Nashwa Al Ruwaini - Emirati woman who has gone from strength to strength

When her talk show, Nashwa, launched in 2006, Nashwa Al Ruwaini became a household name across the Middle East.

Known as the ‘Oprah of the Arab world’, Al Ruwaini has gone from strength to strength, though it hasn’t always been an easy ride. Born in Cairo, she started her career on Qatari radio before becoming the youngest Arab woman on TV, working for Qatar TV. Moving to London, and then to Cairo, Al Ruwaini found her way to the UAE where she established her own production company, Pyramedia, in 1998. Pyramedia is now one of the largest production companies in the region. Recently, Hollywood Reporter magazine named her as one of the 25 most powerful women in global TV.

Mona Eltahawy - Egyptian woman who campaign for women’s rights

Since coming to prominence in 2011, when she was assaulted in Egypt’s Interior Ministry after being arrested during a protest in Tahrir Square, Eltahawy’s has been a familiar voice in the campaign for women’s rights.

A regular in some of the world’s best-read newspapers and websites, Eltahawy has been heralded by many as displaying courage in the face of adversity by offering an uncompromising stance against patriarchal behaviours, governments and societies. Her first book - Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution - is expected to be published in April, and is based on a controversial article she wrote about misogyny in 2012, entitled Why Do They Hate Us.

Hala Gorani - Syrian woman who is known for hard-hitting news reports

Prominent US-based journalist Hala Gorani in known for her hard-hitting news reports from the region, which have covered major events including the 2006 Lebanon-Israel war and the Arab Spring.

The French-raised Syrian-American is an anchor and correspondent for CNN, known for The World Right Now with Hala Gorani, among other shows, and has been honoured for her work with numerous awards. Recently she covered the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo Paris shootings. Among her high-profile interviews have been Jimmy Carter, Tony Blair, Nouri Al Maliki and the Dalai Lama.

Badreya Al Bishr - Saudi woman who takes on numerous themes affecting Arab women

Controversy and Badreya Al Bishr have never been far away from one another. The author, journalist and TV host has never shied away from tackling major issues and taboo topics.

Writing in her daily column for Al Hayat, and hosting her own talk show on MBC, Al Bishr takes on numerous themes affecting Arab women today, as well as religion and extremism. The multi-award-winning Saudi writer is a PhD graduate from the American University of Beirut, and an alumnus of the US State Department International Visitor programme. She also lectures at King Saud University’s Department of Social Studies.

Hanan Solayman - Egyptian woman who created news websites and media platforms in underserved communities

Freelance journalist Hanan Solayman has steadily been bringing media to Egypt’s masses through her Mandara Media Foundation.

The foundation, which aims to create news websites and media platforms in underserved communities in rural Egypt, was launched in 2012. Its first project was to train 90 journalists in Upper Egypt, allowing them to contribute to a local portal covering all 11 districts in the southern part of the country. A regular writer for publications across the region, Solayman plans to develop Mandara, aiming to build a “leading model of independent and non-profit local journalism… to engage citizens outside the capital in society”.

Hoda Kotb - Egyptian woman who is well regonised in media

As host of NBC’s Today programe, Hoda Kotb is one of the most recognisable faces to American television viewers.

The US citizen, whose parents are both Egyptian, rose through the ranks in journalsm, starting out as a news assistant for CBS News in Cairo before working her way up the chain and eventually landing a job as a correspondent on Dateline NBC in 1998, and later as co-host of Today in 2007. Kotb has aslo been announced as a host of a live call-in show on the SiriusXM radio channel, and is possibly best known for her breast cancer awareness advocacy. The TV star underwent surgery for breast cancer in 2007 and allowed television cameras to follow her throughout her cancer battle, while documenting her story on the Today Show.