Today's Edition
Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, crowned the winners of the eighth Fatima bint Mubarak Women Sports Awards at a ceremony held at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The event was organised by the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMLSA), in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
The winners were honoured at an event that embodied the wonderful atmosphere of the Fatima bint Mubarak Women Sports Awards.
The Awards themselves are unique in the Arab world and held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, President of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and Mother of the Nation, to enhance the role of Arab women.
The Supreme Organising Committee (SOC) of the Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the FBMLSA, President of the Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Women’s Clubs, and owner and founder of Al Shira’aa Stables.
The ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, Hassan Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Presidential Court for the Support Services Sector, Shamsa Saif Al Hinai, Academy board and SOC member, and Maryam Al Mansouri and Hamda Al Mansouri, members of the SOC, alongside a number of sports leaders, officials and celebrated athletes in the UAE and the Arab world.
The best Arab Athlete award went to artistic gymnastics star Kelia Nammour (Algeria), while the equivalent crown among Emirati women went to jiu-jitsu champion Ahoud Khalifa Al Ketbi.
The Arab Sport Personality of the Year was also announced for Sheikha Dr. Hessa bint Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Member of the Board of Directors of the Olympic Committee and Head of the Gender Equal Opportunities Committee in Sports, who also held the position of Chair of the Women’s Committee of the Bahrain Football Association.
In the new category this year, dedicated to the pioneers of sports-related work in the Arab world, the award was given to Sheikha Naima Al-Sabah, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Sports Federation in Kuwait and Honorary President of the GCC Women’s Sports Committees, in appreciation of her prominent role in raising the status of women’s sports in the State of Kuwait and the Gulf region.
The award was also given to Sana bint Hamad bin Saud Al Busaidi, Head of the Oman Women’s Sports Committee and Advisor to the Minister of Education, for her pioneering role in women’s sports in the Sultanate and being at the forefront of many influential initiatives.
Maryam Ahmed Al Zeyoudi (UAE) won the Best Paralympic Athlete award, while Marwa Al Amri (Tunisia) was honoured as the Best Coach. Nahla Nabil Bouzid Al Maghribi (Sudan) took home the Best Sports Media award, while Latifa Mohammed Khalifa Al Falasi (UAE) won the Best Youth Athlete award.
In the Best Team category, Zamalek Club (Egypt) received the award for the efforts of its women’s volleyball team that won the African Clubs Championship. Ruqayya Ahmed Abdullah Al Zaabi (UAE) won the Best Sports Mother award.
The SOC of the Awards congratulated all the winners of the eighth edition, and thanked the sponsors, media partners Abu Dhabi Media Network and Abu Dhabi Sports Channels, and Dolphin Energy as a bronze partner, for the support provided.
