Following our Emirates Woman Awards updates, the finalists of the Woman of the Year Awards 2026 are now revealed, after approximately six weeks of public voting that brought in tens of thousands of votes across all thirteen categories, and we congratulate every finalist on reaching this stage.
The awards mark forty-five years at the forefront of publishing in the Middle East for Emirates Woman, and this year’s programme honours the women who were featured in print and online between November 2025 and September 2026, reflecting the wider Emirates Woman family celebrated on the page and beyond. Each finalist embodies the values that define that family, among them integrity, authenticity, excellence and grit.
Here are the finalists:
The Wellspring
Celebrating a woman whose calling is restoring balance in others
• Dr. Mesrure Kaplan, OB-GYN, Mediclinic Middle East
• Zeina Abdalla, Co-Founder, Metabolic
• Dr. Deepika Chopra, Psychologist and Author
• Mahdiah ElJed, Co-Founder, Hikma Rituals
The Curator
Celebrating a woman safeguarding and elevating culture as a champion of the arts
• Dr. Reem El Mutwalli, Art Historian, Cultural Scholar, and Founder of The Zay Initiative
• Azra Khamissa, Henna Artist and Art Director
• Alya Naser Albreiki, Exhibition Designer, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi
• Amal Rakibi, Founder, Amal Rakibi Gallery
The Visionary
Celebrating a woman whose creative vision leaves a lasting cultural footprint
• Raya Kassisieh, Multidisciplinary Artist
• Sumayyah Al Suwaidi, Digital Artist
• Alya and Maitha Al Suwaidi, Co-Founders, Contemporary Spaces
• Viktoria Plonska, Founder, TORICERÁ
The Tastemaker
Celebrating a woman shaping how women present themselves to the world
• Cedra Ammara, Beauty Influencer
• Raya Hassan, Content Creator
• Rabeb Jallali, Digital Creator
• Jannat Miranda, Creative Consultant and Podcaster
The Strategist
Celebrating a woman leading from within the system and driving structural change
• Miral Youssef, President, Kering Middle East & Africa
• Laila Binbrek, Director, National Pavilion UAE, Venice Biennale
• Rema Nelson, Managing Director, Fashion MENA, Al-Futtaim
• Noor Al Muhaideb, Co-Founder, Opaal Interiors
The Storyteller
Celebrating a woman whose voice inspires, informs, and endures.
• Nujoom Al Ghanem, Poet, Artist and Filmmaker
• Her Excellency Reem BinKaram, Director General of Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
• Fatima Alhashmi, Opera Singer
• Mera Al Qassim, Writer and Poet
The Maverick
Celebrating a woman who is the first through the door, blazing her own path forward
• Amna Al Qubaisi, Racing Driver
• Amenah AlMuhairi, Freestyle Snowboarder
• Ameni Esseibi, Model
• Maryam Al Farsi, Athlete
The Standard-Bearer
Celebrating a woman setting the benchmark in fashion and jewellery
• Ghadeer Al Taher and Joumana Jallad, Co-Founders, Stone Fine Jewelry
• Lama Jouni, Founder and Creative Director, Lama Jouni; Co-Founder, Outline
• Linda Hausser, Founder, JANTHEE
• Mia Pereyra Matteazzi and Azul Gonzalez Aparicio, Co-Founders and Creative Directors, I AM Active Studios
The Changemaker
Celebrating a woman creating lasting impact and building community
• Mona Al Mansouri, Chef
• Azza Al Qubaisi, Artist
• Mariam Al Mansoory, Chef
• Shabana Faizal, Vice-Chairperson, KEF Holdings; Co-Founder, Faizal and Shabana Foundation; Founder, QissaGoi
The Catalyst
Celebrating a woman transforming the way we live, move, and thrive
• Victoriia, Founder, Balans Studio
• Fatma Hamad Al Ketbi, Founder, Curve Club
• Ghaliya Ahli, Founder, Gigi
• Sirine Bekdache and Paloma Nassar, Co-Founders, Soul MVNT
The Vanguard
Celebrating a woman shaping fashion’s next generation
• Tala Abukhaled, Founder, Rebirth
• Azza Al Suwaidi, Fashion Designer
• Shivaani Aggarwal, Founder, ANI CLOTHING
• Chloé Christodoulou, Founder, Amara Grace
The Alchemist
Celebrating a woman reimagining beauty through innovation and imagination
• Narin Ammara, Founder, Narins Beauty
• Ece Baltacı Mallak, Founder, SADE
• Vimi Joshi, Founder, Vimi Joshi Beauty
• Aya Tariq, Makeup Artist
The Innovator
Celebrating a woman redefining what’s possible
• Anna Germanos, Group Director, FMCG/Luxury/Retail/E-commerce MENA, Meta
• Maha Gorton, Head of Women’s Pavilion, Expo City Dubai
• Zara Ossman, Biochemist; Co-Founder, Safa Bioworks
• Maria Galabova, Founder, Keto Kartel
The winners will be celebrated at the Emirates Woman Awards Gala, an invitation-only evening marking the magazine’s 45th anniversary, which takes place on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai. Under the theme The Gold Standard, the room will be set in red, black and gold, and the evening is a tribute to excellence, legacy and the women paving the way for generations to come. Guests are asked to dress in black tie in shades of red, gold or black, with priority given to regional designers.
As Jessica Michault, Senior Editor, Emirates Woman, says, “Forty-five years ago, Emirates Woman set out to celebrate all the women of this region, and today we are proud to stand alongside the leaders and luminaries who have shaped the UAE’s story. These are the women who have set the gold standard, and this year’s gala is a tribute to those who came before us and a promise to the ones still to come. As the UAE continues to lead with ambition and optimism, there is no better moment to bring together the remarkable women redefining what is possible, and no better place to celebrate than here at home in Dubai.”
For more information, click here.
Follow the conversation on social media with #EmiratesWomanAwards2026, and keep an eye on Emirates Woman for the jury announcement, which will be revealed soon.
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Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Supplied
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: emirateswoman.com
