Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Arab Woman Awards organizing committee met with the panel of judges and board members of the awards in Riyadh Wednesday morning. The Arab Woman Awards KSA 2014 ceremony will be held at a private women-only gala dinner on Jan. 29 in the Saudi capital. Established in 2009 by ITP, the largest publishing house in the Gulf region, the awards recognized over 170 successful women from diverse fields, including art, business, fashion, entrepreneurship and charity. Previous award ceremonies were held in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait and in 2015 it will be held 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 the Kingdom to recognize 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 15 winners are selected by a panel of judges that this year consisted of 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 panel included 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 Almaeena, founder of Jeddah United Basketball Team; and Nadine El-Chaer, editor in chief at ITP Publishing. The judges met at La Cucina restaurant in Al-Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh to discuss this year's nominations. The winners will be announced later this month. Princess Reema said she was very happy to be a judge, as she believed in highlighting the achievements of Saudi women in society. 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, Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif Mohammed Al-Nahayan, Huda Al-Matroushi, Fatima Al-Jaber and Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. The awards are held in association with Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority. Mouza Al-Shamsi, marketing director of the authority, said: “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.
