The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) have opened nominations for the 8th Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Awards.

The nomination period runs from 5 June-10 September and seeks to recognise the achievements of outstanding UAE National and Arab sportswomen in various fields across eight categories.

The total prize pool is valued at AED1.8 million and the list of nominees will be announced on 23 October 2024, while the award ceremony will be held on 13 November 2024.

This year, female athletes who have achieved remarkable results and goals from September 2023 to September 2024 are eligible for nomination.

The categories for nomination and their respective cash prizes are as follows:

Best Arab Women Athlete (AED500,000), Best Emirati Women Athlete (AED300,000), Best Youth Athlete (AED150,000), Best Paralympic Athlete (AED150,000), Best Female/Male Coach (AED150,000), Best Sports Media (AED100,000), and Best Team (AED300,000)

A new category, introduced at the awards’ seventh edition, is for Best Sports Mother, with a AED150,000 prize.

The Arab Sport Personality of the Year will be awarded by the jury and is chosen based on the individual’s accomplishments, as well as the exceptional success of her outstanding performance and contributions to supporting women’s sports.

Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, President of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and Mother of the Nation, launched the Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Awards as part of Her Highness's continuing efforts to support the UAE’s, and particularly Abu Dhabi’s, sport infrastructure.

The awards receive great support and interest from Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, and President of the Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Women’s Clubs.

It is the first award of its kind in the region, and one of the most distinguished awards in its various categories, which have garnered immense support from the Arab women’s sports community. It aims to empower women and highlight their achievements in sports over a full year, in addition to improving participation, enhancing competitiveness and excellence in women's sports, creating a stimulating and supportive environment for women athletes, and raising their performances to advanced levels to place them at the forefront of global sporting events.

The winners are honoured in a gala annual ceremony attended by several prominent and distinguished UAE National and Arab figures, as well as a group of the winners’ families and friends, in which the fruits of their careers and achievements in various sports are highlighted.

During the press conference held at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy headquarters to announce the details of the awards, Aref Hamad Al Awani, General-Secretary of the ADSC, said: “We have gathered today to announce the details of the eighth edition of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Awards, the prestigious award which bears the name of the Mother of the Nation and always aims to motivate every Emirati and Arab athlete to win and excel, as well as to honour all women who have achieved success in various sports fields.”

Aref Hamad Al Awani extended his sincere gratitude to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak for her continued support for the wards and her appreciation for high achievers in the Arab world, and to Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed for her efforts to continue the success of the awards every year.

Aref Hamad Al Awani said: "This award would not have achieved its great goal, had it not been for the established and continuous support of our wise leadership, in light of their appreciation of the great and influential role of women in society, and what they provide in all fields; in particular, the sports field." 

Al Awani also confirmed that ADSC, headed by His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is committed to providing all types of necessary support for the awards throughout all stages, especially to achieve its goal of supporting sports in general and women’s sports in particular.

He finally thanked all their partners and sponsors, whose role greatly influenced the Awards’ current success as well as the achievement of its goals during its previous seven editions, and wished all participants success in the eighth edition.

Dr Omniyat Al Hajri, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, said: “We are happy to announce the Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Awards, which has reached its eighth edition through the guidance and support of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, President of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Mother of the Nation, and the qualitative leap the award has achieved in the march for Arab women’s sports. It has become a unique model for honouring outstanding women, also owing to the support and interest of Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chair of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy’s Board of Directors, which pays attention to all the details that have made this award occupy the forefront of the Arab women’s scene at all levels.”

Dr Omniyat Al Hajri also emphasised that the awards have become a distinguished event anticipated by creative women in the UAE and the greater Arab world, becoming the focus of everyone’s attention due to the progress it facilitates. The awards highlight and motivate every single accomplished girl and woman in various sports and sports media fields, incentivising their creativity and determination to ascend more summits and podiums, in addition to empowering women’s sports and improving them year after year.

Dr Omniyat Al Hajri said: “This year, the Awards have increased in financial value, and all the criteria and conditions required for nomination are open to everyone. We expect a large turnout from female candidates and we wish success for all. I extend a special thanks to the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the main and active partner in all women’s activities, for their continued support for women’s sport in general and this award in particular.”

Dr Najwa Al Hosani, head of the judges’ committee, confirmed that the prestigious awards reflect the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak and enjoy the continuous support of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed, to enhance the role of Emirati and Arab women in sports.

Dr Najwa Al Hosani said, “The judges’ committee, which includes an elite group of arbitrators that I have the honour of chairing, has set 10 general conditions and guidelines for the award nomination process. All applications must be submitted online through the official awards’ website, provided that candidates agree to the electronic pledge after reviewing the general instructions, special conditions, and the guide to the required documents. The work must be submitted in Arabic, and the awards’ bylaws must be adhered to in the event of qualifying to win, and not violate any of the ethical standards and values of international sport, as recognised by the International Olympic Committee and other leading sports organisations.

“The candidates must provide proof of their most prominent achievements, impacts, scientific performances, and distinguished results that they have accomplished. They must obtain an official letter from the National Olympic Committee/Federations/Sports Body to which they belong, and all of their achievements and activities must have been completed during the period from 11 September, 2023 to 10 September, 2024.”

The Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Awards’ jury has confirmed that all applications for nomination in the eight categories will be received via the official website: fbmwomensportsaward.ae.