Arab Women by Occupation A - B

 

Zaynab El - Ghazali,

Egyptian

Activist

  • Founded the Muslim Ladies' Association 1936
  • supported Hasan al-Banna founder of the Society of Muslim Brothers and backed his efforts to establish an Islamic state
  • Muslim Women's Association dissolved by government in 1965
  • jailed for political beliefs 1966-1971
  • 1971 - active speaker and teacher of Islam

http://www.jannah.org/sisters/zaynab.html

Zainab Al Ghazali. (n.d.) Wikipedia. Retrieved September 2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zainab_al_ghazali
Sameeha Salameh Khalil

Palestinian

1923-

Activist

  • educated Beruit Arab University
  • Founder of Arab Union Society 1950
  • El-Bireh 1952
  • Secretary-General of Union of Palestinian Women in Jerusalem 1965
  • Founder and President of Society of In'ash El Usra, a training center for women, El Bireh 1965
  • Head of Palestinian delegation to UN Conference on the Status of Women 1995
  • President of Union of Voluntary Women's Societies
  • published From the Intifada to the State 1988

Samiha Khalil. Wikipedia. Retrieved September 2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samiha_Khalil

International Who’s Who of Women. 3rd ed. London: Europa, 2002. Print. p.295 (DWC collection REF CT 3202.I58 2002)

Naima Akif

Egyptian

1932-1966

Actor and dancer

  • circus artist, dancer and lead actress in 22 films
  • one of the most talented film dancers of her era
  • often appeared in light musical comedies, many of which were directed by her husband Husain Fawsi
  • usually played a poor but talented performer who wanted to become famous and was caught in a romance
  • most successful films were Lahalibo (1949), Baba Aris/Daddy as a Bridegroom (1950), Fatat al-Sirk (Circus Girl) 1951, tamr Hinna/Tamarind (1957) and Baya'it al-Gara'id/The Newspaper Vendor

http://www.belly-dance.org/naima-akef.html

http://www.joyofbellydancing.com/bdstars.htm

Source: Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film ed. Oliver Leaman London: Routledge, 2001 p.111

Shadia (real name Fatima Ahmad Kamal)

Egyptian

b. 1931

Actor and singer

  • first appeared in film in 1947 in al-Aql Fi Ajaza/The mind on vacation
  • orignally typecast as innocent young girls in love but by 1960s was playing in light comedies and dramas such as Mirati Mudir 'am/My wife is a general director (1966), al Mar'a al Majhiula/The Unknown Woamn (1959) and al-Liss wal-Kilab/The thief and the dogs (1962)
  • last film was La Tas'ahni Man Ana/Don't ask me who I am (1984)

Shadia. Wikipedia. Retrieved September 2, 2009, from, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadia

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.123 (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)
Fatima Rushdi 

Egyptian

b. 1908

Actor

  • a pioneer of Egyptian cinema, as an actress, producer and director
  • began her career in theatre and became known as the "Sarah Berhardt of the Orient" because she performed many of the same classical roles as Berhardt
  • founded her own theatre troupe
  • first appeared on screen in 1928 in Faji'a Fawq al-haram/Disaster on the Pyramids
  • most famous film was al-Azima/Determination (1939)
  • last role was in Da'uni A'ish/Let me Live (1955)
  • 1933 directed her first and only film al-Zawaj/The marriage

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.122. (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)

Tahiyya Carioca

real name Badawiyya Muhammed Karim

Egyptian

1915-1999

Actor

  • actress and belly dancer trained at Badia Masabni's variety theatre
  • one of best and most beautiful dancers of her time
  • 1935 appeared in her first film Dr Farhat
  • 1942 first starring role in Uhib al Ghalat/I love the wrong
  • most important early film Lu'bat al-Sitt/The Lady's game (1946) established her persona
  • most often played the mu'alima - the popular mistress, courageous, independent, yet virtuous and traditionally oriented, but went on to play queens, and mothers towards the end of her career
  • films include al-Futuwa/the thug (1957), Shabab Imra'a/Youth of a Woman (1956), Wa Ishlamah/ Oh Islam (1961), Khalli Balak Min Zuzu/Take care of Zuzu (1972), Li-l-Hubb Qissa Akhira /love's Last Story (1986)

http://www.belly-dance.org/tahia-carioca.html

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/1999/448/cu1.htm

Taheyya Kariokka. (n.d.) Wikipedia. Retrieved September 2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taheyya_Kariokka

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.113. (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)

Samia Gamal

real name Zaynab Khalil Ibrahim

Egyptian

1924-1994

Actor

  • actress and dancer
  • first film Mamu' al-Hubb/Forbidden Love (1942)
  • first starring role was in Ahmar Shafayif/red Lipstick (1946) in which she played a femme fatale
  • usually played a beautiful but innocent woman
  • often teamed in comedic style with the singer Farid al-Atrash
  • films include "Afrita Hanim/Lady Ghost (1949), Akhir Kidba/The last lie (1950), Ma Ti'ulsh Li-hadd/Don't tell Anybody (1952), Nashala hanim /Lady Pickpocket (1953) and Sukkar Hanim/Mrs Sugar (1960)

Samia Gamal. Wikipedia. Retrieved September 2, 2009, from, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samia_Gamal

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.114 (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)

Layla Murad

 

 

 

Egyptian

1918 - 1995

 

 

Actor

  • born to a Moroccan Jewish family
  • converted to Islam 1946
  • a leading Egyptian actress in the period between the two World Wars, nicknamed "The Cinderella of cinema'
  • appeared in 27 musicals between 1938 and 1955
  • first film was in Yahya al-Hubb/Long Live Love (1938)
  • also appeared in melodramas such as Layla (1942), Shati' al Gharam/Beach of Love (1950)
  • appeared in films produced and directed by her husband Anwar Wagdi such as Ghazal al Banat/ Girls Flirtation
  • 1955 married Fatin Abd al-Whabbab, retired from cinema and later from singing

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.119. (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)

http://www.turath.org/Articles/Murad.htm

Faten Hamama

Egyptian

b. 1931

Actor

  • called "The First Lady of Arab Cinema'
  • first film role in 1940 Yawm Sa'id /Happy Day
  • originally played helpless and vulnerable middle or upper class girls involved in emotional entanglements as in Lahn al Khulud/Song of eternity (1952)
  • later in career she played rural or working class women, most impressively in al-Haram/ The Sin (1965)
  • latest film was Ard al-Ahlam/Land of Dreams (1993) in which she played a mother who is asked by her children to emigrate to the United States to help them obtain visas

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.116. (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)
Nadia Al-Gindi

Egyptian

b .1940

Actor

  • Egypt's best paid female star known for her belly dancing, and seductive gestures and clothing
  • first role in Jamila al-Jaza'iriyya /Jamila the Algerian (1958) and first starring role was in the biography Bamba Kashar (1974)
  • usually plays femme fatales and social climbers but later in life played patriotic and courageous heroines
  • films include al-Batniyya (1980), al-Khadima/The servant 91984), Muhimma Fi Tall-Abib/Mission in Tel Aviv (1992), al Jasusa Hikmat Fahmi/The spy Hikmat Fahmi (1994) and Imra'a Hazat Arsh Misr/A woman shook Egypt's Throne (1995)

Source: Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film ed. Oliver Leaman London: Routledge, 2001 p.111

 

Youssra

 

 

 

 

 

Egyptian

b. 1955

Actor

  • first film as Qasr Fi-l-Hawa'l/A palace in the air (1975)
  • reputed to be best Egyptian actress of the modern era
  • plays a variety of characters and styles
  • 1990s she specialized in comedic roles including al-Irhab Wa-l-Kabab/Terrorism and the Kebabs (1992)
  • Best Actress Award 'Golden Knight' of the Middle East Oscars 1999
  • starred in "Hayat El Gohary", "Raafat El Hagan", and "Awan El Ward" and "Ayna Qalby" series for TV and performed play "Lama Papa Yenam" on stage

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.125. (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)

Youssra. (n.d.) Wikipedia. Retrieved September 2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youssra

Soad Hosny

Egyptian

b. 1941

Actor

  • first film Hasan Wa Na'ima/Husan and Na'ima (1959)
  • acts in a large variety of films from musicals such as Khalli Balak Min Zuzu/Take care of Zuzu to dramas such as Zawjatti Wa-l-Kalb/My wife and the Dog (1971) and Maw'id Ala al-Asha/Rendezvous for dinner (1981) and is considered one of the most talented Egyptian actresses
  • latest film was al-Ra'i Wa-l-Nisa/The Shepherd and the woman (1991)

Soad Hosny. Wikipedia (n.d.) Retrieved September 2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soad_Hosny

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.117. (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)

Amina Rizq

Egyptian

b. 1910

Actor

  • joined Wahbi's Ramsis troupe in 1924 and appeared in first film in 1928 Su'ad al-Ghajariyya/ Su'ad the Gypsy
  • appeared in Egypt's first talking picture Awlad al Dhawatt/Sons of Aristocrats (1932)
  • acted in an exaggerated, melodramatic style and usually appeared in supporting roles
  • has appeared in over 100 films
  • latest film Ard al Ahlam/Land of Dreams (1993)

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p. 121 (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/1999/455/cu4.htm

Naila Al Moosawi

 Emirati

Air Traffic Controller

  • educated at Aviation College, Dubai
  • first female air traffic controller in UAE
  • first female site manager at ENOC

http://www.womenone.org/face05.htm
Zahra (Shahnaz) Kamalkani

Iranian

1954-

Anthropologist

  • educated at Universities of Tehran and Bergan (Norway), and SOAS (London)
  • Assistant Lecturer Inst of Middle East Language and Culture, University of Bergan 1986-7
  • Dept of Social Anthropology 1992-5
  • Publications Women's Everyday Religious Discourse in Iran (1993), Women's Islam: Religious practice among women in today's Iran (1996)

International Who’s Who of Women. 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. p.433. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2008)

Zaha Hadid

Iraqi

1950-

Architect and Professor

  • educated at American University Beruit and Architectural Association (London)
  • completed architectural works include
  • Vitra Furniture Co. (Germany) 1991
  • Contemporary Art Center (Cinncinati, Ohio) 1998
  • Mind Zone in Millenium Dome (London) 1999
  • garden exhibition center (Weil am Rhein) 1999
  • Professor Columbia University 1994, University of Illinois 1997, Bildene Kunst (Hamburg) 1997

http://www.zaha-hadid.com/profile.html

Zaha Hadid. (n.d.) Wikipedia. Retrieved September 2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaha_hadid

International Who’s Who of Women. 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. p.347-348. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2008)
Azza Sultan Al-Qasimi

Emirati

Artist / Business woman

  • Daughter of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Mohammed Al-Qasimi Ruler of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • Educated at the Higher Colleges of Technology
    Dubai Women's college
    Higher Dimploma in Banking and Finance
    B.Sc in Business Administration (2000)
  • Masters in Forced Migration
    University of Oxford- St. Antony's College
  • Currently a D.Phil. candidate at the University of Oxford Oriental Studies Department- Modern Middle Eastern Studies
  • exhibited in group exhibitions in United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, China, United Kingdom
  • works in mixed, collage, prints and oil on canvas

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p. 239, 209-212.(DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)
Helen Khal

Lebanese

1923-

Artist and writer

  • educated at Lebanese Academy of Fine Art
  • teacher of Fine Art at American University of Beruit
  • Founder of Gallery One 1963
  • writer for the Daily Star
  • author of The Women Artists in Lebanon; Prepared for the Institute of Women's Studies in the Arab World

International Who’s Who of Women. 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. p.448. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2008)

Mai Ghoussoub

Lebanese

b. 1952

Artist and writer

  • educated at the American University of Beirut, Lebanese University, Morley College, London
  • exhibited her sculptures solo and in groups in UK and Denmark
  • 1998 publishes a collection of short stories called ‘Leaving Beirut, Women and the Wars Within’

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.232, 177-182. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)
Saloua Raouda Choucair

Lebanese

1916

Artist

  • educated at American University of Beruit, National School of Fine Art and Grande Chaumiere Academie (Paris)
  • held the first exhibition of abstract art in the Arab world (1947)
  • Exhibitions 1947, Paris 1951, Beruit 1951-62, retrospective 1974
  • Court of Justice prize 1963
  • Ministry of Tourism Prize 1966
  • Alexandria Biennale Prize 1968
  • National Prize of Sculpture 1971
  • Sursock Museum Prize 1965, 1966, 1967, 1973

http://www.srchoucair.com/srchoucair.html

http://wwol.is.asu.edu/choucair.html

International Who’s Who of Women. 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. p.161 (DWC collection REF CT 3202.I58 2008)
Firyal Al Adhamy Iraqi

Artist

  • educated at Bagdad University
  • now lives in Bahrain and the UK
  • has exhibited work since 1987 in London, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Beijing, China
  • works in acrylic, gold and watercolor on canvas and paper

http://wwol.is.asu.edu/al-adhamy.html

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.223, 148-151. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)
Maysaloun Faraj

Iraqi/American

b. 1955

Artist

  • educated at Baghdad University, B.Sc. Architecture
  • exhibited solo and in groups in London, Brazil, Iraq, USA, United Arab Emirates, France
  • works in ceramics and mixed media on board and canvas

http://www.iraqipapers.com/interview1.html

Lloyd, Fran and Keelan, Siumee H. Contemporary Arab women's art : dialogues of the present London : WAL, c1999.
Jananne al Ani

Iraqi

1966 -

Artist

  • educated at Byam Shaw school of Art
  • University of Westminster
  • Royal College of Art, M.A. in Photography
  • has exhibited since 1989 in London, and Poland
  • works in photographs and video installation

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.225, 154-157. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)
Rima Farah

Jordanian

b. 1955

Artist

  • educated at Cambridge School of Art, U.K.
  • exhibited in solo and group exhibitions since 1984 in London, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Japan, USA, Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon
  • works in etching and monprint

http://wwol.inre.asu.edu/farah.html

Lloyd, Fran and Keelan, Siumee H. Contemporary Arab women's art : dialogues of the present London : WAL, c1999.
Najat Maki

Emirati

b. 1956

Artist

  • educated at College of Fine Art, Cairo, (M.A)
  • first woman to be awarded a government scholarship to study art outside the UAE
  • 1997 became first artist from the UAE to gain a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture
  • exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Sudan, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Germany, United States, Spain, Italy, Russia, Japan and France since 1986
  • works in mixed media on canvas and sculpture
  • teaches art at the Dubai Women's Association and at the National Youth Theatre and Arts workshops
  • works as an art supervisor for the Ministry of Education

Lloyd, Fran and Keelan, Siumee H. Contemporary Arab women's art : dialogues of the present London : WAL, c1999.
Thuraya al Baqsami

Kuwaiti

b. 1952

Artist

  • educated at College of Fine Arts, Cairo and Arts Insitute, Surikov, Moscow, M.A in Graphic Book Illustration and Design
  • Exhibited in solo and group exhibitions since 1985 in Kuwait, Baghdad, Atlanta, Washington, Bahrain, Syria, Casablanca, Amman , Beirut, Sharjah, Cairo, Budapest,, Athans, London, Paphos.
  • works in acrylic, oil on canvas and monoprints
  • author of children's books

http://wwol.inre.asu.edu/al-baqsami.html

Thuraya Al-Baqsami. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuraya_Al-Baqsami

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.226-227, 158-161. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)

Malika Agueznay

 Moroccan

Artist

  • educated at Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Casablanca
  • has exhibited works in solo and group exhibitions since 1986 in Morocco, USA, Japan, Syria, Tunisia, Paris, Poland, Spain, and Iraq
  • works in oil on canvas and etchings

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.224, 152-153. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)

http://wwol.is.asu.edu/agueznay.html

Batool al Fekaiki

Iraqi

b. 1952

Artist

  • educated at Institute of Baghdad
  • exhibited works solo and in groups in Iraq, Kuwait, Italy, France, Spain, Jordan, Brazil, UK, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, and Germany
  • works in oil on canvas and drawing

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.230, 170-172. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)

Sabiha Khemir

Tunisian

b. 1959

Artist

  • educated at London University (PhD in Islamic Art and Archaeology) and University of Pennsylvania, Post Doctoral Fellow in the History of Art Departmen
  • exhibited works in France, United Kingdom, and United States.
  • illustrative work includes
  • 1994 The Island of Animals Quartet, London
  • 1978 Le Nuage Amoureux, Maspero, Paris
  • 1975 L'Ogresse Maspero, Paris
  • 1993 published first novel Waiting in the future for the past to come

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.136-137, 195-198. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)
Leila Kubba Kawash

Iraqi

b. 1945

Artist

  • educated at Manchester School of Art & Architecture and Corcoran School of Art, Washington D.C
  • exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in United States of American, United Kingdom, Jordan and Greece since 1984
  • works in mixed media, oil on canvas

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.235, 187-190. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)

http://www.calresco.org/kawash/intro.htm
Houria Niati

Algerian

b.1948

Artist

  • educated at National School of Tixeraine, Algiers,and Croydon College of Art and Design, London
  • exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in Algeria, France, United Kingdom, United States, and United Arab Emirates since 1984
  • 1984 became First Artist in Residence at Riverside Studios, London
  • works in mixed, installation, performance, painting and drawing

http://people.cornell.edu/pages/sh40/Niati.html

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.238, 203-208. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)
Saadeh George

Lebanese

b. 1950

Artist

  • educated at St Martins College of Art and Design, London
  • exhbited works solo and in groups in Lebanon, Uk and France
  • 1995 Artist in Residence, Small Mansions Art Center, London

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.173-176. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)
Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq

Sudanese

b. 1939

Artist

  • educated at the College of Fine and Applied Art, Khartoum, Royal College of Art (London) in mural painting, lithography, typography, illustration
  • exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in United States of America, Brazil, Sudan, Nigeria, Tunis, Egypt, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and Jordan since 1962
  • works in oil on canvas, acrylic on paper

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.234, 187-190. (DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)
Nadia Saikali

Lebanese

1936-

Artist

  • educated at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, National School of Fine Arts (Paris), and Grande Chaumiere Academie
  • Professor of Painting, Academy of Fine Arts 1962-74 and Institute of Fine Arts, University of Lebanon 1965-74
  • Scholarship to study art of mural tapestry, Paris 1974-6
  • group and solo exhbitions internationally 1960-73

The International Who's Who of Women 3rd ed. Europa Publications: London, 2002 p.503
Laila al-Shawa

Palestinian

b. 1940

Artist

  • educated at the Leonardo da Vinci School of Art, Cairo, Academia de Belle Arte, Rome and Accademia St Giaccomo, Rome
  • exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in London, Malaysia, Jordan, France, United States, and Kuwait
  • works in silk screen, oil on canvas and sculpture
  • best known work "Wall of Gaza"

Lloyd, Fran, ed. Contemporary Arab Women’s Art: Dialogues of the Present. London: WAL (Women’s Art Library), 1999. Print. p.241, 219-222.(DWC collection N6260.C65 1999)

http://wwol.inre.asu.edu/al-shawa.html

Nazli Madkour

Egyptian

1949

Artist

  • educated at University of Cairo and American Univeristy (Cairo)
  • Economic expert for Industrial Development Center for Arab States
  • Published Egyptian women and artistic creativity 1989

http://www.sis.gov.eg/egyptinf/culture/html/nazli1.htm

The International Who's Who of Women 3rd ed. Europa Publications: London, 2002 p.355

Ghada Shouaa

Syrian

1973

Athlete (Heptathlon)

  • member of Syrian national basketball team 1989-90
  • came first in Hepathlon at Asian Games in 1994
  • won gold at the Gotzis, Austria championship 1995
  • won world championship in 1995
  • won gold medeal in heptalon at the Olympic Games (Atlanta) 1996
  • first Syrian to win Olympic gold medal
  • retired in 2001 due to foot injury

http://www.cafe-syria.com/Sports.htm

http://www.shouaa.com/start.html

"Shouaa, Ghada." International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports. Ed. Karen Christensen, Allen Guttmann, and Gertrud Pfister. Vol. 3. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. 1009-1010. Print. 3 vols. (DWC collection REF GV709.I58 2000 v.1-3)

Nawal El Moutawakel

Moroccan

1962

Athlete (Hurdles)

  • educated at Iowa State University (USA) 1983-
  • dominated national and regional 100 and 400m hurdle competitions in the early 1980s
  • won Gold medal at Olympic Games in Los Angles 1984
  • first arab woman to win an Olympic Gold medal
  • first Moroccan to win an Olympic Gold medal
  • retired from competition 1987 after a knee injury
  • sprint and hurdle coach in Morocco
  • organized first women's road race in Casablanca in 1993
  • became member of the executive board of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (track and field) 1995
  • became member of the International Olympic Committee 1998-

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawal_El_Moutawakel

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/030206/2003020606.html

International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports ed. Karen Christensen et al. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001 p.362

Hassiba Boulmerka

Algerian

1968

Athlete (Middle Distance Runner)

  • won the 800 and 1500 meter African championships in 1988-9
  • participated in Olympic Games (Seoul) 1988
  • wins world championship in 1500 meters in 1991 and 1995
  • wins Gold medal in 1500 meters at Olympic Games (Barcelona) 1992
  • first Algerian to win an Olympic gold medal
  • participated in Olympic Games (Atlanta) 1996
  • elected to International Olympic Committee's(IOC) Athletes' Commission 1996
  • serves on the Algerian National Olympic Committee's Althletes' Commission and on the IOC's Women and Sport Working Group 2000-

Hassiba Boulmerka. (n.d.) Wikipedia. Retreived September 6, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassiba_Boulmerka

"Boulmerka, Hassiba." International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports . Ed. Karen Christensen, Allen Guttmann, and Gertrud Pfister. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. 161-162. Print. 3 vols. (DWC collection REF GV709.I58 2000)
Nour Al Houda Karfou Syrian

Athlete

  • 2001 General Secretary of the Syrian Olympic Committee (1983-2000), was awarded the Olympic Order by the IOC. She is the first woman in the Arab Region to gain this honour.

http://www.canada2002.org/e/progress/worldwide/chapter3_asia.htm

Haya bint al Hussein (Princess)

Jordanian

b. 1974

Athlete

  • daughter of King Hussein of Jordan and Queen Alia
  • educated at St Hilda's College, Oxford University,Honors degree MA. B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics
  • President of the Queen Alia Foundation dealing with speech and hearing impaired individuals
  • President and Founder of the Jordanian International Athletes Cultural Association which promotes and supports Jordanian athletes to the international level
  • She is the Honorary President of the Land Transport and Mechanical Union. Also the first and only woman to date with a licence to drive heavy vehicles and articulated trucks
  • honorary president of the Children’s Dental Health Care Society. (SMILE) which provides dental care to under privileged children
  • President of The Haya Arts and Cultural Centre for Child Development,
  • She is carrying out Research by Royal Decree of HM King Abdullah II to expand physical education programmes at elementary school level throughout the Jordanian Kingdom in conjunction with the Ministry of Education.
  • Since the age of thirteen (1986) Princess Haya has represented her country as an international athlete. In 1993 she was voted “Athlete of the Year” by the Jordanian public, in her chosen sport of Equestrian Games.
  • In 1994 she was voted “Athlete of the Year” by the Arab BBC Radio.
  • In 1992 she was individual bronze medallist in the Pan Arab Games held in Damascus, Syria, and remains the only woman, in any discipline, to ever win a Pan Arab Medal in Equestrian Games.
  • 1994-1996 created an International Competing Team, called “Team Harmony”, which consisted of two riders (Princess Haya and Paul Darragh.), twelve international horses and three members of staff. In 1996 Team Harmony registered the highest number of international wins of any Irish based team, 33 international classes and 6 international Grand Prix and one world cup qualifier.
  • 1996 Team Harmony received the award from the Spanish Federation Oscar Awards, for the team that excelled in highlighting the profile of the show jumping sport.

  • In September 2000 Princess Haya competed in the Sydney Olympic Games riding her horse “Lucilla II”. In entering this event, Princess Haya was the youngest Arab athlete ever to compete in an Equestrian discipline; the first Arab woman to compete in Olympic Equestrian Games and the first member of an Arab Royal family to compete in any Olympic Games.

    In August 2001 Princess Haya qualified for the World Championships (WEG) due to take place in 2002 in Jerez in Spain.

  • represented Jordan, on an administrative level, on the International Equestrian Federation, (FEI) from 1992 to 1996 when she was Chairperson of the Middle East and Western Asian Sub Group of this Federation. During this time she established and created the foundation for the eradication of “piroplasmosis” which effects the horse population in various Arab countries and has prevented over the years an effective International Circuit for Arab Riders. As a result nearly all countries in her subgroup now have disease free status.

  • awaiting the publication of her first book due to be released in 2002 concerning horse sports and written in the Arabic language. She is already working on her second book, a biography of her father the late King Hussein.

http://www.teamharmony.net/faces/index.php?face_id=1

Princess Haya bint al Hussein. (n.d.) Wikipedia. Retrieved September 8, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Haya_Bint_Al_Hussein

International Who’s Who of Women. 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. p.400. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2008)

Badriya Al-Tamimi

 Emirati

Business woman

  • graduated from Dubai Civil Aviation College in Business Administration
  • worked at SOS, an international recruitment agency
  • acting manager for Dubai Quality Group

Raja Easa Al Gurg

Emirati

b. 1953

Business woman /Teacher

  • graduated from Kuwait University in 1977 with degree in English Literature
  • first worked at the Ministry of Education, UAE as a teacher then as a deputy head mistress
  • 1990 she began work for her father's Al Gurg companies,
  • now responsible for 29 companies and 3000 employees
  • President of the Business Women's Committee under the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

 

 

 

http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/people-places.asp?ArticleID=54410

Nuha Mohammed Safar

Emirati

b. 1980

Business woman

  • Head of Events and Promotional Campaigns, Foreign Relations Department, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
  • Graduated from Higher Colleges of Technology in Business Adminstration.
  • part of the team that organized the first Dubai Summer Surprises campaign
  • Youngest section head at DCCI.

http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/people-places.asp?ArticleID=60151

Source: Zahra Al Mulla - DWC

Sheikha Lubna Khalid Al Qasimi

Emirati

b. c.1959

Business woman

  • Managing Director of Tejari.com
  • Graduated with a Bachelor of Science from California State University, and an MBA from American University of Sharjah.
  • Held the position of Dubai Branch Manager of the General Information Authority of the UAE Federal Government
  • Held the position of senior manager of information systems at Dubai Ports Authority 1993-2000
  • Heads the Dubai e-government team responsible for implementing electronic initatives in the public sector
  • 2000 - Named IT Woman of the Year by Datamatrix

Lubna Khalid Al Qasimi. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved September 29, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubna_Khalid_Al_Qasimi

International Who’s Who of Women. 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. p.694. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2008)