20 inspirational women’s achievements celebrated at grand gala dinner presented by NET-A-PORTER
Lifetime Achievement award presented to HH Sheikha Fatima bint Zayed bin Saqr Al Nahyan and Professor Rafia Ghabesh named “Inspirational Arab Woman of the Year 2015.”
Held under the Patronage of the UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth, and Social Development HE Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, 20 inspirational women were celebrated at a glittering gala dinner at the Arab Woman Awards UAE 2015 held at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC Dubai. Over 350 female VIP guests and members of the UAE royal family attended the red carpet event presented by NET-A-PORTER, the world’s premier online luxury fashion destination.
The Arab Woman Awards were established by ITP in 2009 to recognise successful women in business, education, entrepreneurship, media, government, literature, and other fields. Since launch the awards have become a powerful platform for recognising role models for a new generation of young women.
The winners included HH Sheikha Fatima bint Zayed bin Saqr Al Nahyan under the Lifetime Achievement Award who was acknowledged for her humanitarian work that has spanned over 15 years. deNovo CEO & Founder May Nasrallah won Businesswoman of the Year and Masdar’s Director of Sustainability Dr Nawal Al-Hosany was awarded under the Energy category. In one of the final awards of the evening Professor Rafia Ghabesh was named as the UAE’s Inspirational Woman of the Year 2015.
Commenting on her award, Dr Nawal Al-Hosany reflected, “The UAE has always been an energy leader. I am immensely honoured to be recognised by the Arab Woman Awards for contributing to the nation’s vision of expanding our energy leadership to the fields of renewable energy and sustainable development. Women have a critical role to play in ensuring a future with sustainable energy for all.”
This year, the Awards were adjudicated by a powerful all-female panel led by H.E Ameera BinKaram, Chairperson of Sharjah Business Women Council, Chairperson and founding member of Friends of Cancer Patients, SME advisory group owner Nadine Maalouf, prominent Emirati artist Najat Meky, Hello! Arabia Editor Gina Tadros, Leap Ventures Partner Noor Sweid, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court Director Dr Mona Hammami, Noor Dubai Foundation CEO Dr Manal Taryam, Abraaj Group Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Huda Al Lawati and Virgin Megastore Middle East President Nisreen Shokair.
“We are very proud of how the Arab Woman Awards have grown each year and is now recognised as an institution that honours talented, hardworking women for their achievements, and lauds their contribution to society and the economy across a number of fields. It’s even more inspiring how our award winners are seen as role models for a younger generation of women who want to emulate their successes,” commented HE Ameera Bin Karam who led this year’s board of judges.
The UAE’s Inspirational Woman of the Year, Professor Rafia Ghabesh concluded “ I am pleased that the Arab Woman Awards is looking for inspiring women to honour, not only the outstanding women, but this award encourages women in various sectors such as education, culture, art and many other aspects of professional life. So, I would really like to thank all the people working on this initiative for this recognition and I honestly appreciate the effort of this approach that seeks to activate the community. The Arab Woman Awards coincides with the celebration of Innovation Week in the United Arab Emirates and this concept of inspiration is entirely consistent with the context of creativity and innovation, which is keen supported by the Government of the United Arab Emirates at all the time.”
NET-A-PORTER, the online destination for luxury fashion, was the exclusive sponsor of the Arab Woman Awards UAE 2015 and has a history of supporting incredible women all over the world. As part of the evening’s entertainment guests were treated to a styling presentation by NET-A-PORTER by their team of fashion experts.
NET-A-PORTER VP of Global Marketing, Heather Kaminetsky said “We are proud to be this year’s exclusive sponsor of the Arab Woman Awards UAE 2015, acknowledging some of the most incredible women across the Middle East.”