Lifestyle

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.

Each category began with eight nominees, the public vote has now produced four finalists apiece, and a jury of leading women from the region will select a winner in every field. From those thirteen winners, one woman will be named Emirates Woman, Woman of the Year.

Please note that the names within each category are listed in alphabetical order by surname, which reflects no ranking.

Here are the finalists:

The Wellspring
Celebrating a woman whose calling is restoring balance in others

• Zeina Abdalla, Co-Founder, Metabolic
• Dr. Deepika Chopra, Psychologist and Author
• Mahdiah ElJed, Co-Founder, Hikma Rituals
• Dr. Mesrure Kaplan, OB-GYN, Mediclinic Middle East

The Curator
Celebrating a woman safeguarding and elevating culture as a champion of the arts

• Alya Naser Albreiki, Exhibition Designer, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi
• Azra Khamissa, Henna Artist and Art Director
• Dr. Reem El Mutwalli, Art Historian, Cultural Scholar, and Founder of The Zay Initiative
• Amal Rakibi, Founder, Amal Rakibi Gallery

The Visionary
Celebrating a woman whose creative vision leaves a lasting cultural footprint

• Raya Kassisieh, Multidisciplinary Artist
• Viktoria Plonska, Founder, TORICERÁ
• Alya and Maitha Al Suwaidi, Co-Founders, Contemporary Spaces
• Sumayyah Al Suwaidi, Digital Artist

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

• Laila Binbrek, Director, National Pavilion UAE, Venice Biennale
• Noor Al Muhaideb, Co-Founder, Opaal Interiors
• Rema Nelson, Managing Director, Fashion MENA, Al-Futtaim
• Miral Youssef, President, Kering Middle East & Africa

The Storyteller
Celebrating a woman whose voice inspires, informs, and endures

• Her Excellency Reem BinKaram, Director General of Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
• Nujoom Al Ghanem, Poet, Artist and Filmmaker
• 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

• Ameni Esseibi, Model
• Maryam Al Farsi, Athlete
• Amenah AlMuhairi, Freestyle Snowboarder
• Amna Al Qubaisi, Racing Driver

The Standard-Bearer
Celebrating a woman setting the benchmark in fashion and jewellery

• Linda Hausser, Founder, JANTHEE
• Lama Jouni, Founder and Creative Director, Lama Jouni; Co-Founder, Outline
• Mia Pereyra Matteazzi and Azul Gonzalez Aparicio, Co-Founders and Creative Directors, I AM Active Studios
• Ghadeer Al Taher and Joumana Jallad, Co-Founders, Stone Fine Jewelry

The Changemaker
Celebrating a woman creating lasting impact and building community

• Shabana Faizal, Vice-Chairperson, KEF Holdings; Co-Founder, Faizal and Shabana Foundation; Founder, QissaGoi
• Mariam Al Mansoory, Chef
• Mona Al Mansouri, Chef
• Azza Al Qubaisi, Artist

The Catalyst
Celebrating a woman transforming the way we live, move, and thrive

• Ghaliya Ahli, Founder, Gigi
• Sirine Bekdache and Paloma Nassar, Co-Founders, Soul MVNT
• Fatma Hamad Al Ketbi, Founder, Curve Club
• Victoriia, Founder, Balans Studio

The Vanguard
Celebrating a woman shaping fashion’s next generation

• Tala Abukhaled, Founder, Rebirth
• Shivaani Aggarwal, Founder, ANI CLOTHING
• Chloé Christodoulou, Founder, Amara Grace
• Azza Al Suwaidi, Fashion Designer

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

• Maria Galabova, Founder, Keto Kartel
• 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

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