadership in Cancer Control Dina Mired leadership of cancer-fighting organizations 2018 Achievement in Business Khalida Azbane Belkady executive for a cosmetics and perfume company 2018 Achievement in Television Lojain Omran television presenter 2018 Youth Achievement Award Bana Al-Abed anti-war activist and author 2018 Achievement in Health Awareness Dr Naeema Hassan Al-Gasseer leadership in public health, for WHO and national ministries 2018 Achievement in Social Development Dr Sharifa Al-Yahyai Women's rights advocate 2018 Achievement in Sport Sarah Essam Premier league footballer 2018 Achievement in Media Baria Alamuddin Political journalist 2018 Achievement in Literature Intisar Al-Aqeel 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award Souad Abdullah Actor 2017 Achievement in Philanthropy Lamia Bint Majid al-Saud Leadership of philanthropic organizations related to anti-poverty, disaster relief, and the advancement of women and children 2017 Achievement in Community Development Intisar Al-Sabah Founder of the community-building organization Alnowair 2017 Achievement in Social Leadership Dr Hania Mursi Fadl Founder of a regional breast cancer center 2017 Achievement in Music Nawal El-Kuwaitia Performer of popular traditional music 2017 Achievement in Culture Dr Maha El-Khalil Chalabi Social entrepreneur 2017 Achievement in Promoting Women's Advancement Yasmine Sabri Activist, actress, athlete 2017 Achievement in Motivation and Wellbeing Hala Kazim Author and motivational speaker 2017 Achievement in Trade Development Hind Bint Salman Al-Khalifa Business development 2017 Achievement in Education Dr Karma Nabulsi Author and academic 2017 Achievement in Journalism Raghida Dergham Political journalist 2017 Achievement in Public Awareness Hind Al-Eryani Anti-war, women's rights, and public health activist 2016 Achievement in Social Leadership Ameera al-Taweel 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award Souad al-Sabah 2016 Achievement in Business Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch 2016 Community Awareness Sawsan al-Sha'er 2016 Young Education Activist Muzoon Almellehan 2016 Achievement in International Law Taghreed Hikmat 2016 Achievement in Science Dr. Ismahane Elouafi 2016 Achievement in Sport Hassiba Boulmerka 2016 TV Presenter Award Eman Ayad 2016 Special Award Ameera Binkara 2016 Achievement in Art Jannat Aljumily 2015 Achievement in Culture and Education Mai al-Khalifa 2015 Achievement in Music Majida El Roumi 2015 Achievement in Social Leadership Ahlam Mosteghanemi 2015 Achievement in Cinema Yousra 2015 Achievement in Business Aisha Hussein Alfardan 2015 Achievement in Community Service Nouf bint Faisal al-Saud 2015 Achievement in Science Hissah Saad al-Sabah 2015 Achievement in Sports Habiba Ghribi 2015 Achievement in Science Merieme Chadid 2015 Young TV Presenter Award Ola Al-Fares 2015 Achievement in Media Somayya Jabarti Reporter
See also List of awards honoring women
References