• Menu
  • Menu
  • Entertainment
  • Subscribe
  • Logout
Trending
UAE holidays 2021 Coronavirus Special Reports Find Jobs in the UAE Travel
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
      • Young Editors
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Health
      • Better Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Reader Complaint
    • Ask the Law
    • UAE's Hope Probe
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
  • Gulf
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Company Releases
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
    • Mena
    • Europe
      • Brexit
    • Africa
    • Americas
      • US Presidential Elections 2020
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Court and Crime
    • Coronavirus
    • Infographics
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • Off the Cuff
    • Cartoons
    • From the Editors
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • IPL
        • Chennai
        • Delhi
        • Punjab
        • Kolkata
        • Mumbai
        • Rajasthan
        • Bangalore
        • Hyderabad
      • ICC
    • Football
    • Motorsport
    • Tennis
      • Dubai Duty Free Tennis 2020
    • Golf
    • Rugby
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • Pinoy Celebs
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Going Out
    • Movie Reviews
    • Society
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
  • Auto
    • News
    • Test Drives
    • Car Culture
    • Auto Care
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
      • Beating Breast Cancer
    • Family
    • Community
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • #Pinoy
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Weekend Review
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
      • Gitex Shopper
    • Gaming
    • Trends
    • Fin-Tech
    • Media
  • How To
    • Employment
      • Jobs
    • Passports & Visas
    • Your Money
    • Legal
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • #Pinoy
    • Community
    • Travel
    • Technology
  • GN Focus
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Hotels
  • Gold-Forex
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gulf News store
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    Emirati Women’s Day 2020: Celebrating women in every field

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Tuesday, March 2, 2021
    Gold / Forex

    Photos Entertainment

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    Emirati Women’s Day 2020: Celebrating women in every field

    The sixth annual celebration of Emirati women lands on August 28 this year


    Published:  August 26, 2020 13:10 Marwa Hamad, Assistant Editor

    1 of 17
    Emirati Women's Day
    The sixth annual Emirati Women’s Day lands on August 28. Whether they are politicians, tech entrepreneurs, managers, chefs, ballerinas, figure skaters or attempting to climb Mt Everest, Emirati women have excelled across every field. Here’s a small glimpse into women-to-celebrate in 2020. Image Credit: Supplied
    2 of 17
    WAM Noura Al Kaabi 1-1593943533223
    Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth: Noura Bint Mohammad Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, was appointed her most recent position in July. Prior to that, she was the Minister for Culture and Knowledge Development since 2017. Additionally, Al Kaabi is the Chairperson of the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science. Recognised for her bright and unwavering disposition, Al Kaabi also serves as the President of Zayed University. Image Credit:
    3 of 17
    Sara Al Madani-1597727532020
    Sara Al Madani, Entrepreneur: Sara Al Madani is an entrepreneur, innovator and public speaker. With more than 300,000 followers on Instagram, Al Madani shares her career journey, as well as her experience with motherhood. In 2014, she became the youngest board member on the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 2018, she received an honorary doctorate in Business Administration in Women Leadership from Eton University in Manchester. Most recently, Al Madani cofounded the platform Hala Hi, where fans can commission celebrities for video shout-outs. Image Credit:
    4 of 17
    1.1893796-245354588
    Danah Al Ali, Mountaineer: Danah Al Ali describes herself as an “Emirati mountaineer with a goal to be the first Emirati woman to attempt Mt Everest.” The ambitious athlete, mother-of-two and office manager has tried for Everest five times. Most recently, her preparations were interrupted by COVID-19. However, Al Ali’s dream continues. Her first foray into mountaineering was in 2013, when she conquered Mt Kilimanjaro. “Mountaineering is not all physical, it is very much about mental strength and women have that, especially if you are a mum,” she told Gulf News in 2016. Image Credit: Supplied
    5 of 17
    Hind Al Boom
    Hind Al Boom, Manager, Director General’s Office at Expo 2020 Dubai: As Manager of Content Design and Development at the Director General’s Office at Expo 2020 Dubai, Hind Al Boom works closely with international participants to ensure their content and programmes are echoed across the Expo site, integrated on visitor experience platforms, and promote meaningful engagement among visitors of Expo 2020 Dubai. Image Credit: Supplied
    6 of 17
    Salama Mohamed
    Salama Mohamed, Content creator and advocate: Salama Mohamed is better know as part of a duo — she and husband Khalid Al Ameri have reached a worldwide audience with their informative and entertaining social media antics, which range from pretend fights to educational and uplifting content. Mohamed is also a mum of two boys and an advocate for vitiligo awareness. Vitiligo, which became more widely represented in the beauty industry via fashion model Winnie Harlow, is a condition in which the skin loses pigment cells, resulting in discoloured patches on the face and body. Mohamed’s Instagram, where she has more than 600,000 followers, boasts the bio: “Blessed with vitiligo. #InOurSkinWeWin”. Image Credit: Instagram
    7 of 17
    1.2063480-1909190422
    Butheina Kazim, Founder of Cinema Akil: Butheina Kazim changed the moviegoing scene in the UAE forever with Cinema Akil in 2018, a single-screen art house venue that screens primarily independent films that you wouldn’t be likely to see at major multiplexes. Cinema Akil was a nomadic concept in 2014, showing up as a pop-up, before it found its permanent home in Al Serkal Avenue. It also holds themed film schedules, such as Reel Palestine and, currently running until September 3, Voyage to France. The lockdown-inspired ‘Voyage’ series gives viewers the experience of travelling around the world through the big screen, even if they can’t physically hop onto the next flight out. Image Credit:
    8 of 17
    Jouhayna Al Mheiri
    Jouhayna Al Mheiri, Air Traffic Controller: Jouhayna Al Mheiri is the second Emirati female Air Traffic Control Officer in the Sheikh Zayed Air Navigation Centre — and she’s the youngest. When she’s not controlling air traffic, she enjoys creating minimalist black-and-white illustrations using pen and paper. Early on, Al Mheiri dreamed of becoming a pilot. But according to Global Air Traffic Management, when she learnt about air traffic controllers, where dedicated individuals direct aircraft on the ground and through controlled airspace, she thought to herself: “Why control one aircraft when I can control them all?”  Image Credit: Supplied
    9 of 17
    Nayla Al Khaja COVERSHOT-1573280397155
    Nayla Al Khaja, Filmmaker: Nayla Al Khaja touts herself as the UAE’s first Emirati female film director-writer. The self-proclaimed “queen of shorts” recently forayed into directing her first feature-length film, the horror flick ‘The Shadow’. In November, Al Khaja was heavily pregnant as she promoted the film with a chilling 15-minute screening, which she hoped would encourage funding for the project. In December, the filmmaker gave birth to twins Noah and Dana, which she announced to her nearly 15,000 Instagram followers through the “best post of my life.” Al Khaja is an outspoken proponent for women in cinema, and proudly revealed that 40 per cent of ‘The Shadow’s’ crew is made up of women. Image Credit:
    10 of 17
    1.2203360-183442150
    Afra Atiq, Poet: Afra Atiq is an award-winning spoken word artist and scholar who holds a PhD in Media & Creative Industries. In June, Atiq announced her graduation on Instagram: “Officially, officially graduated. Dr Afra, PhD. To the dreamers, writers, poets and anyone who was ever told they can’t — This is our VICTORY.” Born to an Emirati father, and a Japanese-American mother, the poet has been featured in at least 13 cities across four countries. Atiq has also performed across various iconic stages in the UAE, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Opera stage. Image Credit:
    11 of 17
    NAT_190305_LIT-FEST-LANGUAGE_VS-13-1551956765507
    Roudha Al Marri, Author: Best-selling author Roudha Al Marri enjoys immersing herself in different cultures. So, in 2018, she decided to pay it forward. Teaming up with Italian writer Illaria Caielli, she co-authored the fast-selling book ‘UAE 101: Stories and Cultural Learnings’, hoping to share Emirati culture with the world. Al Marri is currently working on her second book, ‘101 Misconceptions about the UAE, Explained!’ She has her own publishing house, House 101, with the aim of releasing more of these books. Image Credit:
    12 of 17
    1.2208767-2737274333
    Zahra Lari, Figure skater: Zahra Lari is a trailblazer. The 25-year-old is the first Emirati figure skater to ever compete internationally — and the first figure skater to compete in hijab. She even got a deduction for the garment at her junior international debut in the European Cup in Italy during the 2011-12 season, as the headscarf wasn’t considered an approved part of her costume. Lari, whose father is Emirati and whose mother is from North Carolina, US, has been skating since she was 13 years old. She got her inspiration after watching the Disney film ‘Ice Princess’. It’s been reported that there is currently a documentary by the same name in the works, which chronicles Lari’s journey so far. Lari, who is a five-time Emirati national champion, earlier told Gulf News: “My major challenge was to make people understand figure skating is not dancing, but an actual Olympic sport.” Message received! Image Credit: Courtesy: Zahra Lari
    13 of 17
    1.1975575-3747682872
    Amal Murad, Parkour and freerunning coach: The BBC Travel Show in 2018 called Amal Murad “the first Emirati woman to coach and compete in parkour or freerunning.” Passionate and relentless, the athlete — and mother of one — most recently launched #LeapMom, an 8-week post-partum programme, which is currently priced at Dh600. She also announced that she is working on a 4-week programme, #LeapStrong. In 2016, Murad spoke to Gulf News about some of her biggest detractors. “I had a mother tell me that she didn’t want her daughter to grow up and be like me, which hurt me a lot,” recalled Murad. “I don’t blame anyone for what they think, because that’s how we were raised to think. This has to change through our action.” Thankfully, what doesn’t break Murad seems to make her stronger. Image Credit: Supplied
    14 of 17
    190820 Chef Sahar Al Awadhi
    Sahar Al Awadhi, Pastry chef: The first and only Emirati pastry chef in the region, Sahar Al Awadhi began her career at Zayed University, where she handled social media and marketing. Deep down, she knew her heart belonged elsewhere. In 2016, Al Awadhi got a job at Burj Al Arab as a Junior Sous Chef, and worked her way up to becoming a Pastry Chef. “At Burj Al Arab, no two days are the same,” she told Gulf News last year. “Typically, I’ll have lots of emails to work through, as well as food tastings and menu development, which keeps things interesting and exciting.” Image Credit: Supplied
    15 of 17
    Amna Al Hashemi
    Amna Al Hashemi, Chef and restaurateur: Emirati chef Amna Al Hashemi opened her first restaurant, Mitts & Trays, four years ago — and it’s still going strong. Earlier this year, the BBC called Al Hashemi “the first female chef in the UAE to own her own restaurant.” But, Al Hashemi dismisses the description as “pretentious” — not wanting to alienate herself from her guests, nor wanting to put herself on a pedestal. Image Credit: Supplied
    16 of 17
    Yasmin Baker
    Yasmin Baker, Aerialist: Yasmin Baker is the first-ever Emirati aerialist, preferring to keep her feet off the ground. But she had to get comfortable with her acrophobia — an extreme or irrational fear of heights — in order to get here. Baker grew up watching human circus shows. Early on in her life, she sat in the audience of Cirque du Soleil, putting the gravity-defying art form on her radar. Baker, who studied university in Washington in the US, initially encountered aerial arts through a professor’s wife, who taught her her first lesson. But, Baker said she had to build up her upper body strength quite a bit since then! Image Credit: Gulf News Archives
    17 of 17
    Alia Al Neyadi
    Alia Al Neyadi, Ballerina: Alia Al Neyadi is the first professional Emirati ballerina. Born to an Emirati father and a Russian mother, Al Neyadi ‘retired’ from the art form when she was 22 — but she was back two years later in 2018; she missed dancing too much to truly let it go. Plus, she was slated to perform at a beautiful venue, the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Al Neyadi’s journey began when she was only five years old. She began training as a ballerina at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, and she was only one of five Emirati girls to take it up. But really, it starts with her ballet instructor mum, Svetlana, who first visited the UAE in the 1980s, when she was invited to perform with the Moscow Ballet Company in Al Ain. There, she met Al Neyadi’s father, Abdalla Al Neyadi — and the rest was dance history. Image Credit: Gulf News Archives

    Trending

    • Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan, celebs spotted at Nad Al Sheba

      Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan, celebs spotted at Nad Al Sheba

    Latest In

    • Why Pakistan is reopening its schools now

      1 minute ago

    • San Diego Comic-Con to be virtual again this year

      11 minutes ago

    • Indian expats’ hike in wadis helped beat COVID

      15 minutes ago

    • Hilaria, Alec Baldwin are new parents to sixth child

      20 minutes ago

    • In Bengal polls it is Modi versus Mamata

      30 minutes ago

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Baby & Child
    • Friday
    • Inside Out
    • Watch Time
    • Wheels
    • getthat
    • GN Tech
    • Jobs
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Gulf News store
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or