Arab Woman Awards 2016 Winners Announced
Ameera BinKaram acknowledged with a Lifetime Achievement Award
For Immediate Release
Sharjah, UAE, December 12, 2016
Under the patronage and in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin
Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, the Arab
Woman Awards held its eighth annual ceremony.
This year’s edition of the awards saw a special tribute paid to the late Ameera
BinKaram, the former Vice Chairperson of NAMA Women Advancement
Establishment and Chairperson of the Arab Women's Award jury for the last four
years. Her legacy was acknowledged with a “Lifetime Achievement” Award.
The ceremony also honoured 22 inspiring Arab women who were selected to win in
the award’s various categories in recognition of their outstanding contributions and
exceptional achievements across fields; including business, the arts, philanthropy
and fashion.
The special ceremony was held in the Sheraton Hotel Sharjah, with the event taking
place for the first-time outside Dubai in tribute to the late Ameera BinKaram, who was
one of Sharjah’s shining stars. It was attended by more than 400 dignitaries and high-
level business women, including Sue Holt, executive director of the award;
Abdulraheem BinKaram, Ameera’s father; Reem BinKaram, Ameera’s sister and
Director of Sharjah Children’s Centres; Noura Al Noman, Director General of the
Executive Office of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi; Eram Madhar Olwee,
Senior Eram Madhar Olwee, First Advisor at the Executive Office of Her Highness
Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi Advisor at the Executive Office of Her Highness Sheikha
Jawaher Al Qasimi; Khawla Jassim Al Serkal, Director General of the Sharjah Ladies
Club and others.
During the event, keynote speakers praised Ameera BinKaram’s achievements,
outlining how she dedicated her life to enabling women through her tireless voluntary
and humanitarian efforts.
“Today we celebrate the multitude of Arab women’s achievements and their vital role
in developing our Arab societies. We honour the accomplishments of the late Ameera
BinKaram, may the Almighty rest her soul in peace, and pay tribute to the efforts she
spent for the good of her country and the Arab world. It was her ambition and vision
that made these efforts a solid ground for women’s development and progression in
various fields,” said Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan Minister of Culture and
Knowledge Development.
“The fact that this programme is held annually in the UAE shows that our country
encourages women’s excellence and values their important contributions to society.
We should all be proud of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the
General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development
Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for
her generous support for all women causes and for setting new standards in societal
and human development,” added Nahyan.
Sue Holt, Executive Director of ITP, said during her speech: “I’d like to mention
someone very special and the reason we have bought the awards to Sharjah for the
first time – Ameera bin Karam. I first met Ameera when she won the Humanitarian of
the Year award in 2012 for her work with Friends of Cancer Patients. I was instantly
taken with her enthusiasm, elegance and her passion for supporting others. She
loved the ethos of the awards and was determined to help. Despite being a very busy
person, she volunteered to join the judging board then later became the Chairperson.
Over the past four years, she helped create awareness not only for the awards but for
many causes and people that she held dear. She was a very special lady and will be
forever in our hearts.”
On winning the Inspirational Woman, Sheikha Dr Alia Al Qasimi said; “I am extremely
proud of receiving the Inspirational Woman of the Year Award 2016, as part of the
Arab Women of the Year Awards. It will motivate me to excel both in the medical field
as a gynaecologist specialised in plastic aesthetic and reconstructive surgery,
innovative urogynecologist, as well as the social field as the Acting CEO of Social
and Care and Development Sector in Dubai government and being responsible about
disability and the treatment of persons with special needs. The UAE provided us with
help and support and that increases our determination to be its ambassadors and
inspire generations in the future.”
The Arab Woman Awards were launched in 2009 with the aim of raising public
awareness of the significant achievements by Arab women and to provide young
women with inspirational role models. The event is an annual opportunity to shed
light on inspiring Arab women and offers attendees and winners the chance to open
communication channels, create networks, share experience and exchange ideas
that lead to new achievements.
Winners of the Arab Women's Award 2016:
Lifetime Achievement Ameera BinKaram
Inspirational Woman of the Year Sheikha Dr. Alia Humaid AlQassimi
Businesswoman of the Year Dr. Leila Hoteit
Finance Dr. Florence Eid- Oakden
Education Dr. Narimane Hadj-Hamou
Business of Education Dr. Behjat Al Yousef
Art Wafa Al Qassimi
Entrepreneur Lamia Tabbaa-Bibi & Rama Kayyali-
Jardeneh
Social Entrepreneur Najla Al Midfa
Literature Souad Sleibi
Fashion Designer Reem Juan Al Daheri
Young Designer Reema Al Banna
Medical Nora Al Suwaidi
Media Aysha Taryam
New Media Hayla Ghazal
Sport Amna Al Haddad
Humanitarian Amna Zaal
Legal Diana Al Ghurair
Attached images:
1) HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and
Knowledge Development, handing “Lifetime Achievement” Award of Ameera
BinKaram to her sister Reem BinKaram
2) During the “Arab Women Awared” ceremony
3) HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and
Knowledge Development, handing “Inspirational Woman of the Year” award
to Sheikha Dr. Alia Humaid AlQassimi
4) Image for Ameera BinKaram
For further inquiries or information about this report and the event, please
contact:
Maha Abou Rich
National Network Communications (NNC)
050 341 7775
Yousef Al Taweel
National Network Communications (NNC)
055 5066 111
