Qatar’s “most inspirational women of the year” were felicitated at the second Qatar Arab Woman Awards 2013 by the ITP Consumer - a leading publisher of women’s magazines in the region.

A total of 14 Arab women, who have displayed excellence in their respective fields including business, medicine, arts, charity, fashion and philanthropy, received the awards at the event held at the W-Doha.

The first Qatari female paediatric cardiologist and Hamad Medical Corporation Paediatric Cardiology section head Dr Reema Yousif Hussain Kamal, was awarded the Medical award.

Dr Reema is one of the few cardiologists in the Gulf area who perform and interpret foetal echocardiograms.

Another notable winner was Sarah al-Shamlan, a young Qatari photographer who has harnessed her love for photography to help the less fortunate by selling her photographs for charity.

Speaking about her award, al-Shamlan said: “It is an honour to be recognised amongst such an extraordinary group of women. These awards go a long way in not only recognising the successes of women in Qatar, but in highlighting the development of the role of women in the region as pioneers across all fields.”

Women on the list of winners also included heads of major non-profit and non-governmental organisations such as Qatar Foundation’s Social Development Centre executive director Amal al-Mannai.

She was awarded a lifetime achievement award for her incredible and wide range experience in the social sustainable domain.

The following are the recipients of the Qatar Arab Woman Awards 2013:

Natra Saeed Abdullah (Business); Hessa Abdullah (Education); Fatima al-Hudaifi (Art); Wedad al-Kuwari (Entrepreneur); Aya Magdy (Sport); Waad Ali (Fashion Designer); Ghada al-Subaei - The Kayys (Young Designer); Dr Reema Yousef Hussain Kamal (Medicine); Fatima al-Ali (Humanitarian); Elham Bader (Media); Sarah al-Shamlan (Young Talent); Huda al-Ansari (Inspirational Woman of the Year); and Amal al-Mannai (Lifetime Achievement).

Ahead of the awards, the jury engaged in a two-month research and evaluation process in order to determine the highest calibre candidates and nominees, culminating with the final selection of winners.

One of the judges, Mishael M al-Ansari, marketing and communication director, Anti Doping Laboratory Qatar said: “We have had such a fantastic range of entries this year, with so many women involved in amazing projects across such a wide variety of fields. It was very tough to narrow it down to our final 14 winners, but I think the range is a fantastic reflection of the amazing work being done by women across Qatar and the Arab world. I am very humbled to be surrounded by so many extraordinary women today.”

Other members of the Qatar judging board were: Ooredoo human resources senior director Bothaina al-Ansari; 2-B Communications founder and chief executive officer Dr Nawal al-Shaikh; prominent Qatari artist Amal al-Athem; Fashion House Darz founder Aisha al-Bedded;  and Group Editor of Ahlan! Arabic Nadine el-Chaer.

Supporters of this year’s Arab Woman Awards Qatar include the Qatari Businesswoman Association, jewellery retailer MaximiliaN London, women’s fashion brand Uterque, W Doha Hotel and Residence and Arabic lifestyle magazine Sayidaty. 

The Arab Woman Awards are held annually in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and it is set to launch in Saudi Arabia in 2014. 

To date, the awards have recognised the achievements of over 130 inspirational Arab women.