Arab women have a long and triumphant history of excellence, overcoming various challenges to make significant strides in numerous fields. From athletes to aeronautics experts, from business leaders to scientists, Arab women are reshaping narratives and breaking barriers across the globe.
Here are just a few of the many Arab women making headlines and inspiring future generations:
Reema bint Bandar Al Saud
As a royal in Saudi Arabia, Reema bint Bandar Al Saud could’ve enjoyed a life full of luxury and comfort. Instead, she worked hard and rose through the ranks of not just the private business sector but also the government.
Today, she operates as the official Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States, the first time a woman has ever held the position.
Beyond her diplomatic role, Princess Reema has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights and economic empowerment in Saudi Arabia. She has spearheaded initiatives to increase women’s participation in the workforce and sports.
Tawakkol Karman
A founding member of Women Journalists Without Chains, Tawakkol Karman is a writer, poet, and human rights activist who has been a trailblazer for the written word of Arab women. In 2011, she actually won the Nobel Peace Prize for the work she did in promoting and protesting for the rights of Middle Eastern and African journalists.
She was the first Yemeni and second Muslim woman to ever win a Nobel. Her nickname is “The Mother Of The Revolution.”
Sarah Al Amiri
Growing up in Abu Dhabi, Sarah Al Amiri has always had her eyes on the sky. She would eventually lead her country’s efforts in space travel through the Emirates Mars Mission.
Today, she’s the chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and a Minister of State for the advanced technology sector of the UAE Council of Ministers. An impressive feat for a woman who grew up when the UAE didn’t even have a space program!
Nour El Sherbini
One of the most unique Arab women in sports is Nour El Sherbini. Nour plays squash, a game that’s already rare in the world of competitive athletics. She’s even rarer: the first Egyptian woman to become a champion.
She’s currently ranked #1 in the world in women’s singles in squash.
Haifaa Al Mansour
Haifaa Al Mansour isn’t just breaking the glass ceiling; she’s shattering it into smithereens. Not only is she one of the first female Saudi Arabian filmmakers, but her debut film, Wadjda, is one of the first ever to be fully shot and developed in the country.
It was also the first movie of Saudi origins to ever be submitted to the Academy Awards. Just how many records can this powerhouse break? Even more excitingly, what’s next?
Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum
Sheikha Mozah is quite literally taking Emirati women to new heights. At just 26 years old, she became the first female pilot for Dubai’s royal family. She also served as a pilot for Dubai’s police force, eventually rising to the rank of Captain Pilot.
Eager to inspire others from her community, she founded the Women in Aviation Association, and she currently has plans to write a children’s book about young Arab girls learning how to fly.
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Born in Iran, Shohreh Aghdashloo overcame a lot of hardship in her early life, including going against a family and a much older husband who didn’t support her dreams of acting. She eventually fled the country at the start of the Iranian Revolution and became a movie star at a time when movies were banned in her homeland.
You might recognize her from a number of critically acclaimed works, including 24, The Punisher, Star Trek Beyond, The Expanse, and House of Sand and Fog. She’s won multiple Emmys and been nominated for an Academy Award.
Dr. Fatmah Baothman
Arab women are sometimes associated with old-fashioned ideas or traditions. But try saying that to Dr. Fatmah Baothman, a female computer scientist and the first Arab woman to earn her PhD in AI studies!
It’s the culmination of a long and illustrious career in STEM that spans the globe from America to England to Saudi Arabia. Today, Dr. Baothman is the board president of the entire Artificial Intelligence Society.
Lubna Olayan
Lubna Olayan broke new ground in the Arab business world when she became the first female head of a Saudi bank. As the CEO of Olayan Financing Company, she has been a pioneer for women in business and finance in the region.
Hayat Sindi
Dr. Hayat Sindi is a pioneering biotechnologist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Her inventions in medical technology have the potential to revolutionize healthcare in developing countries.
Wrapping Up
Several Arabs have made their mark in international sports, business, fashion and other sectors. Be it players like Oday Aboushi (of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams), tech entrepreneurs like Ronaldo Muchawar (founder of Souq), or Elie Saab (founder of the eponymous fashion label), Arab men are achieving remarkable success across diverse fields. As is evident from the above list, the women aren’t far behind either.
As more Arab women get opportunities to shine, we’re witnessing a diverse range of skills, abilities, products, and passions emerging from this demographic. Whether it’s in the boardroom, the sports arena, the laboratory, or the silver screen, Arab women continue to prove that there are no limits to what they can achieve.
