Jury announced for 2025 Edition of Excellence Awards by Gulf News and BeingShe

Behind every powerful platform that celebrates women is a community of changemakers who believe in their strength. For an event as meaningful as the Excellence Awards 2025, it takes a jury that embodies the very values the awards stand for — leadership, vision, and purpose.
Gulf News, in partnership with BeingShe, has officially revealed the jury panel for the fifth edition of the Excellence Awards, scheduled for June 14, 2025, in Dubai.
This year's esteemed jury includes Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation; Khalid Anib, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Hotels; Omer Elamin, President of Orient Group; Salima Gutieva, Vice President and Country Manager, Visa UAE; Samia Bouazza, Group CEO and Managing Director of Multiply Group; and Dr. Aisha bint Butti bin Bishr, former Director General of Smart Dubai.
With more than 20 major award categories, this year's awards allow nominees to choose sub-categories aligned with their expertise. A new addition this year is the 'Women Under 30 – Rising Stars of the Future' category, dedicated to highlighting the next generation of bold, purpose-driven women.
The announcement of the jury adds further momentum to the event, bringing together voices from across sectors who are passionate about recognising and empowering women.
What moved me to join the jury panel this year was the opportunity to listen to and learn from women whose journeys reflect courage, creativity, and purpose,' said Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation. 'The Excellence Awards offer a space to shine a light on stories that often go unheard, particularly those of young women who are already shaping their industries in meaningful ways. Recognition can be a powerful motivator when it comes from a place of authenticity. What matters most is that these moments of celebration help open doors, widen networks, and build confidence — not just for the winners, but for every woman who sees herself reflected in their story.'
Khalid Anib, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Hotels, noted: 'The Excellence Awards play a vital role in empowering women in the UAE. Creating visibility and celebrating the achievements of those who are making a difference in various sectors, the awards are also a source of inspiration for the next generation of leaders. Being part of the jury panel allows me to witness the incredible talent, resilience, and vision that women across the UAE bring to the table. It's deeply rewarding to be in a position where I can support and contribute to a culture that celebrates ambition, empowerment, and inclusion.'
'I am thrilled to be a part of the esteemed jury panel for the Excellence Awards 2025,' said Omer Elamin, President of Orient Group. 'I believe the Excellence Awards have a significant impact on empowering women in the UAE. These awards shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of exceptional women entrepreneurs, ensuring they receive the recognition and appreciation they deserve. Being a firm believer in the leadership capabilities of women and their vital role in society, I am inspired to contribute to this selection process. I am eager to share my perspectives and support the acknowledgment of these outstanding women.'
'It's an honour to join the jury for this year's Excellence Awards,' said Salima Gutieva, Vice President and Country Manager, Visa UAE. 'From business and technology to healthcare, the arts, and public service, these awards shine a light on the women leading change across the UAE. It's inspiring to see their impact and to help bring their stories to light. I have seen how powerful it can be when women are given the support and recognition they deserve. Yet many still face challenges when it comes to access — whether that's funding, visibility, or the right networks. Through initiatives like She's Next, Visa has had the opportunity to support women entrepreneurs and see firsthand the difference the right resources can make in helping them grow their businesses and reach their goals. That's why being part of this again this year is so meaningful to me.'
Samia Bouazza, Group CEO and Managing Director of Multiply Group, added: 'These awards go beyond recognition — they're a reminder to every woman in the UAE that power starts from within. When you see women being celebrated for pushing boundaries, for showing up relentlessly despite resistance — it sparks self-belief and ambition in others. Being part of the jury is about championing that mindset — one that values not just the outcome, but the discipline, clarity, and resilience it takes to get there. It's about spotlighting women who didn't wait for a green light — they built their own paths and stayed focused on the bigger picture.'
The Excellence Awards have been a powerful platform for recognising women's leadership, innovation, and resilience. From entrepreneurship and technology to the arts and philanthropy, these awards have honored women who are not just breaking barriers but are rewriting the rules of success.
The 2024 edition saw keen participation from women across a variety of sectors including business, health, media, the arts and technology. More than 40 exceptional women from diverse domains were honoured at the 2024 edition at the Museum of the Future in Dubai on 8 June.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Zawya

4 days ago

• Zawya

RIT Dubai hosted graduation of NOMU Al Ghurair Women in AI program

Dubai, UAE: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) of Dubai has hosted the graduation of the NOMU Al Ghurair Women in AI program, in collaboration with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF) and the pioneering educational institution, ZAKA. The event recognised the achievements of 70 Emirati & Arab women who successfully completed the 20-week AI Certification program with ZAKA, which was established to increase the skills capacity in artificial intelligence and machine learning in the UAE. Organized by ZAKA Co-founder and Head of Partnerships, Larissa Abi Nakhle, the ceremony welcomed RIT Dubai President Dr. Yousef Al Assaf and Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation CEO Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar. In her opening remarks, Dr. Ben Jaafar highlighted the Foundation's dedication to upskilling Emirati women and supporting their entry into the AI job market, empowering them to become leaders in the region's digital future. Addressing the graduates, Dr. Ben Jaafar said, 'You have stepped into a male-dominated field, and you did this boldly and fearlessly. You are the spark of a movement; a signal that the UAE's innovation economy will not be built by machines alone, it will be built by women like you. You are not just changing your future, you're shifting a global statistic.' Welcoming guests on behalf of RIT Dubai, Dr. Al Assaf provided an overview of the six centers that will be launching as the campus development continues, and invited the graduates to explore opportunities for collaboration with the university. Speaking about the importance of retaining human values in the advancement of technology, Dr. Al Assaf remarked, 'Smart machines are not replacing jobs, they are creating jobs, but we must remember that AI speaks to our emotions but does not have emotions; we need to make sure that the human element is integrated into the codes we develop in order to help people to lead a better life.' The event proceeded with the award of certificates to the cohort of students representing the UAE and other Arab nations. The graduation marked the culmination of a highly selective and challenging program that combined technology with job-readiness skills to prepare candidates for the future of work. The program was set in the context of anticipated expansion in the Middle East AI sector, with an expected annual growth rate ranging from 20 to 34 per cent, projecting a potential impact of $320 billion by 2030. As part of the program, students undertook an intensive 12-week curriculum, involving topics including data science, statistical modelling, neural networking and machine learning. The curriculum concluded with an eight-week capstone project, during which participants worked on a real-life assignment proposed by a partnering company, applying the skills they had learned during the course. This phase includes weekly mentorship sessions to guide participants through the project. Among the program's graduates was Reem Al Neyad, an alumna of Zayed University with a major in information technology, networking, and security. Reflecting on her experience, she said, 'I have always been interested in artificial intelligence; my senior project was a medical dispenser powered by AI. I wanted to build on my experience with Python and machine learning through this program, and it has enhanced my skills in this area. I can now apply this experience in the real world, and I am grateful for the opportunity provided by AGF and ZAKA.' During the ceremony, a keynote address was delivered by Dr. Aishah Al Yammahi, Strategic Advisor at Alef Education. The event concluded with presentations of some of the AI projects developed during the program, including BookBuddy AI, a bilingual support tool enabling children to develop a deeper understanding of language. About RIT Dubai Established in 2008, RIT Dubai is a not-for-profit global campus of the esteemed Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, one of the world's leading technological-focused universities with more than 185 years of history. RIT Dubai is now operating from phase one of its new $136 million state-of-the-art campus, which provides an interactive learning space set over 129,000 square meters. RIT Dubai offers highly valued Bachelor's and Master's degrees in business, psychology, media design, leadership, engineering, and computing. The curriculum offers students relevant work experience through an innovative cooperative education program, helping them stand out in today's highly competitive job market. RIT Dubai offers American degrees issued directly from the main campus in New York, and all of RIT's programs are accredited by the UAE Ministry. Students of RIT Dubai also have the unique opportunity to choose to study abroad at the main campus in New York or at one of its other global campuses.

Gulf Today

4 days ago

• Gulf Today

Emirati, Arab women sharpen AI skills

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) of Dubai has hosted the graduation of the NOMU Al Ghurair Women in AI programme, in collaboration with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF) and the pioneering educational institution, ZAKA. The event recognised the achievements of 70 Emirati and Arab women who successfully completed the 20-week AI Certification programme with ZAKA, which was established to increase the skills capacity in artificial intelligence and machine learning in the UAE. The NOMU, meaning 'growth' in Arabic, initiative was launched by AGF in 2021 to empower 25,000 Emirati youth by 2025. The graduation ceremony was attended by ZAKA Co-founder and Head of Partnerships, Larissa Abi Nakhle, Dr Yousef Al Assaf, President RIT Dubai and Dr Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation. In her opening remarks, Dr Ben Jaafar highlighted the Foundation's dedication to upskilling Emirati women and supporting their entry into the AI job market, empowering them to become leaders in the region's digital future. Graduates of the NOMU Al Ghurair Women in AI programme receive their certificates Addressing the graduates, Dr Ben Jaafar said, 'You have stepped into a male-dominated field, and you did this boldly and fearlessly. You are the spark of a movement; a signal that the UAE's innovation economy will not be built by machines alone, it will be built by women like you. You are not just changing your future, you're shifting a global statistic.' Welcoming guests on behalf of RIT Dubai, Dr Al Assaf provided an overview of the six centres that will be launching as the campus development continues, and invited the graduates to explore opportunities for collaboration with the university. Speaking about the importance of retaining human values in the advancement of technology, Dr Al Assaf remarked, 'Smart machines are not replacing jobs, they are creating jobs, but we must remember that AI speaks to our emotions but does not have emotions; we need to make sure that the human element is integrated into the codes we develop in order to help people to lead a better life.' The event proceeded with the award of certificates to the cohort of students representing the UAE and other Arab nations. The graduation marked the culmination of a highly selective and challenging programme that combined technology with job-readiness skills to prepare candidates for the future of work. The programme was set in the context of anticipated expansion in the Middle East AI sector, with an expected annual growth rate ranging from 20 to 34 per cent, projecting a potential impact of $320 billion by 2030.

Khaleej Times

11-06-2025

• Khaleej Times

ICAI Dubai Chapter celebrates success of first-ever Excellence Awards 2024-25

The ICAI Dubai Chapter marked a historic milestone with the grand success of the inaugural ICAI-Dubai Chapter Excellence Awards 2024-25, recognising outstanding professional achievements of its members. Launched for the first time, the prestigious awards initiative aimed to honour excellence within the CA community. The Chapter appointed a qualified excellence adviser to steer the development and execution of the awards framework, ensuring alignment with international standards. A comprehensive awards flyer, detailed award criteria and sub criteria, category-specific weightages, award submission and assessment templates were created to provide transparency and structure. The campaign saw robust promotion across multiple platforms, with extensive guidance offered to award applicants. This resulted in a strong response, with high-quality entries received across all five award categories (Best Member, CFO, Business Leader, Buddy CA & Young Achiever). An esteemed four-member award jury, selected for their expertise, conducted a rigorous and independent evaluation process, unanimously selecting one winner per category. The Awards culminated in a glittering ceremony graced by internationally renowned innovator Sonam Wangchuck, who presented trophies and elegant Montblanc pens to each winner. Jury members were also honored on stage with special trophies, adding to the celebratory spirit. This successful first cycle sets a new benchmark for excellence and recognition within the ICAI Dubai community.