The Arab Woman Awards organizing committee visits KSA for the very first time this morning to meet with the other Judges, Board members of the awards. Established in 2009 by ITP, the largest publishing house in the Gulf region (GCC), the awards have recognized and honoured over 170 successful women from across diverse fields including art, business, fashion, entrepreneurship and charity. In the past five years the Arab Woman Awards has grown from being held annually in the United Arab Emirates to reach three other regional countries including Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and in 2015 will launch in Bahrain.
Sue Holt, Deputy Managing Director, ITP Consumer and Founder of the Arab Woman Awards said “We launched the awards after hearing stories of incredible women and wanted to provide a culturally acceptable platform in order to celebrate their achievements. The awards have gathered momentum and we are proud to bring them to KSA to recognise the remarkable women of this country. These awards will now run annually in January in order that each year we can discover more talented women and hopefully create positive role models for others”.
The fifteen winners of these awards are privately selected by a Judges Board who this year consists of highly influential women who have each demonstrated achievements and success in their own right. Each board member was selected by ITP, based on their integrity, expertise in their own field and their role in the community. This year’s Board includes: HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, CEO of Alfa International; Rasha AL Turki, CEO of Al Nahda Philanthropic Society for Women; Rola Ashour, Counselor and Lecturer at Dar Al Hikma Pharmaceuticals; Lina Al Maena, Founder of Jeddah United Basketball Team and Nadine El Chaer, Editor in Chief at ITP Publishing. The Arab Woman Awards Judges met today at La Cucina restaurant in Al Faisaliah Hotel Riyadh to discuss this year’s nominations.
Research into the nominations has taken two months with ITP providing the Judges Board with a set of strict criteria to follow that ensures the winners are nominated objectively based on their accomplishments in the last 12 months and their contribution to the country. Previous recipients of the Arab Woman Awards include HRH Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qassimi , HRH Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif Mohammed Al Nahayan, H.E Huda Al Matroushi, H.E Fatima Al Jaber and HRH Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The Arab Woman Awards KSA 2014 ceremony will be held at a private glittering, ladies only gala dinner, by invitation only, on the 29th January 2014 at the Faisaliah Hotel Riyadh. The Arab Woman Awards are held in association with Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Mouza Al Shamsi, Marketing Director, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority commented on their partnership with the awards saying “As a destination which is active and increasing prominent on the regional business events, education, sports, the arts as well as entrepreneurial scenes and is emerging as a high end fashion hub with some of the region’s most distinctive retail experiences, the Arab Woman Awards resonated well with us. We are enthusiastic about supporting an event which will roll out across this important region taking recognition of inspiration to the women of the GCC.” Other partners of the awards include Maserati, Al Zahra Breast Cancer Association, Sayidaty, Al Faisaliah Hotel and Rawaj International.