Year after year, is proud to share the stories of many inspirational women from across the region and beyond and 2022 was no different.
From philanthropic royals to budding entrepreneurs, these women show there is no hurdle too big to overcome and no challenge which can’t be solved.
As a team, we take pride in being able to champion these incredible individuals.
As 2022 comes to a close, we take a look at 22 influential women championed throughout the year.
Her Highness Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
This year, Her Highness Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has made it her mission to support an array of different local initiatives in the fashion and creative space. The daughter of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended a number of showcases and exhibitions to show her support and learn about local artisans from the region including the Icons Exhibition, the 50th edition of the Watch and Jewellery Show Middle East in Sharjah, the Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards, Dubai women’s empowerment event and more.
Her Highness Sheikha Sana Al Maktoum
Her Highness Sheikha Sana Al Maktoum took a huge leap in 2020 launching her eponymous fine jewellery brand – Sana Al Maktoum Fine Jewellery. Then, in 2021, she made the brave decision to show the face behind her label for the very first time on the cover of Emirates Woman’s April 2021 issue. This year, however, has been a big year for Sheikha Sana’s philanthropic ventures. The down-to-earth sheikha has worked closely with local communities this year in Dubai including hosting a lunch for underprivileged children, opening a new breast cancer centre in a Dubai hospital, meeting with elderly members of the community and more.
Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Al Maktoum
Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Al Maktoum is no stranger to breaking records in the UAE, having become the first Emirati woman to join the Dubai Police as a helicopter pilot back in 2019. Earlier this year, our former November 2020 cover star broke another record in the world of aviation, becoming the first female to pilot the AW609 tiltrotor, an air vehicle which combines the operational versatility of a helicopter and the performance of an aeroplane. Her Highness piloted the groundbreaking aircraft at the US helicopter headquarters of Leonardo, a global high-tech player in Aerospace, Defence and Security, located in Philadelphia.
Her Highness Sheikha Shamma Al Nahyan
In 2022, Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan became the first GCC woman to be appointed into a global and prestigious position. Per the Abu Dhabi Media Office, Her Highness was appointed as one of the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center women leaders in the Energy and Climate Fellowship Program. Sheikha Shamma also graduated from Cambridge University this year, and also attended a number of events across the UAE in relation to sustainability and development.
Wdeema Almheiri
Emirati content creator Wdeema Al Mheiri has had an incredibly successful year appearing on her first magazine cover, opening her own beauty salon with her sisters and doing her first on-camera interview. For Emirati Women’s Day this year, Al Mheiri shared how she hopes to inspire future generations.
“We have all seen Emirati women time and time again achieve their goals against all odds which is so inspiring to see as a younger Emirati woman,” she said.
She also hopes she can be a source of inspiration for future generations, showing that there is no dream too big to pursue.
“I hope to inspire women to take a leap of faith and to trust in their ability to achieve their dreams,” she said.
Nora, Sarah & Dana Al Ramadhan
For the better part of the last decade, Kuwaiti sisters Nora, Sarah and Dana Al Ramadhan have created their very own beauty empire right here in the GCC. Noticing a huge gap in the beauty space here in the Middle East, the trio launched Apotheca Beauty back in 2013, aiming to help new brands break into the region. Normally known to be the brains behind the scenes of the brands, the sisters appeared in their first-ever cover shoot in 2022. It’s a milestone that’s a big step for Nora, Sarah and Dana, who are normally championing and sharing other brands’ stories. But for The Pioneer Issue, we couldn’t think of three individuals better to share their story of building a business from the ground up, with a simple vision in mind: to bring the best in beauty to the GCC, thereby changing the landscape of the space in this region.
Taleedah Tamer
Taleedah Tamer first made history back in July of 2018, as the first Saudi model to walk the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. Four years on, Tamer graced the cover of our November issue for which we partnered with iconic French fashion house Louis Vuitton.
Dr. Barbara Sturm
For our final cover of 2022, we were proud to partner with global skin guru Dr. Barbara Sturm. In our exclusive interview with her, we discussed what it takes to build and scale without compromising on quality. After launching her eponymous line in 2003, followed by a full skincare line in 2014, Dr. Sturm – or known as BB to her nearest and dearest – has become a pioneer in the beauty sphere, with her renowned anti-inflammatory philosophy approach to skincare.
Salama Mohamed
Appearing on our September 2022 cover, Salama Mohamed is an exceptional example of what it means to be an entrepreneur, combining both strength and femininity to build her platform and beauty brand, which celebrated its first anniversary this year.
Fatma Almheiri
Fatma Al Mheiri is an individual who wears many hats. With both a creative and business acumen, she not only heads up PR at Museum of the Future, one of the most iconic landmarks in Dubai, but she’s also an entrepreneur and creative.
This year for Emirati Women’s Day, she pays tribute to her country and the UAE leaders who are consistently empowering women to do more and achieve their goals.
“I’m proud to be a woman of the UAE because our leaders helped us believe in ourselves in everything we aspire to do,” she said.
Zeynab El-Helw
Dubai-based entrepreneur and content creator Zeynab El-Helw appeared on the cover for our July/August 2022 issue. As the founder of socially conscious brand Reborn, she shared with us how she combines sustainability and style.
Diala Makki
was proud to start 2022 with a bang welcoming Diala Makki as our cover star for The Confidence Issue. With a focus on health and wellness, the Dubai-based journalist and presenter shared with us her fitness journey and how she channels confidence. “Confidence is a state of mind and you only reach it when you appreciate your flows and listen to your needs physically, mentally and spiritually. Don’t compare yourself to others, work constantly on becoming a better version of yourself,” she told us.
Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi
Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi is a leader in the publishing space. From being the founder and CEO of Kalimat Group to being the first Arab woman to become president of the International Publishers Association, Sheikha Bodour is leading the way for women both in the region and on a global scale. In our November issue, Sheikha Bodour shared with us how she created a niche in the UAE publishing space.
Ingie Chalhoub
Ingie Chalhoub is a trailblazer when it comes to business and luxury. Responsible for launching the very first Chanel boutique in the region, she has carved out an impeccable career.
So, what’s her secret to success? “My success lies in understanding the importance of bridging the gap between the East and West,” she plainly said.
As a true innovator and disruptor, sat down with the Founder and Managing Director of Etoile Group to learn more about her business acumen and what exactly inspired her to become an entrepreneur for our September issue.
Tania Santos Silva
With women at its helm, Tania Santos Silvia founded Lala Diamonds to create “delicate, powerful and memorable” pieces for women who constantly inspire her. By working closely with each client, she ensures that the brand adopts a unique design process to represent what each wearer truly embodies.
“Your fresh air is the team you choose to work with, without them you’re just another person with an idea,” she previously told .
Amna Banihashem
By her own admission, Amna Banihashem is a “jack of all trades”. A mechanical engineer by profession with a Master’s in Moral Economy and Sustainability, a businesswoman and a philanthropist, it’s safe to say Banihashem can’t be pigeon-holed, as we learned when talking with her for Emirati Women’s Day 2022.
However, what is her true passion and calling is horses. As an award-winning equestrian rider, Banihashem is one of the most decorated showjumpers in the region having ridden for both His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai.
Sarah Alagroobi
Artist, designer and educator Sarah Alagroobi is an individual offering insight and igniting new conversations in the region, which she highlighted with us for Emirati Women’s Day this year.
“I don’t really view myself as a person who is breaking down stereotypes,” she said. “I think I have been blessed to be given the privileges and the knowledge, understanding and education to be able to provide a counter-narrative to the existing narrative in the UAE’s landscape.”
Her Highness Princess Fahda Bander Abdullah Al Saud
Inspired by adventure and experiences, Her Highness Princess Fahda Bander Abdullah Al Saud founded The Traveling Panther (TTP) in 2015. What initially started as a blog quickly turned into an experienced-based travel consultancy through which Princess Fahda, along with her co-founder Manayer AlSharekh, has been able to share her love for adventure with many others around the world. Emirates Woman sat down with Her Highness to find out more about TTP and her love for travel for our September issue.
Alia Al Banna
Appearing in our video series for Emirati Women’s Day, Alia Al Banna, co-founder and general manager of RollDXB, shared her pride to be a woman from the UAE.
“Being an Emirati woman taught me to be brave and to have the courage to seek the unknown and the impossible,” she said. “I definitely agree with Sheikha Fatima’s word – Emirati women don’t fit a box.”
