The sixth edition of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Award charts a new path for the development and prosperity of Arab women’s sports locally and internationally

Abu Dhabi, September 17, 2022: Under the patronage and support of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation "Mother of the Nation", His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of both the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Foundation for Charitable and Humanitarian Works, and Abu Dhabi Sports Council crowned the winners of the sixth Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Award, as part of a solemn and exceptional ceremony that was held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on September 17, 2022. It is the first award of its kind in the region, aimed mainly at empowering women and highlighting their achievements in the sports sector. The event served as a festivity for Arab sports women and a celebration of their legacy.

Since its inception, the award embodies the vision of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation "Mother of the Nation", to enhance the position of Arab sportswomen at the local and international levels.

The award ceremony announced nine winners, including Giana Farouk Mahmoud from Egypt who bagged the Best Arab Athlete Award; in the category of Best Emirati Athlete, Shamma Yousef Al Kalbani won; and Hana Ayman Goda from Egypt received the Best Young Athlete award; while Rehab Ahmed Radwan from Egypt won the Best Paralympic athlete award. Faris Al Assaf won the Best Coach award; while the award for Best Sports Media went to Aziza Nait Sibaha; the award for the

category of Best Youth Development Program went to Jordan Women's Football Association, and Egyptian Weightlifting Federation was awarded the Best Team, and Emirates International Endurance Village won the award for the Best Sports Creative Initiative.

The award also honored the Sports Personality of the Year, an award that was contested by sports personalities whose sports experience exceeds twenty years, and this category was at the level of the Arab world, to be awarded by a jury. This award was presented to Ons Jabeur from Tunisia.

Competition categories within this award included both individual and collective levels in various departments such as sports management, training, research, sports sponsorship, and women of determination. The total prize money for the award is AED 1,700,000.

Mariam Al Mansoori, Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy Representative, said, “We are proud and happy to crown the winners of the sixth edition of Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Award, as the ceremony witnessed unforgettable historical moments that showed the essence of the hard and fruitful work of the distinguished team at Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy for the success of the award ceremony for the winners from the UAE and the Arab world.”

"The award categories have seen strong competition over the past months, which proves the talent, will, ambition, and development of Arab sportswomen. We hope to see Arab women continue to take the lead in local and international sports events, and this award will contribute to the birth of new achievements in Arab women's sports careers,” Al-Mansoori added.

The ceremony of distributing the sixth edition of Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Award, on September 17, 2022, was attended by representatives of a number of prestigious official and governmental bodies, federations, and sports clubs in the country and from several other countries.

The organizing committee thanked all the sponsors and partners who contributed to the success of this great event including the Crown Prince Court, Abu Dhabi Public Health Center and strategic partners, Dolphin Energy, Etihad Rail, and the platinum partners, Abu Dhabi Sports Channels, the official media partner, and the Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society, the supporting partner.

Al-Mansoori praised the attendance of their Excellences, officials, media, and guests from the UAE and various Arab countries, as their presence was of great value, which gave the ceremony of awarding the sixth edition of Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Award a more established position among the sports and official community groups.

The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA) is a not-for-profit government entity of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Established in October 2010, the Academy is headed by its Chairwoman, HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and is dedicated to promoting and facilitating women’s sports in the UAE.

The FBMA serves this significant mission by hosting a number of local, regional, and international sports events, facilitating community activities, managing and developing local talent, and through its education and research work. In fulfilling its mandate, FBMA partners with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and other relevant Government entities and sports federations

Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) was established in 2006 by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

ADSC is aligned with the emirate’s leadership vision to develop sports and youth activities. The Council promotes an effective, emirate-wide sports calendar that stimulates the desire to participate in quality sports among all Abu Dhabi residents and helps the talented and motivated reach their sporting potential.

The sports council supports the organization and hosting of many international sporting events in Abu Dhabi.

These include the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, UAE Tour, WTA Abu Dhabi International Women's Tennis Championship, World Triathlon Championship, Leaders Sports Business Summit, Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, and IJF Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Slam.

Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon, Spartan World Championship, World Swimming Championships, Mubadala World Tennis Championships, and many other international events cement the reputation and position of Abu Dhabi as a global destination for sport.