Tawakul Karman - Yemeni woman who is known as Mother of the Revolution

Known within Yemen as the Iron Woman, and Mother of the Revolution, Tawakul  is a journalist, politician, and senior member of the Al-Islah political party, as well as a noted human rights activist.

In 2011 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first Yemeni, first Arab woman, and second Muslim woman to win a Nobel Prize. In 2005 Karman set up Women Journalists Without Chains, and started holding protests in the Yemeni capital two years later. Her name became well-known in 2011 when she led a series of protests calling for the departure of Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Most recently, in January this year, she spoke out on what she believes is a collaboration between now former president Saleh and the Houthi rebels to undo the 2011 revolution by ending the transition process.

Nadine Labaki - successful female film directors and actresses from the Arab world

One of the most successful female film directors and actresses from the Arab world, Nadine Labaki continues to make and star in top feature films.

After 2013 smash hit Rock The Casbah, Labaki had a busy 2014, appearing in three films - Mea Culpa, Rio, I Love You, and La Rancon de la Gloire. Perhaps still best known for her directorial debut, Caramel, which she also starred in, Labaki is a known name within the global film industry, having been listed on Variety’s annual run-down of ten directors to watch.

Maha Al Farhan - Emirati woman conducted medical and clinical research

The founder, CEO and president of ClinArt International launched her company in 2001, conducting medical and clinical research at both early and late stage.

Al Farhan came up with the idea for ClinArt while studying and working in the UK, after completing her Masters in Pharmacology and King’s College, and an MBA at Imperial College. Returning to the UAE in 2000 she realised there were no clinical trials being done at international standards, so she started approaching ministries and health authorities as well as the pharmaceutical industry to raise awareness of clinical research. Her first contract was with German pharma company Boehringer Ingleheim, and she has since worked with the World Health Organisation and the GCC Chapter of the ACRP.