With more than 735 nominations received, the Woman of the Year Awards 2026 enters its next stage. Meet the shortlisted women and vote from November 1–30.
WOTYA, an initiative by Woman This Month and Gulf Daily News, with UNIDO as Official Advisor, is organised by Red House Marketing, with Jetour as Title Partner. Now in its third edition, it celebrates women’s professional and community contributions. Its first all-female jury comprises Dr. Hana Kanoo, MP Maryam Saleh Al Dhaen, Dr. Najma Taqi, Dr. Suzanne White and Ms. Sabah Al Moayed.
Russell Bedford Assure Audit serves as Official Audit Partner. Jury scores, worth 60% of results, have been finalised and secured with the appointed auditors. Public votes contribute 40%. After voting closes on November 30, the auditors will compile scores and determine winners. Winners will be announced on December 2 at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa, with Bahrain-born Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez as Chief Guest.
UNIDO Rising Star of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award will also be unveiled.
CATEGORY 1 – BUSINESS, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
WOMAN IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP, LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION
Inge Michiels
Inge leads Jetpet Global – Cargio WLL. During airport closures, she sustained animal relocations through GCC drives and coordination with embassies and aviation partners.
Noora Ahmed Janahi
Noora is Acting Chief of Air Traffic Management at BCAA, Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, safeguarding Bahrain’s airspace through stakeholder coordination during regional tensions.
Shahd Mohamed
Shahd founded Creative Matter and co-founded Barada Portal and PROCODE, developing ventures across creativity, technology and esports while mentoring emerging talent.
WOMAN IN FINTECH & FINANCE
Amira Ismail
Amira leads AFS in Bahrain and Oman, achieving over 35% market share. Bahrain’s only woman leading payments, she holds the Money 2.0 Outstanding Leadership Award.
Huda Radhi
Huda leads Richmond Advisory Services and founded Kinderhaus. Her 25-plus years span banking and entrepreneurship, alongside mentoring SMEs and exploring inclusive technology.
Soad Radhi
Soad heads Policies and Process Management at Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company, bringing Merrill Lynch and Bank ABC experience to governance, compliance and automation.
WOMAN IN STEM
Habiba Maher
Habiba has taught technology since 14. A Google Women Techmakers Ambassador and Developer Group Organizer, she has won cybersecurity hackathons and co-founded a youth technology community.
Tanima Chakravorty
Tanima chairs Al Barq Electrical Services and developed Tabaanfix, turning engineering and financial data into real-time intelligence. A 40 Under 40 winner, she champions job-creating AI and charitable work in Ghana and Bahrain.
WOMAN IN LAW & ADVOCACY
Ameera Rashed Ahmed Al-Roomi
Ameera practises in Bahrain’s courts, developing expertise in local public law and regional and international human rights alongside broad legal experience.
Barnali Das
Barnali heads Corporate and Commercial Law at Salman Abdulla Sahwan Attorneys & Legal, combining honest advice with an understanding of clients’ relationships and businesses.
Fatema AlZayed AlJalahma
Fatema is BCDR’s first female Chief Registrar. She has represented Bahrain at UNCITRAL, taught university law and completed a CIArb Diploma at Oxford University.
GIRL OF THE YEAR (UNDER 18)
Aisha Mateen
Aisha, a Delmon Private School student, holds Bahrain’s longest-hair record and donated her hair to the Bahrain Cancer Society to comfort patient
Esha Ashik
Esha attends Bhavans-Bahrain Indian School. A four-time Kalathilakam winner and twice named worldwide first runner-up in Malayalam poetry recitation, she has sung with M.G. Sreekumar and mentors children.
Yara Hussain
Yara, a Nadeen School student, is a national swimmer, school swim captain and triathlon medallist, alongside ranking second overall in competitive indoor skydiving.
CATEGORY II: CREATIVE INDUSTRIES (ORANGE ECONOMY)
WOMAN IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES (ORANGE ECONOMY)
Anastasia Sfeir
Anastasia founded Workart Workshops. Over 20-plus years, she has mentored more than 700 students, mainly Bahraini women, and provided exhibition opportunities.
Maryam Abdulghaffar
Maryam founded Imprint Production and is a Fujifilm Ambassador. Her 16-plus awards and recognitions include Best Documentary at the 2025 Emirates Film Festival.
Saira Ranj
Saira founded Createit and directs the Bahrain Writers’ Circle, drawing on nearly three decades in business to build a multidisciplinary creative community.
WOMAN IN VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
Aira Katrina Glorioso
Aira founded Aenigma Studio in 2024. A Royal Academy of Dance and IDTA-qualified teacher, she has performed and choreographed across three countries.
Ghada Khunji
Ghada’s honours include Lucie Discovery of the Year and American Photo Magazine’s Image of the Year. Exhibitions include Sotheby’s London and international biennales.
Nadine AlShaikh
Nadine founded Nadine Gallery – Art & Design Lounge. An internationally exhibited artist, including at the Florence Biennale, she creates opportunities for Bahraini artists.
WOMAN IN FASHION & DESIGN
Chahat Badlani
Chahat partners in Divya Fashions and Chahhat Collections, supplying designs and fabrics to over 100 Gulf boutiques and developing an Indian wear brand.
Krupa Sagar
Krupa is Designer and Business Development Manager at AlMajarah Jewellers, building its B2C brand and designing the best-selling Thekriyat necklace.
Sumaya Faisal
Sumaya designs Sumayasdesign. A Bahrain Fashion Week winner whose work reached Paris and celebrities, she also founded an acclaimed spa while raising four children.
CATEGORY III: HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL IMPACT
WOMAN IN HEALTH & WELLNESS LEADERSHIP
Alka Srivastava
Alka is COO of Ibn Al Nafees Hospital. Her 32-year healthcare career includes reducing patient waits and securing three consecutive highest-level NHRA accreditations.
Dr. Esraa AlBabli
Esraa became the world’s first deaf dentist born with hearing loss and the UN’s first official deaf speaker. She founded “No to Labeling, Yes to Accessibility”.
Mona Tadayyon
Mona founded Reach Behavior and Development Center, addressing gaps in developmental and behavioural services through multidisciplinary care, inclusion and early intervention.
WOMAN IN EDUCATION & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Claire Gaffney
Claire is Executive Director and Owner of Kumon Bahrain, helping young people build confidence and develop their English and maths skills.
Fajer Mohamed Danish
Fajer holds academic and leadership roles at Royal University for Women, introduced its 30+ Initiative and has produced over 50 scholarly outputs since 2024.
Fawzieh Kiwan
Fawzieh founded Brain Wave, Bahrain’s first multidisciplinary cognitive training centre. With 19-plus years’ experience, she supports neurodivergent communities and inclusive environments.
WOMAN IN BEAUTY & PERSONAL CARE
Dr. Dalia Saker
Dalia founded child-friendly care brand Layuni Care and is Oasis Medical Center’s Chief Marketing Officer, alongside being a dentist, children’s author and illustrator.
Jennifer Kassab
Jennifer owns Okiio Beauty & Spa, developing personal care experiences that boost confidence and support healing while building knowledge and community.
Louise Cogan
Louise founded Cocoon Wellness Spa, combining spa, salon and wellbeing services. Its three Bahrain locations feature innovations including the Balinese LED Rain Room.
WOMAN IN PHILANTHROPY & COMMUNITY IMPACT.
Dinah Espiritu Sta. Ana
Dinah leads Medici Global Professional Development and Consultancy, supporting Filipino workers through outreach, COVID-19 repatriation and relief during regional conflict.
Eng. Duha Albesher Mdani
Duha is a Senior Civil Engineer at the Ministry of Information Affairs and chairs Mulhemoon Youth Association, developing young leaders and strengthening civil society.
Remedios Vidad Agulto
Remedios, known as Mama Jhang, supports Bahrain’s Filipino and expatriate communities, distributing food, groceries and financial assistance during regional conflict.
CATEGORY IV: HOSPITALITY & SPORTS
WOMAN IN HOSPITALITY
Charisse Bugayong
Charisse directs Conference and Catering at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain. Her two-decade career includes leading GCC summits, Arab League meetings and Bahrain Airshow events.
Kawthar Lanbari
Kawthar leads Sales at Royal Saray Resort. Previously His Majesty’s translator, she was Bahrain News Agency’s first French-speaking TV host and official French translator.
Mica Villaseñor
Mica directs Quality at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain. Her career spans One&Only, Shangri-La and Emaar Hospitality Group, with a focus on developing people and standards.
WOMAN IN CULINARY ARTS
Mariam Shanaa
Mariam founded Palestine Nights and Bayram Turkish Grill, building a recognised Bahraini hospitality brand over 10 years while championing Palestinian and Turkish cuisine.
Maryam Isa Al-Doseri
Maryam is a Bahraini chef at Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort. An Italian Taste Week winner, she ranked 23rd at the 2018 Young Chef Olympiad and writes children’s and recipe books.
Suman Ali Sayed
Suman founded House of Khaleej, promoting Bahraini cuisine internationally. Featured in the James Beard-nominated docuseries From the Wild, she collaborates with global hotels and teaches at Canadian colleges.
WOMAN IN SPORTS
Aneesa Al Mahmood
Aneesa is Bahrain’s first international dressage rider and first Bahraini to compete at the Asian Championships, qualify for the Asian Games and reach an international podium.
Fajar Al-BinAli
Fajar founded disability-inclusive Free Spirit Dojang and established Bahrain’s National Para Taekwondo Team. Named Best Coach in Asia for the Female Division, she became the first Bahraini elected to the Asian Taekwondo Union Executive Office.
Fatima Sadiq Kalawadh
Fatima, an architect and AlMuhtarif Taekwondo Club coach, became the first Bahraini woman to win GCC Games gold in the -49kg category.
CATEGORY V: MEDIA, COMMUNICATIONS, ADVOCACY & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
WOMAN IN DIGITAL MEDIA & CONTENT CREATION
Iram Sharif
Iram creates iFood Mania, sharing accessible recipes with 150,000 YouTube subscribers and 80,000 TikTok followers, with over 35 million views across platforms.
Nadeen Yateem
Nadeen is a marketing professional, content creator, TEDx speaker and athlete, challenging perceptions and representing Bahraini women in spaces where they remain underrepresented.
Noor Al-Alaweyat
Noor founded Khaleejigirl, an empowerment network and digital publication championing Gulf women’s ambitions, regional talent and ownership of their narratives.
WOMAN IN CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC RELATIONS (PR)
Fatema Abdulla Aldhaen
Fatema is Undersecretary of Land Transport and Post, translating complex policy into bilingual public communications and strengthening trust and gender-inclusive leadership.
Khlood Rashid Al Qattan
Khlood is Vice Chairman of the Capital Municipality Council, working with government bodies and NGOs to deliver initiatives for the capital and its community.
May Neama
May advises at MN Advisory. Previously managing USD13-million-plus budgets at Kalaam Telecom, she became Columbia University’s first Bahraini guest lecturer in Strategic Communications.
WOMAN IN MARKETING
Lourdes Viegas
Lourdes is Key Accounts Manager and Head of Projects at Riyara Consultants, progressing from administration to leading government media and events projects.
Thaiyba Khanum
Thaiyba leads marketing at The Collective Creative Agency, developing Talabat Bahrain campaigns and strategies for Mumtalakat and Flooss, following a degree in Biotech Engineering.
Zahra Ebrahim
Zahra manages PR and Marketing at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa, leading campaigns and partnerships while progressing from CIM Level 4 towards Level 6.
WOMAN IN JOURNALISM (PRINT, BROADCAST & DIGITAL)
Colleen Yousef
Colleen broadcasts and reports for Radio Bahrain, covering community initiatives and major events, including Formula 1, throughout nearly six years with the station.
Nanju Francisco
Nanju leads Pinoy Aksyon News, Bahrain’s only Filipino online newspaper. Bahrain TV’s first Filipina newscaster, she received the Global Filipino Icon and Global Women of Influence awards in 2025.
Omneya Almuzeyen
Omneya is an Al Bilad Press journalist and content creator who has also presented on Bahrain TV, producing credible, engaging programmes, interviews and stories.
It’s Your Turn to Vote!
Public voting is open November 1–30, contributing 40% of the final result.
Join the Top Nominees, distinguished guests and industry leaders for an evening celebrating extraordinary women on December 2 at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa, featuring Chief Guest Jacqueline Fernandez.
Be part of the celebration! Book your tickets now for the Woman of the Year Awards 2026 – Grand Finale Dinner.
www.womanoftheyearawards.com/tickets
Our sincere thanks to our valued partners and sponsors: UNIDO, Jetour, Russell Bedford Assure Audit, Home Centre Bahrain, American Mission Hospital, Out of the Box, Four Square, Radio Bahrain, Asgharali, Talking Pictures, SOS Marketing and The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa. Congratulations to all shortlisted nominees, and thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination. We look forward to celebrating your achievements!
