Excitement was in the air as the official countdown for the Woman of the Year Awards was announced in a glittering ceremony staged in Sitra.
The programme, hosted at Jetour Showroom, featured the signing with the event sponsors and the ticket launch for the grand finale set to be staged on December 2 at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa.
The evening brought together partners, previous winners, jury members, diplomats, media representatives and distinguished guests.
Also present were Jetour Bahrain officials and staff members, led by chief strategic officer Ghassan Freiwat. Jetour will lead this year’s celebration as title sponsor.
“We are really happy to be part of this event,” Jetour Bahrain dealer principal Manaf Kassem told the GDN. “The award stands for all the things that Jetour as a brand upholds so it was an easy decision for us. We’re here to empower the community and women are a big part of that community – an integral pillar for growth and development, and the future of the country,” added Mr Kassem.
Now entering its third edition, WOTYA 2026 continues to champion exceptional women who are shaping Bahrain and the wider region through leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity, professional excellence and meaningful contribution to society.
Staged by Red House Marketing, in partnership with Woman This Month and the Gulf Daily News (GDN), the initiative seeks to shine a spotlight on remarkable women whose achievements go beyond professional titles, celebrating the vision, resilience, leadership and influence behind their success.
Red House Marketing, Woman This Month and WOTYA publisher and founder George Middleton noted that the award has grown into one of Bahrain’s most meaningful platforms for recognising women whose achievements deserve wider visibility.
“This year we have five categories and 21 awards, ranging across everything from social work through to expertise in business, finance, banking and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math),” Mr Middleton revealed.
He went on to highlight the organisers’ vision to build on the strong foundations of the previous years, with wider nominations, deeper community engagement and a continued focus on credibility, fairness and impact.
“To all our partners, sponsors and supporters, thank you for believing that recognition matters and for helping us shine a light on the women making a difference in Bahrain. Now, the journey moves to nominations and public voting,” he added.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal’s managing director Ronnie Middleton, said: “The GDN is delighted to be a partner in this prestigious event which honours the amazing contribution by women to Bahrain’s society and national development. The Women of the Year Awards underline the achievements in virtually every sector of our economy by women who have earned the respect love and appreciation of our community.”
WOTYA is supported by an impressive network of partners, with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) serving as the official adviser. UNIDO’s role further strengthens the initiative’s focus on meaningful impact and its wider vision for recognising achievement and creating greater visibility for women.
The 2026 edition is further supported by American Mission Hospital, The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa, Home Centre Bahrain – Al Rashid Group, Radio Bahrain 96.5, Talking Pictures, Four Square, Russell Bedford Assure, Out of the Box, SOS Marketing and Asghar Ali.
The diverse group of partners reflects the strength and breadth of support behind this year’s awards, bringing together organisations from the automotive, healthcare, hospitality, retail, media, marketing, audit and lifestyle sectors.
The upcoming edition will present 21 awards across five categories, providing a prestigious platform for women from a wide range of backgrounds and industries. The awards seek to recognise not only professional achievement but also the determination, innovation, leadership and positive influence that make each nominee stand out.
Nominations remain open until August 31, giving individuals and organisations a final opportunity to recommend an exceptional woman for this year’s honours to a distinguished jury.
Visit womanoftheyearawards.com to submit your nominations.
Intensifying the excitement at the official signing, the event’s jury was announced.
In a first, WOTYA 2026 will have an esteemed all-woman panel comprising Dr Hana Kanoo, MP Maryam Saleh Al Dhaen, Dr Najma Taqi, Dr Suzanne White and Sabah Al Moayed.
Drawing on experience across business, healthcare, public life, leadership and professional development, the judges will play an important role in evaluating the nominations and selecting the women who will progress through the awards.
Following two successful editions, the third edition promises to build on the legacy of WOTYA with an even greater emphasis on influence, ambition, leadership and excellence.
Over its first two editions, the awards have created greater visibility for women whose contributions extend far beyond their job titles and accolades.
Tickets for the WOTYA 2026 grand finale are now on sale.
The evening will bring together leading figures from Bahrain’s business and community sectors, diplomats, entrepreneurs, media personalities, previous award winners, sponsors, partners and distinguished guests for a sophisticated celebration of achievement.
- Guests can secure their places by visiting womanoftheyearawards.com, bahrainthismonth.com or womanthismonth.com
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
The Woman of the Year Awards 2026 will host Bahrain-born Bollywood superstar Jacqueline Fernandez as chief guest. Adding an international entertainment dimension to the occasion, Fernandez will bring a distinctive sense of glamour and celebration to the grand finale on December 2 at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa.
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