Top Women Entrepreneurs Honored at Bahrain IWEC Awards

Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Women, and in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, member of the Supreme Council for Women, the Kingdom of Bahrain hosted the 18th International Women Entrepreneurs Challenge (IWEC) Conference.

The event was organized by the IWEC Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain, and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

In his opening remarks, Mr. Sameer Nass, Chairman of BCCI, expressed pride in hosting the global event, which celebrates the achievements of Bahraini women in the economic sector locally and internationally. He praised the continuous support of Princess Sabeeka for Bahraini women and her forward-looking vision across all fields.

Nass highlighted that IWEC has become a global platform for promoting best practices in leadership, creativity, innovation, and sustainability. He emphasized the Chamber’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with UNIDO to support the private sector in Bahrain, the region, and globally, while adopting international best practices.

Mr. Gerhard Mueller, Director General of UNIDO, praised the leadership of Princess Sabeeka in advancing Bahraini women’s entrepreneurship, noting its positive impact on families, communities, and multiple sectors, not just business. He said: “We can see how Bahraini women entrepreneurs are empowered and how they contribute to the prosperity of their society.” Mueller also thanked Bahrain for its support of UNIDO, describing the Kingdom as a strong partner capable of achieving even greater results together.

He further noted that the IWEC conference serves as an important platform to explore emerging business trends, including digital transformation and artificial intelligence, and how the business environment is evolving for everyone, not just women. Mueller stressed the need for greater global efforts to enhance competitiveness, gender balance, and education, highlighting that building women’s capacity worldwide requires increased collaboration and teamwork.

Ms. Ibi Ekong Owusika, Chairperson of the IWEC Foundation, emphasized that Bahraini women are leaders and innovators, representing a positive model for Arab women globally. She noted the importance of replicating Bahrain’s pioneering approach to entrepreneurship across the region and the world.

The conference also announced the winners of the IWEC Awards, which honor outstanding women entrepreneurs with innovative and sustainable projects:

• First Prize: Dr. Sheikha Mai bint Suleiman Al Otaibi, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Bahrain Bayan School and founder of +973 Artisanat.

• Second Prize: Ms. Hala Farouq Al Moayyad, Vice Chairperson, Al Moayyad International Group.

• Third Prize: Ms. Dima Rasool Al Haddad, Vice Chairperson, Al Haddad Automobiles, and Ms. Vicky Maawad, Second Vice Chairperson and Head of Communications, Women Business Owners Association.

The IWEC conference reinforces Bahrain’s leading role in economically empowering women, providing international platforms for knowledge exchange, partnership building, and opening new opportunities for women entrepreneurs. It remains one of the most prominent global events dedicated to women’s entrepreneurship, bringing together leaders, decision-makers, and business pioneers to foster international cooperation and showcase inspiring success stories.