Arabs & Arabian Records Aggregator. Chronicler. Milestones of the 25 Countries of the Arabic Speaking World (official / co-official). AGCC. MENA. Global. Ist's to Top 10's. Records. Read & Enjoy./ www.arabianrecords.org
The documentary exhibition “A Nation’s Memory in the Land of Frankincense,” organised by the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) at the “Return of the Past” events site in the Wilayat of Salalah, sees a growing turnout of citizens, residents, and tourists.
The exhibition provides an educational experience that evokes milestones of Omani history, presenting them through modern methods that blend document authenticity with digital transformation and artificial intelligence technologies.
The exhibition features more than 1,200 documentary exhibits, both printed and digital, distributed across several corners documenting the history of the Sultanate of Oman and its cultural heritage. It focuses on the history of Dhofar Governorate, Omani relations with various countries around the world, and Omani-Gulf relations, alongside manuscripts, coins, postage stamps, historical maps, and interactive digital content.
Smart digital platforms captured the attention of visitors, enabling them to interact directly with documentary content, obtain information, and receive answers to their queries through artificial intelligence technologies. Meanwhile, the manuscripts and historical documents corners attracted those interested in Omani heritage due to samples reflecting the richness and diversity of the documentary legacy. The children’s corner also enjoyed wide engagement from families through educational and interactive activities aimed at strengthening young people’s connection to their nation’s history and documents.
The exhibition also reflected the National Records and Archives Authority’s commitment to making knowledge accessible to all members of society by providing adapted services for persons with disabilities, including sign language and assistive technologies, ensuring a more inclusive experience and enhancing access to documentary content across all its categories.
A number of visitors expressed their admiration for the diverse educational content presented by the exhibition, emphasizing that modern display methods added a new dimension to the experience of exploring Omani history, simplified information, and enriched the visit.
Fahad Salim Bait Omani Al Jabri said that the exhibition presents an outstanding model in employing modern technologies to serve history and national identity, noting that the diversity of documents, alongside interactive digital platforms, created an experience that combines entertainment and insight while catering to various age groups.
For her part, Manal Saleh Al Salmi explained that what distinguishes the exhibition is the integration of original documents with modern technology, allowing visitors to review verified historical information in an engaging manner. She expressed her admiration for the documents featured in the international relations corner, which reflect the depth of historical relations connecting the Sultanate of Oman with its regional and international surroundings.
Ahmed Said Al Balushi pointed out that the children’s corner is one of the exhibition’s key highlights due to the interactive activities it offers, which contribute to introducing youth to the value of national documents and consolidating concepts of identity and belonging in a way that combines learning with entertainment.
The exhibition continues to welcome visitors until 20 August as part of the National Records and Archives Authority’s efforts aimed at promoting documentary culture, highlighting the cultural value of national documents, and presenting them in modern educational formats that keep pace with digital transformation, underscoring their role in preserving national memory and connecting generations to the history of the Sultanate of Oman and its cultural heritage.
Chance meeting at Formula One race in Jeddah inspires Belgian storyteller Cindy Van Pollaert to launch ‘Min Al Qalb,’ a project documenting the lives, ambitions, and personal journeys of women across Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
When Belgian happiness manager Cindy Van Pollaert arrived in Saudi Arabia for the first time in 2021, she expected to encounter the country as it was portrayed in much of the Western media.
Instead, a visit to the Formula One race in Jeddah challenged her assumptions and ultimately inspired a storytelling project dedicated to amplifying the voices of women across the Kingdom and the wider Gulf region.
Van Pollaert was struck by the atmosphere among the crowd at the event: women and men gathered together freely, a vibrant public space and a sense of confidence among young Saudi women that contrasted sharply with the image of the country she had previously encountered abroad.
The experience became even more significant when she met Saudi hiker and archer Nouf Almulaik, a chance encounter that would shape the direction of her work.
Almulaik “opened my eyes,” Van Pollaert said, to the determination and fearlessness of Saudi women: “They’re climbing the mountains. They’re doing the Himalayas…These are such ambitious, intelligent women and they’re going to the next level in whatever they do.
“And then I was thinking, ‘OK, I need to find a way to connect with more local women in the Middle East in general.’”
What began as a friendship quickly evolved into a broader mission. Van Pollaert became increasingly determined to challenge misconceptions about women in the Middle East and share stories that reflected the realities she had witnessed.
“I want other people to think differently about the women here in the region,” she told Arab News.
That desire eventually led to the creation of “Min Al Qalb,” meaning “from the heart,” an art and storytelling platform dedicated to celebrating the resilience, individuality and achievements of women across the Middle East and Gulf region.
The project has now come full circle, returning to Saudi Arabia where the idea first took shape through a personal connection that transformed Van Pollaert’s understanding of the region and its people.
Min Al Qalb has so far featured more than 40 inspirational women from 10 countries, including Nada Alrasheed, Saudi Arabia’s first full-time female freediver and a World Championship record holder; Rayyanah Barnawi, the Kingdom’s first female astronaut; and Princess Sarah bint Bandar, executive director of the International Dates Council.
Yet Van Pollaert insists the project is not driven by strategic outreach or large-scale campaigns: “It grows very organically. It’s always one woman who leads me to another.”
The strength of the platform lies in this personal nature, Van Pollaert believes. Many of the stories begin not with formal interviews or carefully arranged meetings, but everyday interactions, conversations and friendships that gradually develop into something deeper.
“I could easily send an email to 1,000 amazing women — you can easily find them — and make a mass production of it,” she said. “But then it would lose its authenticity … I am a person (who) lives from the heart; I don’t know any other way.
“I use my voice to spread positivity because this is how I am in life as well.”
The women featured on the platform are not simply accomplished professionals or record-breakers; they are people with whom Van Pollaert has shared meals, prepared traditional qahwa (coffee) and built genuine friendships.
“These people automatically become like a kind of family,” she said.
For that reason, she added, the initiative was not designed simply to spotlight achievement. Instead, it seeks to capture something more universal: the humanity behind success and the connections that transcend geography and culture.
“The most powerful stories are often not the biggest headlines; they are the human stories behind the achievements,” Van Pollaert said.
“Min Al Qalb does not try to explain Saudi women through one narrative, it creates space for individual stories: what drives them, what they protect, what they build, and what they want the world to understand.”
Another factor that shaped the project was her frustration with the gap between her own experiences and prevailing perceptions in Europe. Whenever she returned to Belgium and shared stories about the women she had met in Saudi Arabia and the wider region, she often found little interest among audiences accustomed to a different narrative.
A major reason for this, she believes, was that in the “Western media, they will only talk about the negative things.”
Reflecting on her own assumptions before visiting Saudi Arabia, she said: “The misconception I had was the one that Western media gave me that women were not allowed to do almost anything.”
Her first visit to Jeddah quickly challenged that perception. Unable to find European publications interested in publishing her experiences, Van Pollaert eventually decided to tell those stories herself.
Min Al Qalb reaches audiences primarily through Instagram. Each post combines an illustration with a photograph and a quote from the featured woman, while the accompanying caption tells her story. This artistic approach to storytelling has had an unexpected effect on how audiences engage with the content.
“When I start with the illustration, the first thing people always say is, ‘That’s cute!’ Always,” Van Pollaert said.
“So, psychologically, there is already serotonin, positivity. It’s physiological, biological or whatever you want to refer to it. It was never my intention. It just happened and I noticed that this was something that people were open (to), and they perceived it in a very positive way.”
In other words, for international audiences unfamiliar with the women featured in the project, the illustrations create an emotional entry point before they encounter the story itself.
“I think art has a way of breaking down narratives and misconceptions because of the feeling that comes up with the people who look at it,” she added.
“It’s a big difference if I show, for example in Belgium, a picture of a woman that I got to know and that I got to meet and became friends with, or if I show first the illustrations.”
More than four years after their first meeting, Van Pollaert and Almulaik still make time to meet for coffee whenever they find themselves in Riyadh at the same time, a reflection of the type of enduring friendships that have become central to the project.
Those moments of connection, whether around a coffee table or through a social media post viewed thousands of miles away, remain at the very heart of Min Al Qalb.
“What I do believe is with each story that I share, with each person that I show, with each experience that I talk about, that somewhere, someone out there changes his or her mind,” Van Pollaert said.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Van Pollaert at the studio of Saudi muralist Noura bin Saidan, along with the Belgian ambassador to KSA. (Supplied by Cindy Van Pollaert)
Min Al Qalb “From the Heart” logo. (Supplied by Cindy Van Pollaert)
The Egyptian teenager breaks the rankings record, four months after also becoming the youngest female world champion.
Amina Orfi has become the youngest women’s world No. 1 in squash history after her place at the sport’s summit was confirmed in the latest PSA Squash Tour rankings published on Monday (21 September).
At 19 years and two months old, the Egyptian prodigy has broken a 40-year record that was set by New Zealand’s Susan Devoy when she was 20 years and two months in 1984.
Orfi dethroned the previous world No. 1, compatriot Hania El Hammamy, by defeating her in the final of last week’s QTerminals Qatar Classic in Doha.
A dramatic 3-2 finale secured the teenager’s first Platinum title, and her third major victory in the last four competitions.
Orfi has fast become the face of the sport after rising through the ranks in 2026. In May, she became the youngest-ever female world champion, and is the first player to win the senior PSA world title while still the reigning junior champion.
“It feels amazing,” said Orfi after her victory in Doha on Friday (18 September).
“To become world champion and become world No.1 in the same year is a dream that I’ve had since I was very young and I really want to enjoy it.
“I want to just stay at this level now and keep trying to improve every day. I want to stay on top now that I’m the world No. 1 and I want to win a lot more titles too.”
Amina Orfi eyes gold at LA28
With two years to go ahead of squash’s Olympic debut at LA28, and amid a dominant Egyptian depth of talent, Orfi has continued her rapid progression as one of Egypt’s greatest medal hopes.
“I really want to get to world No. 1 and make the Olympics,” she said back in March.
“Having these goals helps direct my mind in a positive way instead of thinking about the pressure.”
With one milestone achieved, Orfi’s next challenge is to stay there.
Her first tournament as world No. 1 will be a homecoming, with the 19-year-old set to return to Egypt for the CIB Egyptian Open 2026 from 6-16 October.
With LA28 firmly on the horizon, squash’s newest superstar has no intention of taking her foot off the accelerator.
Syrian weightlifter Mohammed al-Kateb finished 10th overall at the World Youth Championships held in Ismailia, Egypt, with participation from athletes representing 52 countries.
Al-Kateb placed ninth in the clean and jerk and recorded a total lift of 327 kg after lifting 148 kg in the snatch and 179 kg in the clean and jerk.
Competing in a field of 28 athletes, al-Kateb broke the Syrian national clean and jerk record twice. He first lifted 177 kg to surpass the previous mark of 176 kg before improving it to 179 kg on his second attempt.
He also set a new Syrian total record with 327 kg, surpassing the previous national mark of 325 kg.
Recognized for significant contributions to synthetic biology.
Mo Khalil, the Hok Lam and Kathleen Kam Wong Professor of Bioengineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology has been awarded the 2026 Kuwait Prize from The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).
Founded in 1976, KFAS funds and implements research, training, and development programs that address Kuwait’s national priorities in the fields of science, technology, and innovation. The Kuwait Prize is given annually to distinguished Kuwaiti and Arab scientists around the world for significant and outstanding achievements in research.
Khalil, who is Palestinian-Jordanian, was honored for his work in synthetic and systems biology.
Khalil’s work focuses on developing synthetic biology tools to better understand how complex cellular systems work, and to design synthetic ones that enable new and useful biological functions. Khalil joined SEAS from Boston University in 2025, where his lab’s work made fundamental contributions into the biological circuits that control gene regulation and epigenetic memory, and pioneered synthetic circuit technologies for translational medicine, enabling the design of programmable cellular therapies to treat cancer and other diseases. In addition, his lab invented novel continuous evolution technologies, such as the eVOLVER, which are being used to generate biomolecules with new and improved functions to address unmet needs in biology, medicine, and biotechnology.
Khalil received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at MIT, where he was awarded a Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Graduate Fellowship. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Chemistry.
Shawky recently led Art Basel’s first Qatar fair, while his films and installations continue to tour major international venues.
Egyptian artist Wael Shawky has been named to the TIME100 Art 2026 list, recognising his growing international profile across exhibitions, film and major art institutions.
Shawky served as the inaugural artistic director of Art Basel’s first fair in Qatar and the Middle East, where the usual gallery-booth format was replaced by curated solo presentations. The event drew around 17,000 visitors.
He also leads Fire Station in Doha, an artist residency run by Qatar Museums.
Shawky’s practice frequently revisits history through Arab perspectives, often using puppetry, performance and film to examine how historical narratives are constructed and retold.
At the 2024 Venice Biennale, he presented ‘Drama 1882’, a video installation and opera centred on the Urabi Revolt in Egypt. The work has since travelled internationally, with presentations in Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Sydney and Paris.
His film ‘I Am Hymns of the New Temples’ is currently on view at M+ in Hong Kong through October. Shot in Pompeii, the work features actors reenacting Mediterranean myths while exploring how ancient stories continue to shape national and cultural identities.
Dr. Lama Alsharif uses short videos and live sessions to provide accessible, evidence-based information on subjects women may hesitate to discuss.
With more than 700,000 followers on TikTok, Saudi obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Lama Alsharif is using social media to tackle gaps in women’s health education and challenge misconceptions that can prevent patients from seeking care.
Alsharif first recognized the scale of the problem during her residency at a government hospital, where she worked in clinics, emergency departments, labor rooms and operating theaters. She repeatedly encountered women who had access to medical care but lacked reliable information about their own bodies.
“I realized that I simply could not give every woman the amount of time and education she deserved within a clinical setting,” she told Arab News.
After moving into private practice, Alsharif began looking for other ways to reach women and turned to social media.
“While many people viewed it primarily as a platform for entertainment, I believed it could also be one of the most powerful tools for public health education,” she said.
A 2026 study led by researchers at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in Dammam found that about 60 percent of Saudi respondents relied on at least one social media platform for medical information. The researchers also warned of the risk of misinformation on those platforms.
Alsharif seeks to address that gap through short, evidence-based videos and live question-and-answer sessions.
“What surprised and motivated me was how eager women were to learn when information was presented in a simple, respectful and accessible way,” she said.
Among the most common misconceptions Alsharif encounters are beliefs that menstrual blood is impure, that an episiotomy is necessary during every vaginal delivery and that pain during intercourse is an unavoidable part of being a woman.
“These misconceptions are not harmless,” she said. “They can prevent women from recognizing symptoms that deserve medical attention and can delay diagnosis and treatment for years.”
Alsharif has treated women who endured severe pelvic pain or painful intercourse for more than a decade because they believed their symptoms were normal.
“When they eventually learned that their symptoms could be evaluated and treated, it completely changed their perspective,” she said. “That is why I believe medical education should not simply tell women what is normal, it should also teach them to recognize what is not normal.”
Making clinical information accessible is among the greatest challenges of her work.
“My goal is to take a complex medical concept and translate it into simple, relatable language without compromising its scientific accuracy,” she said. “I never want simplification to become misinformation.”
For Alsharif, the value of her platform is measured less by follower numbers than by whether the information prompts women to seek appropriate care.
“For me, the most meaningful measure of success is the message from a woman who tells me that one of my videos encouraged her to see a doctor, helped her recognize that a symptom was not normal, or gave her the confidence to ask a question she had been too embarrassed to ask before,” she said.
Alsharif also delivers free online lectures through a nonprofit women’s health organization and is developing an application to guide women through puberty, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menopause.
“My vision is to create a trusted, evidence-based resource that women can access whenever they need it, while always recognizing that digital education should complement — not replace — professional medical care,” she said. “AI can be a useful tool, but it should never replace critical thinking, clinical judgment or evidence-based practice.”
Discussing menstruation, sexual health and pelvic pain can present additional challenges in a conservative society. Alsharif said she approaches these subjects through culturally sensitive communication.
“For me, breaking the stigma does not mean abandoning cultural values,” she said. “It means creating a respectful space where women can access accurate medical information and feel comfortable seeking the care they deserve.”
She also sees women’s health education as having an impact beyond individual patients.
“Women often become the source of health information for their families, friends and children. When one woman learns something important about her health, that knowledge can be passed on to the people around her and to future generations.”
Alsharif is among a growing number of Saudi female physicians taking on public-facing educational roles.
“(We) have a unique opportunity, because we can combine medical expertise with an understanding of our community, culture, and the questions women may sometimes hesitate to ask,” she said. “I believe we will see more Saudi female doctors becoming educators, researchers, entrepreneurs and voices in digital health.”
Ultimately, she hopes her work will help women take a more active role in decisions about their health.
“My goal is not simply to educate women about diseases,” she said. “It is to help create a generation of women who understand their bodies, recognize when something is wrong, seek care without shame, and feel confident that their voices matter.”
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Dr. Lama Alsharif, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, began looking for other ways to reach women and turned to social media. (Supplied)
The Arab America Foundation announced today the awardees of its 40 Under 40 initiative — Class of 2026. Forty Arab Americans from various fields and disciplines were announced.
The awardees are: Amr Abozaid, Noura Abualeinan, Abed Adawi, Dana Ahmad, Karam Ahmad, Tamer Akel, Zahraa Al Adeeb, Yasmin Al Ameen, Nour Al Ghraowi, Sophia Alawi, Ameer Armaly, Christeen Badie, Aida Bakhos, Mostapha Bojeh, Dana Dargos, Kassem Doghman, Ali Fadlallah, Leith Fakhouri, Carlton French, Hind Habbach, Amine Hachem, Zeinab Hachem, Ken Haddad, Mohammad Hadi, Ahmad Haidar-Ahmad, Ranya Hasan, Mohammad Hirzallah, Marwa Janini, Michael Kahwajy-Hyland, Rammy Korkor, Michel Mansour, Hannah Mesouani, Tarek Sabry Mohamed, Zeyad Musmar, Yara Ourfali, George Qadado, Rammy Salem, Sally Shahin, Omar Shajrah, and Amanne Sharif.
40 Under 40 is a celebration of accomplished young Arab Americans. The program showcases Arab American professionals in a wide range of fields, including education, law, public service, politics, nonprofit work, business, entrepreneurship, engineering, medicine, the arts, entertainment, writing, and media. These young professionals have outstanding achievements both in the workplace and in their communities.
“The 2026 class of 40 Under 40 represents the talent, vision, and leadership shaping the future of Arab America. From business and education to technology and the arts, these outstanding young professionals are making meaningful contributions in their communities and beyond. Their achievements reflect the strength, resilience, and promise of the next generation of Arab American leaders,” said Warren David, co-founder of the Arab America Foundation and president of Arab America.
All awardees are 30-40 years old, excel in their respective industries, and actively promote their heritage and culture to empower their communities and make a positive difference. The competition is open annually to all professionals who live and/or work in the United States and are of Arab descent.
The Arab America Foundation and its board are grateful for the leadership of the initiative’s coordinators, Nabelah Ghareeb and Elias J. Khalil, as well as the prestigious panel of judges.
The 40 Under 40, Class of 2026
Amr Abozaid
Amr Abozaid is an Arab American community leader and advocate focused on strengthening the position of immigrant-owned businesses in New York. As Director of Small Business Services at the Yemeni American Merchants Association (YAMA), he works at the intersection of community needs and institutional systems, ensuring that underserved merchants are not excluded from opportunity, protection, and representation. With a background in political science and media, Abozaid brings both policy awareness and narrative clarity to his work. He has played a visible role in elevating Arab American voices in public spaces, engaging with government stakeholders, and shaping conversations around economic equity, public safety, and immigrant inclusion. His leadership reflects a broader commitment to building long-term structures that empower Arab American communities, moving beyond short-term support toward sustained presence, influence, and access.
Noura Abualeinan
Noura Abualeinan is a Palestinian-Lebanese first-generation American committed to serving and advocating for marginalized communities. Born and raised in the South, she felt deeply isolated and recognized the need for a safe space for individuals in her community to learn and build, which prompted her to create one of the first grassroots Palestinian organizations in South Carolina in 2021. She has organized educational events focused on the Palestinian struggle and local food drives for her communities at home. She has been involved in several Palestinian, Syrian, and Sudanese refugee families’ lives, assisting with food insecurity and clothing needs and facilitating access to medical care. Professionally, she has been committed to working with patients with mental health and substance use concerns, constantly advocating for their needs through raising community awareness around harm reduction and connecting her patients with local resources for transportation, treatment, housing, and food banks.
Abed Adawi
Abed Adawi’s father comes from a Lebanese refugee camp in Palestine, and his mother from Uzbekistan. He makes an impact in his community by providing opportunities for those who want to build a career in marketing. Adawi is the Founder and CEO of AB Marketing Group, a marketing and business development firm dedicated to helping organizations grow through strategic branding, digital marketing, community engagement, and innovative outreach. Under his leadership, AB Marketing Group has worked with businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to strengthen their visibility, expand their audiences, and achieve measurable results. Adawi is recognized for his entrepreneurial vision, commitment to relationship-building, and passion for supporting business growth and community development.
Dana Ahmad
Dana Ahmad is a Florida-based trial attorney whose reputation is built on results, courtroom advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to her clients. Having worked with some of the nation’s top personal injury law firms, her trial experience speaks for itself- grounded in strategic preparation, persuasive advocacy, and a relentless pursuit of justice leading to multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Beyond the courtroom, Dana is a leading voice in advancing Arab American visibility and unity. As co-founder of Yallah Sawwa, a rapidly growing national platform that brings Arab Americans through cultural programming and community- driven events, she has created meaningful spaces that foster connection, identity, and belonging. Her commitment to advocacy began early, when she represented Lebanon in the Miss Arab USA Pageant, and later earned recognition from the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce for her advocacy and leadership. Through both her legal work and community impact, Dana is redefining representation, bridging cultures, amplifying voices, and creating lasting spaces for Arab Americans to thrive.
Karam Ahmad
Karam Ahmad is the Managing Director of Partnerships and Development at the Colorado Health Institute, where he leads strategic partnerships, business development, and multimillion-dollar growth strategies that strengthen communities and systems across Colorado and nationally. As an Iraqi-American policy leader, Karam is committed to advancing well-being for communities most impacted by systemic inequities. He is the founder of Acclimate Colorado, a model advancing climate and health equity through policy, data, and impact evaluation across sectors. His work has engaged thousands of stakeholders and influenced millions of dollars in policy and investment decisions. He advises state agencies and major local, national, and regional philanthropies, including Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, Colorado Gives Foundation, Milbank Memorial Fund, The Denver Foundation, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He is a Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree and serves on the Board of Directors of the Denver Downtown Islamic Center, supporting leadership and fundraising for a growing community resource center.
Tamer Akel
Tamer is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) and community leader, proudly hailing from Jerusalem, Palestine. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Audiology and Speech Therapy from Birzeit University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Nova Southeastern University, where he is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He works full-time at a private pediatric clinic in Port St. Lucie, Florida. His role involves providing crucial therapy and assessments for children with speech and language delays. Additionally, he draws on his background as a former professional soccer player to coach a competitive youth soccer team. He is deeply committed to giving back to my community and founded a local community group to organize events, foster connections, and host fundraisers. Looking ahead, he intends to leverage my clinical expertise and leadership experience to expand access to therapeutic services, build supportive networks, and continue empowering his community.
Zahraa AlAdeeb
Zahraa AlAdeeb is an Iraqi-American healthcare professional, nonprofit leader, and passionate community advocate based in Northeast Ohio. Born and raised in Kuwait, Zahraa moved to the USA in 2014 and has dedicated her life to service, leadership, and uplifting others. She has worked in nursing since 2008, specializing in gastroenterology. Zahraa holds a Master’s degree in Nursing, is certified as a Gastroenterology Registered Nurse, and is currently completing a post-graduate certification in leadership. Her work reflects a deep commitment to compassionate care, health equity, and the empowerment of underserved communities. Driven by her passion for culture and community, Zahraa founded and serves as executive director of Al Bait Al Iraqi, an initiative dedicated to uplifting Iraqi-Americans, preserving cultural heritage, and bridging generations. Through advocacy, volunteerism, and cultural engagement, she works to elevate Arab voices, highlight Arab contributions in Northeast Ohio, and strengthen the Arab American community’s visibility, unity, and presence.
Yasmin Al Ameen
Yasmin Al Ameen is a senior associate at Foley Hoag’s International Litigation and Arbitration Department, where she represents sovereign States and State-owned entities before the world’s principal dispute resolution bodies. Notably, she stands among the youngest advocates to have pleaded before the International Court of Justice. Her practice focuses on public international law litigation, investment treaty arbitration, and international commercial arbitration. She also frequently advises governments on public international law and human rights matters. She currently co-chairs Foley Hoag’s Arab, Middle Eastern, or Muslim Affinity Group and the Minorities in International Law Interest Group at the American Society of International Law. Al Ameen is a laureate of the prestigious Concours Général des Lycées and a recipient of the Bourse d’études du Gouvernement Français, a full scholarship awarded by the French Government for academic excellence.
Nour Al Ghraowi
Nour Al Ghraowi is a Syrian poet, writer, activist, and educator born and raised in Damascus and based in Brooklyn, New York. She received a BA in English Literature at The University of Texas at Austin and an MFA in poetry at Texas State University. She is a storyteller at Karam Foundation, the co-founder and Creative Director at Lucent Creative House, a 2023 Define American Fellow, and a 2024 Pushcart Prize nominee. Her poetry and essays have appeared in Poetry Magazine, Dame Magazine, Mizna Literary Journal, Porter House Review, World Literature Today, The Slow Factory, and others. Nour serves on the Board of Directors for the Radius of Arab American Writers (RAWI), where she helps guide the organization’s strategic vision to support Arab American writers. Her debut poetry collection, “there are bodies here,” was published in 2025 by Fine Editions. Nour writes in the hope of changing the Western view of the Middle East and the Arabic language, which is often viewed as inimical. She also writes about Social Justice, migrant identity, and what it means to be an immigrant in an unwelcome place. Finally, she writes about feminism and what it means to be a feminist Middle Eastern woman.
Sophia Alawi
Sophia Alawi is a Moroccan-Italian American actress, writer, singer-songwriter, and creator dedicated to amplifying MENA voices in entertainment. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Rider University’s BFA Musical Theatre program, she has trained at Stella Adler, The Barrow Group, and T. Schreiber Studio in New York City. Sophia is the recipient of a San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Groundhog Day: The Musical and was named one of the Houston Chronicle’s “Five Standout Performances” for Spring Awakening. Her theater credits include We Live in Cairo (New York Theatre Workshop), Evita, Twelfth Night, and In the Heights, and her television credits include Law & Order: SVU. Sophia is the creator of the web series Meet Amal, selected for the Cannes Diversity Virtual Showcase, and is currently developing her short film Lioness while producing her debut album of original music.
Ameer Armaly
Ameer Armaly is a blind Palestinian-American software engineer and oud player. He obtained a PhD in computer science from the University of Notre Dame, receiving the National Science Foundation’s prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship for his work improving programming accessibility for the blind. He spent six years at Google making Android a competitor to iOS in terms of accessibility for the blind. He is completing a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from CU Boulder. His musical career was shaped by years of studying the oud under Simon and Najib Shaheen. Since moving to New York in 2023, he has been producing and leading concerts at such venues as Symphony Space, programming both popular and forgotten selections. At the same time, he teaches privately, lectures, and produces talent-development concerts to help musicians of any heritage learn the subtle nuances of playing Arabic music at its best.
The University of Benghazi, which was closed for the past eleven years due to the Libyan war, officially reopened all its faculties and facilities on September 4, 2026 in a ceremony breaking three Guinness World Records.
The University of Benghazi, which was closed for the past eleven years due to the Libyan war, officially reopened all its faculties and facilities on September 4, 2026 in a ceremony breaking three Guinness World Records.
The inauguration event featured 3D mapping, advanced visual effects and an aerial drone performance that achieved three Guinness World Records – an eagle formation, a quill writing “University of Benghazi” across the sky and the formation of a peace symbol, the university said in a statement.
The University of Benghazi, Libya’s oldest, came to life following a comprehensive reconstruction and rehabilitation project implemented by the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund, headed by its Director General, Engineer Belqasim Khalifa Haftar.
Prominent Libyan figures, ambassadors, international delegations and approximately 240 foreign guests attended the opening ceremony led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and Engineer Belqasim Khalifa Haftar.
Engineer Belqasim personally followed the project’s finest details. What began as a personal dream, evolved into one of the Fund’s most prominent educational initiatives. In an exceptional achievement, an integrated university city was rebuilt in just three years, providing a modern academic environment designed to serve current and future generations.
“Mother of Libyan Universities”
Known as the “Mother of Libyan Universities”, the University of Benghazi is among the country’s oldest and largest academic institutions, with nearly 100,000 students.
Over the decades, it has provided free education and graduated generations of scientists, academics, experts and officials who have contributed to building Libya’s institutions.
The reopening of the university marked a historic milestone for higher education in Libya, restoring life to the university’s main campus after more than eleven years of closure due to the extensive destruction it sustained during the Libyan Armed Forces’ war against terrorist groups.
The project covered the Faculties of Engineering, Arts, Law, Science and Languages, alongside the central library, academic and administrative buildings, laboratories, service facilities, student residences, infrastructure and internal roads.
The Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund has also sent more than 1,000 university students abroad to continue their studies, combining physical reconstruction with investment in human capital.
The achievement forms part of more than 2,300 development projects being implemented across eastern and southern Libya. These include the rehabilitation of universities and educational institutions in Kufra, Al Bayda, Derna, Al Marj, Ajdabiya, Sirte, Brak al-Shati and Murzuq, alongside approximately 250 schools.
“The reopening is therefore far more than the return of an educational institution: it restores one of Libya’s most prominent scientific and historic landmarks to the heart of national life”, Benghazi University said in a statement.
Three hundred students from Tunisia’s University of Sfax have set a Guinness World Record by building a complete AI-powered startup in less than three hours, demonstrating how artificial intelligence is compressing timelines that would traditionally take weeks or months.
The achievement took place during a scientific forum titled “Artificial Intelligence at the Heart of Value Creation,” which brought together students from four institutions in Sfax, including the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management and the Higher Institute of Business Administration.
Participants were divided into specialized teams replicating real-world startup structures, covering technology, finance, human resources and marketing. Working under official Guinness World Records guidelines and coordinated by 40 student leaders, the groups collectively produced 42 professional deliverables, building the foundations of a legally structured, fully operational platform within the allotted timeframe.
The broader event spanned approximately five hours, beginning with intensive training sessions on AI tools before transitioning into the high-pressure execution phase. Organizers noted that participants had to quickly absorb new tools and immediately apply them in a real-world simulation — a challenge that underscored how AI is reshaping productivity at scale.
Academic leaders described the milestone as a powerful signal of Tunisia’s potential to compete globally, particularly in fields driven by artificial intelligence and digital innovation. The initiative also reflects a broader shift in university education toward hands-on, outcome-driven experiences that mirror real startup environments.
The University of Sfax, established in 1986, is one of Tunisia’s leading public institutions and plays a central role in research and talent development across business, engineering and the sciences.
