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ABU DHABI: Nine of the Arab world’s most successful personalities and organizations in 2022 have been named winners in the sixth Fatima bint Mubarak Women Sports Award held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Organized by the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA), the first awards ceremony of its kind in the region aims to empower women and highlight their achievements in the sports sector.

Since its inception, the awards have sought to support and highlight the work of Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al-Nahyan — chairperson of the board of directors at FBMA and president of Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain Ladies Clubs — to enhance the position of Arab sportswomen at local and international levels.

The nine winners included Giana Farouk from Egypt for best Arab athlete award; jiu-jitsu star Shamma Yousef Al-Kalbani for best Emirati athlete; Egyptian teenage table tennis star Hana Goda for best young athlete; and powerlifter Rehab Ahmed Radwan from Egypt for best Paralympic athlete.

Additionally, Jordanian taekwondo’s Faris Al-Assaf was named the best coach; Aziza Nait Sibaha best sports media personality; best youth development program went to Jordan Women’s Football Association; the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation took the best team award; and Emirates International Endurance Village won the award for the best sports creative initiative.

Pride of place went to Tunisian tennis sensation Ons Jabeur, who took the sports personality of the year award in a period that has seen her reach the finals of Wimbledon and US Open as well as climb to No. 2 in the WTA rankings.

The total prize money for the awards was $462,000 (AED 1.7 million).

Mariam Al-Mansoori, FBMA representative, said: “The award categories have seen strong competition over the past months, which proves the talent, will, ambition and development of Arab sports women. We hope to see Arab women continue to take the lead in local and international sports events, and this award will contribute to the birth of new achievements in the Arab women’s sports career.”