RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Belgian Embassy in Saudi Arabia hosted on Sunday, 27th October 2024, the third edition of the prestigious Women in Tech® MENA Awards, marking a significant milestone in recognizing and celebrating women’s achievements in the technology sector across the Middle East and North Africa region. The event, which was part of the 7th annual Women in Tech Global Awards, was streamed on the official TikTok account of TikTok LIVE MENA (@tiktoklive_mena) and that of Women in Tech Saudi Arabia (women.in.tech.ksa) and featured a special episode of the “SHEroes from the Middle East” series. Broadcasted monthly on TikTok LIVE MENA’s official account, the series offers a platform to showcase the inspiring stories of women who have achieved remarkable milestones and made a positive impact in their communities.
Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder and CEO of Women in Tech Global, emphasized the critical importance of women’s leadership in technology during her keynote address. “It is imperative that we foster an environment where women are at the forefront of technological advancements, leading to innovations that not only drive business success but also deliver social impact,” she stated.
Maya Ayoub, Country Director for Women in Tech Saudi Arabia, highlighted: ” Vision 2030 has laid out a bold and unprecedented framework for our nation’s future— one that prioritizes innovation, economic diversification, and the empowerment of women across all sectors. Technology is a key enabler of this transformation, and Saudi Arabia has become a global leader in tech-driven innovation.”
The event, themed “The Power of SHEroes: Shaping the Future of Technology,” aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, showcasing remarkable achievements across various categories:
Notable Winners Include:
- Women in Tech® Lifetime Achievement Award: Deemah Al Yahya, Secretary General of Digital Cooperation Organization
- Global Leadership Women in Tech® Award: Dr. Khulood Almani, CEO & Founder of HKB Tech
- Tech Diplomacy Award: Dr. Manahel Thabet, Special Envoy for Science and Technology to the SG of the Commonwealth of Nations
- GreenTech Start-up Award: Sarah El Battouty, Founder of ECOnsult
- Woman in Web3 Award: Sofia Lkhlef, Founder & CEO of Neia Solutions W.L.L
- Most Disruptive Award Powered by AWS: Prof. Selwa Al Hazza, Founder & CEO of SDM
- Most Impactful Initiative Award: Majd Mashharawi, Founder & CEO of SUNBOX
- Best Ally Award: Marwa Hammad, Head of the Global Gender Strategy at Schneider Electric Foundation
- Aspiring Teen Award: Nada Al Darak, Design Engineer at Team Shaheen, F1 in Schools
The Belgian Embassy, represented by H.E. Pascal Grégoire, reaffirmed its commitment to fostering international partnerships that enhance gender equality in the technology sector, emphasizing the importance of cross-border collaboration for sustainable economic and technological growth.
The MENA Awards ceremony is part of a broader three-month journey featuring regional ceremonies across seven global regions, including Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, North America, MENA, Europe, and the Caucasus and Central Asia. The regional winners will advance to the Global Finals, to be held on November 14th at the French National Assembly in Paris, under the distinguished patronage of Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic. This prestigious finale will bring together the world’s most innovative women in technology, showcasing female excellence and leadership on a global stage.
About Women in Tech® Global
Women in Tech® is one of the world’s leading organization dedicated to empowering women and girls in the technology sector, fostering innovation, and promoting inclusive technological advancement across the globe.
For more information and to get involved in the Women In tech events and initiatives, join the Women In Tech Hub.
