The Arab Woman Awards today announced that its 2016 UAE awards will take place in Sharjah to honour the late Ameera BinKaram. The private awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, 10th December, and will include an exclusive video tribute to the late Vice-Chairperson of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, created by the establishment.

Sue Holt, Executive Director of ITP and founder of the awards, said, "Like everyone, we were shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Ameera BinKaram. Ameera was a previous Arab Woman Award winner, who then became the chair of our judges’ board. She was an amazing and passionate person, who celebrated the successes of women from the region. It is with great pride that we are taking this year’s award ceremony to Sharjah as a sign of respect and to honour her significant contributions."

The Arab Woman Awards were launched in 2009 with the aim of raising public awareness of the significant achievements by Arab women and to provide young women with inspirational role models. The events now run across the GCC with ceremonies in the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with Bahrain and Oman launching in 2017. As well as the tribute to Ameera, there will be twenty awards presented in areas including business, fashion, entrepreneurship, charity, media and literature. Previous award winners were H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, Sheikha Fatima Al Qassimi, Ingie Chalhoub Hoda Ibrahim Al Khamis-Kanoo.

"The evening will be one of celebration and positivity for all that the winners have achieved in their lives so far. The judging board, which was chaired by Ameera, have selected an outstanding array of women to recognise this year. It is with great pride that we are taking this year’s award ceremony to Sharjah for the first time as a sign of respect and to honour her significant contributions." Holt concluded.

This year’s board of judges included Sheikha Nawar Al Qassimi, Sharjah Art Foundation, Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany, Masdar’s Director of Sustainability, Reem Alshemari, Director of Strategic Communications Affairs at the Executive Affairs Authority, Noor Sweid, Partner at Leap Ventures, Nadine Y. Maalouf, Owner of the SME Advisory Group, Dr. Mona Hammami, Director at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince'S Court, leading Abu Dhabi business woman Asma Al Fahim, TV presenter Zeina Al Yaziji, and Editor in Chief of Hello! Arabia, Gina Tadros.