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Nora Bloza, Founder & CEO – Nakheel Fruits gmbh, Germany
Dates have always been omnipresent in Nora Blouza’s life. The 37-year-old is from southern Morocco, where her late grandfather once owned a date plantation. “Dates would always be in the house,” she told Arab News.
When Blouza’s Dutch-Moroccan husband came to Germany due to his work in 2018, she followed him with their three children after having lived in the Netherlands for 17 years.
“Originally we planned to just stay for three years,” she said. But the coronavirus pandemic thwarted the family’s plans.
It was during Ramadan last year that her daughter brought up a topic that gave Blouza a new idea. “She reminded me of the high amounts of dates people consume, especially during Ramadan, of the many different types and tastes.”
It was then that Blouza had the idea of launching her own date business in Germany and importing large amounts. Although she was raised on dates, the business itself was something new to her.
As Blouza is Moroccan, her home country and its neighbors Algeria and Tunisia were the first that came to mind as potential suppliers, but none of them met her criteria.
“Saudi Arabia has many different and often unique types of dates,” she said. “Ajwa, for example, is something that only grows in the city of Madinah.”
Blouza undertook research and found a supplier that suited her ideas best: Nakheel Alya, a company in Madinah.
Despite that, it “met my criteria,” said Blouza, who fulfilled her dream and launched her business, Nakheel Fruits, in August 2021.
Boxes of different products such as natural dates, date cookies, and dates covered in chocolate and filled with almonds or walnuts, fill the company’s warehouse in Eppstein, a town in the state of Hesse at the edge of the Taunus mountains.
“We mostly supply supermarkets and individual clients that order our products via our website,” said Blouza
While individual clients are from all over Germany, the supermarkets are mostly from Hesse, with demand rising during Ramadan.
She hopes that her business will grow and expand nationwide. “My dream is that we will develop further and that German customers will discover the quality and diversity of Saudi dates and date products.”
www.nalya.de
source/content: arabnews.com (edited)
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When Nora Blouza’s Dutch-Moroccan husband came to Germany due to his work in 2018, she followed him with their three children. (Supplied)
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) continued its journey of excellence and global leadership during 2021 and strengthened its position as one of the most distinguished utilities in the world in all fields.
It has won 59 prestigious local, regional, and international awards, and set two world records in the Guinness World Records. In light of its new achievements, DEWA has accrued 383 awards (67 local, 67 regional, 249 global) since 2015 to the end of 2021.
One of DEWA’s most notable successes was achieving the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award (SKEA) in the Elite Category in 2021. DEWA scored 850 in the evaluation, the highest score in the Award’s history since its launch in 1999, with 200 local and regional organisations taking part in this round.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, honoured DEWA with five awards at the Dubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP) Awards in 2021. The most prominent award is the Elite Award, which is awarded to government entities that score 600 points or more.
Other awards include the Best Entity in the Emiratisation Field, Dubai Medal for Specialised Employee, Dubai Medal for Young Employee, and special recognition for the Unknown Soldier.
DEWA won the 2020 Hamdan Bin Mohammed Program for Government Services Flag for its Smart Living initiative.
During 2021, Guinness World Records recorded two world records by DEWA. Guinness World Records confirmed DEWA’s Jebel Ali Power Generation & Water Production Complex is the largest single-site natural gas power generation facility in the world. The Complex has an electricity generation capacity of 9,547 MW. The second record was for the first 3D-printed laboratory in the world. The record was awarded for DEWA’s Robotics & Drone laboratory, housed within the Research & Development (R&D) Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
DEWA seeks to set two new records for the tallest solar tower in the world at 262.44 metres and the largest 700-megawatt Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant in the fourth phase of the Solar Park.
Lowest electricity and water network losses Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, expressed his proud of DEWA’s achievements.
Al Tayer noted that the DEWA’s record of prestigious awards is a translation of its relentless efforts that aspire to reach the top rank in all fields, and support Dubai’s efforts to become the city of the future.
Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, HE Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, today announced that the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has decided that the Kingdom of Bahrain will continue to manage air traffic in the airspace over international waters in the Arabian Gulf, extending from the borders of the United Arab Emirates flight information region (FIR) to the borders of the State of Kuwait FIR.
HE Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed welcomed the decision which follows the outcomes of the ICAO Council’s 225th Session.
All member states of the Council commended the longstanding air navigation services provided by the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Kingdom has successfully managed the ICAO mandate since 1959, providing safe and efficient air traffic control services that have garnered the approval of ICAO and the airlines that use the airspaces.
In line with international laws which grant countries the right to exclusive sovereignty over airspace above its territories, the establishment of the Doha FIR was approved to include the airspace over the land and water of the State of Qatar.
Representation matters. Not just representation of ethnic background, but of personal experience. As Egyptian director Mohamed Diab becomes the first Arab to direct a Marvel project with the eagerly awaited limited series “Moon Knight,” it’s a landmark moment not only because of his nationality, but also because he was born, raised, thrived and suffered in Egypt, living through his country’s revolution and painful rebuild, and ultimately becoming one of its most important chroniclers.
“I’m not someone who is obsessed with firsts, but I will say that what is unique about me getting the Marvel job is that I’m coming directly from the Arab world,” Diab — who previously helmed the award-winning films “Cairo 678” (2010), “Clash” (2016), and “Amira” (2021) — continues.
There was a major reason that Diab’s voice was so necessary to the project. While many of the Marvel comic books from the 60s and 70s drew from cultures and mythologies from across the world, they were written and drawn from a perspective foreign to the cultures they were influenced by, leading to limited — sometimes offensive — portrayals of those people, places, and histories.
Part of Diab’s mission was not just to apply his own voice to the show, but to include the creative voices of as many Egyptians and Arabs as he could. Each Egyptian character on the show is portrayed by an actual Egyptian — something rarely, if ever, done in Hollywood — including the ancient deity that plagues Moon Knight himself. Behind the scenes, Diab recruited the previous collaborator Ahmed Hafez as one of the series’ editors, and the great Egyptian composer Hesham Nazih to write the series’ score.
Diab — as the show’s key creative voice along with creator Jeremy Slater — was integral in far more than capturing the Egyptian aspects of the show; he helped shape its entire aesthetic, so the show embraces elements that no Marvel project has before in terms of tone, style, and themes. He also personally convinced two actors who had long resisted becoming part of a superhero project — Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke — to come aboard.
“The wonderful idea of hiring Mohamed to be our quarterback, to guide this ship, is that the movies he’s made in Egypt are incredible,” says Hawke. “He’s not looking at this with the eyes of an American, he’s looking at this — and these deities, and this world — from a vantage point of growing up in Egypt and having a lot to say about it. It’s exciting to be around him in that way.”
Diab also recruited the Egyptian-Palestinian actress May Calamawy, best known for her role in the Golden Globe-winning sitcom “Ramy,” as one of the show’s leads.
Ultimately, “Moon Knight” — which debuts internationally on Disney+ on March 30 and will premiere in the region this summer — is a show full of outsiders who, in partnership with Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige and many others, lent their creative voices to make this a Marvel project like no other.
source/content: arabnews.com (edited)
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Egyptian director Mohamed Diab is the first Arab to direct a Marvel project with the eagerly awaited limited series “Moon Knight.” (Supplied)
The first world expo held in the Middle East ends in style.
After 182 days of diverse and rich activities and events, which enjoyed by millions of visitors from across the world, the curtain of Expo 2020 Dubai, the first world expo held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and the first hosted by an Arab nation, came down on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at the iconic dome-structured Al Wasl Plaza.
The six-month-long exposition, staged under the central theme, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, defied the tremendous challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering a resounding success.
By organising the world greatest show amidst such challenges, the UAE has removed the world ”impossible” from its lexicon to present a wonderful edition in the event’s long history as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said in an audio message delivered at the closing ceremony of the mega global event.
We will not be exaggerating if we repeat what millions of visitors have said that Dubai’s remarkable success offered a great challenge for those to come.
Expo 2020 Dubai, which brought together 192 participating nations, is not a mere event that tells the culture and history of participating countries, rather than an invitation to engage and share visions to address challenges facing the humanity.
The UAE selection of the theme, ”Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” as a headline for its campaign to host the exhibition, did not come by chance. The UAE used to look to the future with proactive visions. Despite humanity’s passing through the most difficult and challenging time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative effects on the economies of the world, there was no confusion in the UAE’s approach and calculations.
Projects did not stop or affected by slowness, delay or hesitation. Rather, they continued in an unprecedented harmony that encouraged the international community participate and engage with confidence enhanced by millions of visitors who and their families enjoyed events and activities that many of them may not be able to repeat again and they will proudly tell them to the future generations.
Since the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) announced on 27th November 2013 in Paris that Dubai had won the bid to host Expo 2020, no one doubted the UAE’s ability to present to the world the most beautiful and brightest image of an event that had been exclusively hosted by certain cities in regions far away from the Middle East and North Africa.
As usual, the UAE has a proven track-record in areas of communication and fresh innovative concepts and ideas which have been turned into reality over the past decades. An indicator of success of Expo is that the large number of visitors came from outside the country.
Over six months, Expo 2020 Dubai brought together over 190 participating nations, including multilateral organisations and academic institutions, in a defining moment to exchange new ideas and perspectives, inspire meaningful change and create a brighter future for all under the theme, ”Connecting Minds and Creating the Future” through sustainability, mobility and opportunity.
There is no better place and environment than Dubai and the UAE in general to discuss these issues that of major concern to the world. This was clearly reflected in the World Government Summit 2022, which was the best conclusion to an exceptional event.
It was an opportune coincidence that hosting this event preceded the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2021, as the UAE shared its visions, ideas and rich experience in development with the world in an event that chronicles the World Expo events a new.
The UAE deserves deepest congratulations for the remarkable success of Expo 2020 Dubai as the world welcomes Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan.
Opinion: by: Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi is the Director-General of the Emirates News Agency (WAM)
source/content: gulfnews.com (edited)
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Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan (L2), UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai, hands the BIE flag to His Excellency Jai-chul Choi (C), President of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) during the Expo 2020 Dubai Closing Ceremony at Al Wasl alongside Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy (L), UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai, His Excellency, Dimitri Kerkentzes (R2), Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the governing body of World Expos and His Excellency Wakamiya Kenji (R), Minister for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan. Image Credit: Expo 2020 Dubai
Awards made for services to Islam, Arabic language, literature, medicine, and science.
The winners of this year’s King Faisal Prize on Tuesday received their awards at a glittering ceremony staged in Riyadh.
The annual gongs — held under the auspices of King Salman — are the most prestigious in the Muslim world and recognize outstanding achievement in services to Islam, Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine, and science.
The service to Islam prize was jointly awarded to former Tanzanian President Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Egyptian scholar Prof. Hassan Mahmoud Al-Shafei.
The Arabic language and literature award went to Prof. Suzanne Stetkevych and Prof. Muhsin Al-Musawi from the US.
American Prof. David Liu secured the medicine prize while the science accolade was shared by Prof. Martin Hairer of the UK and Prof. Nader Masmoudi of Tunisia.
The Islamic studies prize, that this year focused on the Islamic heritage of Al-Andalus, was withheld because the nominated works did not meet the necessary criteria.
Mwinyi was honored for actively participating in Islamic advocacy and promoting religious tolerance. He established Islamic schools and translated many resources and references in hadith, jurisprudence, and the Prophet Mohammad’s biography into Swahili, the language spoken by millions of people in East Africa.
Al-Shafei, who was president of the Academy of the Arabic Language in Cairo from 2012 to 2020, held several academic positions and established a series of institutes concerned with Al-Azhar. He also contributed to the establishment of the International Islamic University in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.
The Arabic language and literature prize was jointly presented to Stetkevych, chair of the department of Arabic and Islamic studies at Georgetown University, and Al-Musawi, professor of Arabic and comparative literary studies at Columbia University.
Stetkevych’s extensive research and numerous works have analyzed Arabic literature with unmatched depth from the pre-Islamic period to the Nahda/revivalist period. Her research approach, which is characterized by its application of varied methodologies, resulted in the renewal of the critical perspective and methods of studying classical Arabic poetry.
The research and studies of literary critic and novelist Al-Musawi have had a great impact on Arabic studies students and researchers in the Arab world and the West, through his distinctive methods of presentation, analysis, critical interpretation, and openness to Arab and international creative texts in prose and poetry.
Meanwhile, the medicine prize concentrated on gene-editing technologies. Its winner Liu, director of the Merkin Institute for Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, invented the first so-called base editor to make alterations on DNA and genes by replacing letters in the DNA base.
Hairer, chair in probability and stochastic analysis at Imperial College’s mathematics department, was one of the science prize recipients. His work has been in the general area of probability theory with a focus on the analysis of stochastic partial differential equations. He recently developed the theory of regularity structures which gave a precise mathematical meaning to several equations that were previously outside the scope of mathematical analysis.
The other joint science award winner, Masmoudi, a professor of mathematics at the New York University of Abu Dhabi, unlocked the mystery surrounding many physics problems which have remained unsolved for centuries.
He found a flaw in (Leonhard) Euler’s mathematical equations, which for more than two centuries had described the motions of fluids under any circumstance. Masmoudi discovered that the equations did not apply to all circumstances, as previously thought, and his findings helped to solve a raft of conundrums related to fluid-modeling, such as weather predictions.
Each winner received a $200,000 prize, a 24-carat gold medal, and a certificate written in Arabic calligraphy signed by the Chairman of the prize board, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal.
source/content : arabnews.com (edited)
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Winners of 2022 King Faisal Prize awards honored in Riyadh. (SPA)
The inaugural Time 100 Gala and Impact Awards was held at Dubai’s Museum of the Future . The ceremony was the first major event to take place at the museum since its opening on February 22.
The landmark was lit with a touch of Time’s red as regional leaders and cultural figures gathered alongside members of the global Time 100 community.
Notable personalities who attended the red carpet event included civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, who was named in Time’s first Women of the Year list this month; Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Nigerian singer, actress and philanthropist; French-Tunisian contemporary artist el Saeed; US model Tyra Banks; and Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi , the first woman to hold a ministerial position in the UAE.
Sheikha Lubna was formerly the minister of state for tolerance, minister of state for international co-operation and development, and minister of economy and planning
The winners
Minister of State for Advanced Technology Sarah Al Amiri was among the award recipients. Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and the UAE Council of Scientists, Ms Al Amiri was honoured for her role in helping to take the UAE to Mars.
British-Ghanian architect Sir David Adjaye, whose designs include the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the US, as well as the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, was also honoured for his work.
Mr Adjaye was honoured, according to Time, for “reorienting the world’s attention and shining a light on cultures from every corner of the world”.
Tony Elumelu was also a winner of the Impact Awards. The Nigerian economist was honoured for his efforts, through his eponymous foundation, in empowering African entrepreneurs to create jobs on the continent.
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone was also among the winners. The actress was recognised for her advocacy work on mental health..
Makeup artist and founder of Huda Beauty, Huda Kattan, was awarded the prize for “disrupting what it means to be beautiful”.
The Iraqi-American entrepreneur launched her skincare line Wishful in 2020 with a campaign that featured Kattan and the company staff without filters or makeup.
Will.i.am was also a winner of the inaugural Impact Awards. The Black Eyed Peas founder was praised as much for his music as his philanthropy, and his work advocating forward-thinking tech and artificial intelligence strategies.
Pop star Ellie Goulding was also named a winner for being “a champion and protector of the environment”.
source/content: thenationalnews.com (edited)
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The inaugural Time 100 Gala and Impact Awards was the first major event at Dubai’s Museum of the Future since its opening ceremony on February 22. Victor Besa / The National
Forbes Magazine revealed that Egypt and Lebanon are the homes of the wealthiest Arab billionaires for 2021.
The magazine’s annual report noted that the total wealth of the richest Arab families increased to US$55 billion this year, as compared to US$47.3 billion in 2020.
This year’s list includes 22 Arab billionaires including ten who belong to four families. They are the Sawiris and Mansour families from Egypt and the Mikati and Hariri families from Lebanon. The combined fortunes of the four families amount to US$29 billion.
Egypt’s Nassef Sawiris topped the list of Egyptian and Arab billionaires, with a net wealth estimated by Forbes at about US$9.1 billion, while the combined wealth of his family is about US$14 billion.
The two Lebanese brothers, Taha and Najib Mikati, have a fortune of US$5.4 billion, while the Mansour family is worth US$5.1 billion. The total wealth of the sons of late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is $US4.5 billion.
Since 2018, the magazine has not added Saudi billionaires to its list.
Forbes Middle East took a deeper dive into the four richest Arab families. Egyptian billionaires accounted for the largest share of the wealth with US$19.1 billion, while the Lebanese came in second with US$9.9 billion.
The Sawiris family
Members: Nassef, Naguib, and Samih, as well as their late father, Onsi Sawiris
Combined net worth: US$14 billion
Country: Egypt
The Sawiris family is the richest in Egypt, with a net worth estimated at about US$14 billion, most of which is from Nassef Sawiris, who owns $9.1 billion, as he owns a six percent stake in Adidas and a five percent stake in Madison Square Garden Sports, listed in New York. He is also the owner of the NBA’s Knicks and the NHL’s Rangers.
In addition, Nassef manages OCI, one of the largest producers of nitrogen fertilizers in the world, with factories in Texas and Iowa. Its shares are traded on Euronext Amsterdam and the billionaire has a 33 percent stake in it. Nassef also owns various investments, including shares in cement giant Lafarge and Orascom Construction.
He is followed by his brother Naguib Sawiris, who made his fortune from investing in the telecommunications sector, as he sold Orascom Telecom to the Russian telecommunications company VimpelCom, currently renamed VEON, in a deal that included shares and billions of dollars in liquidity in 2011. Naguib chaired the board of directors of Orascom Holding, which invests in one of the largest asset management companies in Egypt, and internet company Italiaonline, among other investments.
The third brother, Samih Sawiris, is rooted in the tourism sector. He developed the Red Sea tourist city of Gouna and has stakes in several companies, including 5.62 percent in OCI NV, 65 percent in Orascom Development Holding, and 6.3 percent in Orascom Construction. The combined value of these stakes is about US$680 million. The fortune of the father, Onsi Sawiris, who passed away a few weeks ago, was about US$997 million. This wealth has not yet been distributed to his heirs, and he still has a stake in OCI NV and Orascom Construction.
Nassef Sawiris’ fortune has witnessed a significant jump during the past 15 months, from US$5 billion in April 2020 to US$9.1 billion today.
The Mikati family
Members: Taha and Najib Mikati
Combined net worth: US$5.4 billion
Country: Lebanon
The two brothers, Taha and Najib Mikati, founded the (M1) Holding Group in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
The group’s investments include stakes in South African Telecom (MTN), fashion retailers such as Pepe Jeans, and luxury properties in New York, London, and Monaco.
Najib and his brother Taha founded Investcom in 1982, which specialized in the sale of satellite phones, at the height of the civil war in Lebanon. The brothers expanded into Africa, building cell phone towers in Ghana, Liberia, and Benin, among other countries. Investcom became a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2005. In 2009, South Africa’a MTN bought the shares of the two Mikati brothers for US$3.6 billion.
Najib Mikati served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 2011 to 2013 and is now serving as PM-designate after Saad Hariri stepped down in July.
The fortune of the two brothers grew from US$4.3 billion in April 2020 to US$5.4 billion on July 17, 2021.
The Mansour family
Members: Mohamed, Youssef, and Yassin Mansour
Combined net worth: $5.1 billion
Country: Egypt
The three brothers, Mohamed, Youssef and Yassin Mansour, gathered their wealth through the huge Mansour family group, which was founded by their late father Lotfi Mansour in 1952 and currently has about 60,000 employees.
Mohamed Mansour established General Motors dealerships in Egypt in 1975, becoming one of the largest distributors of its cars in the world. The group also has exclusive distribution rights for Caterpillar equipment in Egypt and seven other African countries. Mohamed Mansour was Minister of Transport under the Hosni Mubarak regime between 2006 and 2009.
As for Youssef Mansour, he heads the board of directors of the giant family group, and also supervises the consumer products department, which includes the supermarket chain “Metro”, as well as individual distribution rights for “L’Oreal” products in Egypt.
While Yassin Mansour is a shareholder in the group founded by his father, he also chairs the board of directors of Palm Hills Development, one of the largest real estate developers in Egypt. The Mansour Group owns the exclusive rights to franchise the famous brand in the ready-to-eat food sector McDonald’s in Egypt, and is the exclusive distributor for the cigarette brand Gauloises.
Mohamed Mansour’s net worth is US$2.5 billion, while Youssef’s is US$1.5 billion, and Yassin’s US$1.1 billion. The family’s net worth has decreased since April 2020 from US$7.4 billion to US$5.1 billion as of July 17, 2021.
The Hariri family
Members: Bahaa, Ayman, and Fahd Hariri
Combined net worth: $4.5 billion
Country: Lebanon
Bahaa, Ayman and Fahd Hariri are the children of the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. They inherited their fortunes from their father.
In 2008, Hariri sold his stake in Saudi Oger contracting and construction company to his brother Saad Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, who was dropped from the billionaire list in 2019, while Fahd sold his share to his brother Saad in 2012 and Ayman also in 2014.
Bahaa Hariri founded and headed the Horizon Group, a real estate holding company with investments in Amman, and Beirut. He also owns the majority stake in Globe Express Services, a company that provides logistics services in more than 100 countries.
Meanwhile, Ayman Hariri invests in startups through the New York-based company Red Sea Ventures. Among its investments is Nest, which is now part of Google. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Vero, an ad-free social e-platform which allows users to share music, videos, and photos.
As for Fahd Hariri, the youngest son of the late billionaire Rafic Hariri, he invested part of his money in the real estate sector in New York, Paris, and Monte Carlo, and is currently investing in the besieged Lebanese banks, as well as developing residential properties in Beirut.
There were inspiring scenes as the winners of Arabian Business’ inaugural KSA Women Excellence Awards were revealed at a special ceremony, a glittering evening at the Riyadh Marriott on Mother’s Day with an audience of more than 150 attendees, the winners were revealed.
Before the winners were announced, a fireside chat with Arabian Business Editor in Chief Scott Armstrong heard from Mae Al Mozaini, CEO of nusf – The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment, who told the room: “What an exciting time it is to be a Saudi woman – we are the number one most educated women in the region and 10 in the world.”
Meanwhile, Hawazen Almaddah, Group Head of Corporate Communications at IFFCO Group, captivated the room with her ‘letter to her future self’.
Mae Al Mozaini, founder and CEO of The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment – Nusf
Secondly, Samar Alshorafa, who is the founding CEO of She is Arab.
And finally, Carla Sertin, ITP Group Editor, who leads brands such as Oil & Gas Middle East, Construction Week, Utilities Middle East, to name but a few.
Editor in Chief Scott Armstrong said: “The journey to today has been breathtaking, and if you plot the line graph for women into Saudi’s future, the potential is incredible.
“As the proud father of an irrepressible daughter and husband to an unstoppable wife, I’m delighted to be here in Riyadh to celebrate the achievements of inspiring women, especially on Mother’s Day here in the Gulf.”
The Winners:
Business – Woman of the Year
Highly Commended: Maria Medvedeva, Vice President, Mastercard, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Winner: Mona Althagafi, KSA Country Director with Serco.
Education – Woman of the Year category
Winner: Alia Albazie – Director of Special Education with the Tatweer Company
Business – Energy – Woman of the Year
Winner: Dr. Abeer Al-Olayan, General Director at the Ministry of Energy
Entrepreneurial – Woman of the Year
Highly Commended: Nour Al Hassan, the Founder and CEO of Tarjama
Winner: Sheikha Aldosary, founder and managing director of Saudi Women’s Stories
Finance – Woman of the Year
Winner: Tala Al Jabri
Government – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Reem AlSuwaiyel, Executive Director -Board of Directors General Secretariat at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority
Winner: Dur Essam Kattan, the Deputy Minister for Communications and Media at the Ministry of Culture (MoC), Saudi Arabia
Inspirational – Woman of the Year
Dr. Hibah Shata, owner of Maharat Learning
Linah Alhabeeb, the Associate Director for Human Capital Development at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA)
Nouf Aljalaud, currently Customer Success Manager at SITA covering Border Management Service Management
Nouf Abdullah Al Rakan- Nouf founder Qiyadat Global
Law – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Tala AlJahlan who led the legal and compliance department during the Saudi G20 presidency
Winner: Nasreen Alissa of The Law Firm of Nasreen Alissa
Media – Woman of the Year
Winner: Ghada Alrumayan, group chief marketing and communications officer at the national community developer, ROSHN
Medical – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Dr Tamara Sunbul, Medical Director of Clinical Informatics with Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH)
Winner: Taghreed Alghaith of the National Health Economics and Policies at the Saudi Health Council (SHC)
Rising Star – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Albandari AlajlanDental Department Manager at Dallah Hospital
Winner: Abeer Algwaiz, Design Assistant Manager at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA)
Science and Technology – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Maha Alnuhait, GM of Sustainability with stc
Winner: Dr. Noha Alharthi, Technology Lead at NEOM
Startup – Woman of the Year
Winner: Muzon Ashgar, Muzon Bodycare
Special Recognition – Woman of the Year
Special Recognition – Woman of the Year: Mae Al Mozaini (L), The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment
Highly commended: Samiha Ahmed of the Ireland- Saudi Arabia Business Council
Winner: Mae Al Mozaini, The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment
The Arab Fashion Council, a non-profit organization representing the fashion industry in the Middle East and North Africa, has named Dubai-based Tunisian model Ameni Esseibi as its new ambassador.
The announcement coincided with the launch of Arab Fashion Week, which includes 28 shows divided into three main programs, namely couture on Thursday and Friday, ready-to-wear from March 26 to 28, and events that will run throughout the five-day gathering.
Esseibi prides herself on being the Arab Fashion Council’s first-ever plus-size ambassador.
She said: “I feel proud. This is a huge step to acknowledge every woman, which is just the first milestone toward a new era for the fashion and retail industries to update the standards boldly and make them more inclusive for every woman. With my new title, I thrive on being a role model for self-confidence.”
The 24-year-old, considered the first plus-size model in the Middle East, is a staunch advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry.
Esseibi’s new role marks the first time that the Arab Fashion Council has acknowledged a plus-size model as an envoy, a move it hopes will show its commitment to making a difference in the fashion industry when it comes to inclusivity and tolerance.
Mohammed Aqra, the Arab Fashion Council’s chief strategy officer, said: “It strategically encourages designers to take a step closer to include diverse profiles of the consumers, offering a wider choice for them at offline and online retail.
In addition to being a council ambassador, Esseibi has worked with a number of esteemed brands including Jean Paul Gautier and H&M and has featured in the pages of multiple publications including Vogue Arabia and Elle Arabia.
source/content: arabnews.com
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Ameni Esseibi prides herself on being the Arab Fashion Council’s first-ever plus-size ambassador. Supplied
