Arab media personality and CEO of Pyramedia Nashwa Al Ruwaini was awarded L'Officiel Women of the Year Award for Best Media Personality. Held last week at the Abu Dhabi Ladies Club, the ceremony honoured exceptional women in a number of areas including art, business, charity and fashion.
With over 20 years experience, Nashwa has become a pioneer in the media industry in the Middle East, launching more than 35 TV shows for networks such as MBC and Abu Dhabi TV and founding and supporting several media initiatives and projects. Through her efforts in media consultancy, Nashwa has helped establish the Middle East International Film Festival, National Geographic Abu Dhabi and Muslims on Screen and Television (MOST) that aims to improve and correct the image of Muslims on television and films the world over.
Receiving the award on Nashwa's behalf was Sherine Fawzi, head of Pyramedia Egypt. Also honoured at the awards ceremony attended by over 400 women were other high-profile figures including Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo who won the Inspirational Woman of the Year Award and Emirati Fatima Al Jaber, CEO of Al Jaber Group, who won Best Businesswoman.
Said Nashwa, "I am very honoured to receive this award. I would like to thank the judges of the L'Officiel Women of the Year Awards for recognizing the hard work we Arab women do in each of our respective fields whether it be raising awareness of a specific cause, crossing boundaries to speak about what we believe in or fueling our ambition to simply be better for our country and ourselves."
In her extensive career in the media, Nashwa has gained unparalleled experience in the various aspects of media services. As head of Pyramedia, she has guided it to become one of the biggest production companies in the Middle East, producing some of the highest-rated shows on television including 'Million's Poet,' 'Prince of Poets' and 'Nashwa.'
Nashwa is also a regular speaker at high profile events and has spoken at MOST in LA, the Success forum in Dubai, and the 2008 and 2009 editions of the US Islamic Forum in Doha, Qatar. Nashwa has won the prestigious Feigenbaum Leadership Award and was awarded the Gold prize at the Tenth Gulf Radio and Television Production Festival held in Bahrain for her show 'Nashwa'. She was also nominated for 'Best Entertainer' at the 2008 Rose d'Or Awards in Switzerland.
The L'Officiel Awards were launched in 2009 and are designed to recognize and reward inspirational Arab women in a variety of areas. The winners are nominated by a small panel of judges, headed by L'Officiel Editor Mirvat Ghanem, who are experts in their field. The winners of the L'Officiel Women of the Year Awards include Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment.
