Sharjah: Five distinguished women from India and the Arab world are honoured with the 7th Indo-Arab Women Excellence Awards presented by Gulf Madhyamam and Come On Kerala. The awardees, celebrated for their achievements in culture, sports, literature and technology, include South Indian film star Priyamani, Emirati journalist and author Reem Al Kamali, Indian national cricketer Minnu Mani, Emirati jewelry designer Sheikha Bint Abdullah Al Serkal and Dubai-based app developer Sultana Safeer.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Sharjah Expo Centre at 6 PM on Saturday, May 10, in the presence of prominent guests.
Priyamani has acted in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi films. She won the National Film Award for Best Actress in 2007 for her performance in Paruthiveeran. She is known for speaking out on women’s rights and personal empowerment.
Reem Al Kamali is a senior journalist at Al Bayan, a leading newspaper in the UAE. She holds a degree in history from Lebanese University and was the first Emirati novelist shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
Minnu Mani, from Choyimoola in Wayanad, is the first Malayali to play for the Indian national women’s cricket team. She joined the team in 2023 and currently plays for Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League.
Sultana Safeer, a native of Kollam, won first place in the ‘Create Apps Championship’ held in Dubai. She received a prize of USD 150,000 from Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Sheikha Bint Abdullah Al Serkal designs jewelry inspired by traditional Emirati craftsmanship. She created her own brand and has represented the UAE at local and international exhibitions.
This year’s edition of the Indo-Arab Women Excellence Awards continues the tradition of recognising women who have made significant contributions across diverse fields in India and the Arab world.