Winners of Princess Seetah Award : Saudi Arabia

The winners of ‘ The Princess Seetah bint Abdul Aziz Award ‘ – were as follows: 

Excellence in national achievement: Health ministry’s volunteering program and education ministry’s distance learning digital platform ‘Madrasti’ (my school)

Excellence in Islamic endowment: General Authority for Endowments for mitigating the effects of the virus on people through its humanitarian initiatives. 

Excellence in social work: The Madinah Al-Munawarah’s NGO for its ‘The good city initiative.’

Excellence for social work entrepreneurs: Sheikh Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Subeai for setting up a charitable institution and donating money to various causes in the Kingdom during the pandemic.

Corporate social responsibility: Advanced Petrochemical Company for its initiatives during the pandemic and Sadara Chemical Company for its work with the health sector in tackling COVID-19.

Established in April of 2012 by royal decree, the Princess Seetah bint Abdul Aziz Foundation for Excellence in Social Work is an independent nonprofit organization.

The late Princess Seetah was famous for her piety, devotion and benevolence. Known as “the mother of the needy” and “the mother of goodness,” her charitable efforts made her a household name over the course of her life.

Her house was open to all types of Saudi people. She would meet with them, listen to their problems and try to find solutions either by following up on their issues, helping them financially or presenting their problems to those in charge if she was unable to do so herself.

During her life, she served as president of the National Family Safety Program, as an honorary member of the Saudi Historical Society, president of Safat Al-Khair Project and president of Al-Saud Women’s Forum.

www.seetahaward.org

_____________

The Seventh Princess Seetah Awards’ gala dinner was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh. (AN Photo) / pix: arabnews.com

_________________

SAUDI ARABIA

Aimee Cutrona – Appointed as Acting Special Representative for Syria Engagement, at the U.S. – National Security Council : February 2021

Aimee Cutrona. US Diplomat.

Assignments:

  • Deputy Assistant Secretary for Levant Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
  • Formerly – Office Director, Office of Levant Affairs (NEA/LEV)
  • Deputy Chief of Mission, Bahrain (2016-2019)

Education:

  • Masters Degree : International Relations and Conflict Management, John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

____________

Aimee Cutrona. Photo Courtesy of US State Department / pix: english.aawsat.com

______________________________________________________

AMERICAN / SYRIAN-AMERICAN / ARAB AMERICAN

UAE Coach Houriya Al-Taheri – First Arab Female FIFA-Certified Coach

Houriya Al-Taheri. Female Emirati Footballer. UAE National Team Player. Coach.

Highlights:

  • Manager, UAE Women’s National Team
  • Former Captain, UAE Women’s National Team. Led the team to victory in 2010 and 2011 at the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Women Championship.
  • Led the UAE squad to victory over Iraq in 2017. The UAE’s first win on a World Cup qualifier
  • Former Goal Keeper – UAE Women’s National Team
  • Selected by FIFA as Women’s Football Regional Coach in Jordan

Author:

  • Book ‘Becoming a Legend ‘ by Houriya Al-Taheri and Hannah Bass

______________

pix: @ggwcup

___________________________________

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Sarah Malallah: Youngest Kuwaiti to Win International Piano Competitions

Sarah Maitham Malallah , youngest Kuwaiti pianist to win major competitions outside Kuwait.

The six-year-old girl won four competitions from Sept 2020 till Feb 2021.

Awards:

  • 1st place : Karabakh International Culture and Art contest, Azerbaijan (2020)
  • 1st place : 2nd International Music Festival ‘Astana Stars’, Kazakhstan (2020)
  • 1st place : Star Bridge International Contest (in the under 6 category), Germany (Feb 2021)
  • 2nd place : Russian III International Competition ‘Ca Ave Musica’, Turkey
  • etc…

__________

Photo shows Kuwaiti pianist Sarah Maitham Malallah playing the piano at the Lina Bakir for Music and Art Consultancies Academy.—Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat / kuwaittimes.net

__________

KUWAIT

‘LAQAH’ created by Oman’s Middle East College Students Wins Coveted ‘Injaz Oman’ Prize : November 2020

A group of students and alumni from Middle East College in Oman have developed a spray from palm pollen that helps protect trees and plants from pests, enabling them to thrive for longer.

Their product, named Laqah, (the Arabic word for ‘pollen’) recently won the Best Sustainable Prize at a competition organised by Injaz Oman, a company that provides training and resources to youths and encourages them to become entrepreneurs.

The team, consisting of MEC graduates Mouath Al Shuaili, as well as students Nasra Al Sawafi, Athari Al Hassani, Maysa Al Balushi, and Fatma Ali Rahbi, came up with the product to help Oman’s agricultural sector.

“This has helped us market our products and increase our customers’ confidence in us,” said Mouath Al Shuaili, who serves as the CEO of the company, which is also named Laqah

source: http://www.timesofoman.com

______________

pix: timesofoman.com

_________

OMAN

Egypt launches 1st Platform for Entrepreneurship in Middle East, N Africa (MENA) : February 2021

 The Ministry of Planning launched in cooperation with Facebook and Rise Up Foundation an interactive platform “SMB Business BOT” for entrepreneurship to support small and medium enterprises in the Middle East and North Africa.

Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Hala El-Said asserted the keenness of the ministry to provide mechanisms supporting the entrepreneurship thinking, saying the ministry is keen on establishing business incubators via “Rowad 2030” project that was launched by the ministry .

Facebook Managing Director in the Middle East and North Africa Ramez Shehadi said Facebook is committed to provide the tools that would enable small and medium enterprises push forward economic growth wheel, creating job opportunities and boosting local societies in Egypt,

The Founder of Rise Up Foundation Abdel Hamid Sharara said the Business BOT program will provide support needed by the different companies in the Middle East and North Africa. (MENA)

source: egypttoday.com

______________

Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Hala El-Said – Press photo / pix: egypttoday.com

________

EGYPT

Sarah Al Amiri named in Time’s 2021 List of ‘Next 100 Most Influential People’ : 2021

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, has been named as one of Time’s 2021 list of the Next 100 Most Influential People in the World for successfully leading the UAE’s Hope Probe into Mars’ orbit, in the first-ever Arab interplanetary mission.

In addition to her work in sending the Arab world’s first spacecraft to Mars, Al Amiri is now ahead of bigger missions: to lead ambitious space and technology projects that contribute to the UAE’s bigger goal in establishing a knowledge-based economy. A lunar mission in 2024 and plans to build a human settlement on Mars by 2117 are among the ambitious projects that await the young minister who’s looking to promote research and development to create new industries as part of her role.

She took part in building the UAE’s first two satellites – DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2, and the first entirely Emirati-made KhalifaSat.

She has been holding several responsibilities as the Chairwoman of the Emirates Scientists Council, Chairwoman of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Council and Chairwoman of the Dubai Future Academy Board of Trustees.

In 2017, she became the country’s first Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, a title that later changed in the latest cabinet reshuffle in August 2020 to the Minister of State for Advanced Technology. She was also then named the Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency.

In 2015, the World Economic Forum honoured her as one of its 50 Young Scientists for her contributions to science, technology and engineering.

She was also invited by the World Economic Forum to speak at Davos 2019 and became the first Emirati citizen to speak at an international TED event in 2017.

Mostly recently, she was selected in the BBC’s 100 Women 2020, a documentary that highlighted women leading change and making a difference during last year’s turbulent times.

source: wam.ae

____________

pix: wam.ae

___________________________________

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder – Abu Dhabi Festival

Huda I Alhamis-Kanoo, Patron of the Arts

  • Founder – Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) – 1996
  • Founder & Artistic Director : Abu Dhabi Festival (2004)

www.admaf.org / www.abudhabifestival.ae

Awards:

  • The Abu Dhabi Award and Abu Dhabi Medal (conferred by H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi)
  • The UN-affiliated Women Together Award
  • The Aspen Institute Emerging Voice Award for Cultural Stewardship
  • The Puccini Festival Foundation Award,
  • The Middle East Institute’s Visionary Award,
  • etc…

Orders Conferred:

  • The Commander of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (Orden de Isabel la Católica), conferred upon her by HM Juan Carlos, former King of Spain, by order of HM Philip IV, King of Spain
  • The Medal of Civil Merit of Spain
  • The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesverdienstkreuz)
  • Commendatore dell’Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà of Italy
  • Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur of France
  • Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France
  • The Belgian Officer of the Order of the Crown, bestowed upon her by HM Albert II, King of Belgium
  • The Gloria Artis Medal of Poland
  • Order of the British Empire (OBE), bestowed upon her by HM Queen Elizabeth the Second
  • etc…

_________________

Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo is the founder of Admaf and artistic director of the Abu Dhabi Festival. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Festival / pix: thenationalnews.com

________________________________________________

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Saudi Arabia Opens Military Recruitment to Women : February 2021

Women can now join Saudi Arabia’s armed forces, following a ruling by the Saudi Ministry of Defense that opened the way for both genders to sign up through a unified admission portal starting Sunday.

Military ranks from soldier to sergeant will be available in the Saudi Arabian Army, Royal Saudi Air Defense, Royal Saudi Navy, Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force, and Armed Forces Medical Services.

Saudi female applicants must be between the age of 21 and 40 years old, have a height of 155 cm or taller, and cannot be a government employee.

Female submissions must also hold an independent national identity card and have at least a high school education. Applicants married to non-Saudi citizens will not be accepted.

source: arabnews.com

___________

All applicants must have a clean record and be medically fit for service. (Supplied) / pix: arabnews.com

________________

SAUDI ARABIA

AlAnoud Al Sharekh – First Kuwaiti Woman to Receive France’s Ordre National du Merite : 2016

Dr. AlAnoud Al Sharekh. Researcher. Academic. Author. Women’s Rights Activist.

Presently, Research Associate, The Chatham House and ‘The Arab Gulf Institute, Washington

Activity :

  • Founding Member – Abolish 153 (aka) Abolish Article 153
  • Founding Member – Mudhawi’s List
  • Director – Ibtkar Strategic Consulting

Awards:

  • First Kuwaiti Woman to receive France’s ‘Ordre National du Merite’ (National Order of Merit)
  • Listed among BBC’s 100 Women of 2019
  • Arab Prize – Best Publication in a Foreign Journal (2013-2014) by The Doha Institute (2014)
  • Voices of Success Kuwait Award (2018)

Education:

  • BA – Bachelor’s Degree – English, Kings College, London (1996)
  • MA – Masters Degree – Applied Linguistics and English-Arabic Language and Translation – School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London
  • Ph.D – Doctorate – Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Comparative Literature and Feminism

Books:

  • Challenging Limitations: The Redefinition of Rules for Women in the GCC (2005)
  • Angry Words Softly Spoken: A Comparitive Study of English and Arabic Women Writers (2006)
  • The Gulf Family : Kinship Policies and Modernity (2007)
  • Popular Culture and Political Identity in the Arab Gulf States (2008)

http://www.alanoudalsharekh.com

___________

pix: alanoudalsharekh.com

__________

KUWAIT