The 1st ever Femina Middle East Women Awards 2016 celebrated in Dubai

Be Unstoppable

Dubai, UAE, May 26, 2016:   On the eve of the successful completion of two years of Femina Middle East magazine, Femina ME celebrated the Dermoviva Femina ME Women Awards 2016 on 25th May, at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai from 8pm onwards. His Excellency Suhail Mohd Al Zarooni, Chairman, Al Zarooni Foundation graced the occasion as guest of honour and gave away the first three awards. The event witnessed some great women achievers who have done commendable contribution towards society.

The theme of the Femina ME Women Awards was to recognize and felicitate women who are unstoppable, outstanding and have made a positive difference in their field of expertise like arts, education, business, social activism, sports, technology, fashion, healthcare, media and many more. Vikram Arora, CEO of Saffron Media Works, Madhu Arora, Publisher and MD with Ms Manju Ramanan, Group Editor (Filmfare ME, Femina ME and Salt n Peppa) welcomed His Excellency at the red carpet where the media took bytes and photos. His Excellency was then escorted to the VVIP seating area. Later the Consul General of India, His Excellency Anurag Bhushan joined him with his wife Mrs Neeta Bhushan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India- Abu Dhabi. His Excellency Suhail Al Zarooni was introduced to the audience and the organisers welcomed His Excellency with flowers as their gratitude. His Excellency was then invited onstage to present the first three awards of the evening - HH Sheikha Jawaher Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of FUNN (Sharjah Media Art for Youth and Children), Director Sharjah International Children's Film Festival , Her Excellency Shaima Al Zarooni, Office of HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein and Her Excellency Laila Faridoon, Executive Director, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA. His Excellency presided over the evening and graced the occasion with his presence.

Commenting on the event, Ms. Madhu Arora, Managing Director & Publisher, Saffron Media Works, said, “Femina Middle East is a magazine that is truly very close to my heart. We were delighted to celebrate this occasion as being a woman I am a very staunch believer in the power that woman holds to bring about change in the world. It truly was a great pleasure to honor some of the iconic personalities present at the event’’.

The Femina ME Women Awards saw a panel of renowned industry experts which included Her Excellency Dr. Maryam Matar- Executive Director, UAE Genetic Diseases Association; Shaikha Ebrahim Al Mutawa- Director Meets, Dubai Projects and Dubai Business Events, DTCM; Isobel Abulhoul- CEO & Trustee, Emirates Literature Foundation & Festival Director; Nadia Rahman- Associate Professor, Zayed University and Madhu Arora- Managing Director & Publisher, Saffron Media Works. 

Bollywood actress and former Femina Miss India Celina Jaitley along with renowned Pakistani actress Mahira Khan were present too at the event. The event was also graced by the presence of Lebanese actress Lamita Frangieh.

Some of the achievers who were honored included the likes of Her Excellency Sheikha Jawaher Abdulla Al Qasimi, Her Excellency Shaima Al Zarooni, Her Excellency Laila Faridoon, Ms. Habiba Al Marashi, Ms. Mariam Othman, Ms. Kawthar Makahlah Al Shamsi, Dr. Nashwa Al Ruwaini, Ms. Rosamund Marshall, Ms. Alisha Moopen, Sheikha Shaikha Al Qassemi, Ms. Namira Salim, Ms. Laila Amraoui, Ms. Amna Al Haddad, Ms. Nicole Rodrigues, Ms. Fakhra Al Mansouri, Ms. Zahra Lari, Pakistani actress Mahira Khan and Ms. Farah Talib Aziz.

Since their inception in 2015, the prestigious Femina Middle East has vividly raised awareness and appreciation amongst the women of the region, acknowledging their remarkable accomplishments and praising the women boosting their respective industry forward.