The brilliance of the designer lighting in the Crystal Ballroom of Grand Millennium Muscat got much brighter, on Tuesday evening, as around 30 ladies with illustrious backgrounds held aloft their shimmering trophies symbolising the rise and triumph of ‘woman power’ at the woman awards ceremony in Oman.

The fourth edition of the Woman of the Year Awards, organised by Apex Media with Perfumes and Cosmetics as the headline partner, was held on Septemer 21 at a glittering function, following all COVID-19 precautions. Last year (the third edition), the awards ceremony had to be avoided in view of the pandemic and awardees had been individually presented their trophies in their own homes.

At the outset, Honourable Saleh Zakwani, executive chairman of Apex Media and editor-in-chief of Muscat Daily, welcomed the guests and lauded their exceptional contributions in varied fields of activity. He encouraged them to continue their good work as well as keep inspiring other women to follow suit, saying, “We need more women to take up prestigious positions in the government as well as in the public/private sectors.”

The shining lady

The woman awards programme for the evening began with a series of splendid renditions by violinist Tahira Jamal while the winners and guests enjoyed an explicit three-course meal. This was followed by the awards presentation ceremony.

The coveted trophy – The Shining Lady (Al Mara Al Laama) – was presented by H H Dr Mona al Said, the chief guest, to winners in 30 different categories comprising varied fields in which women have not just excelled but also set shining examples for others to follow. From charity work to culinary distinction, fashion to finance, and start-up business to social media influence, awards were given in 30 different categories.

This year, a new category of woman awards – COVID Warrior – was presented to Dr Fanah Abdullah al Fannah al Araimi, chairperson of the Oman Public Health Society, affiliated to the Oman Medical Association, who said, “I hope, I am able to inspire young female doctors of Oman to want to achieve more in life – professionally and personally.”

The most important award for the evening – the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr Kaltham al Zadjali, a popular media personality in Oman on radio and television, fondly known as ‘Mama Kaltham’. She has been touching the lives of numerous individuals and families, especially youth, with her unique programmes and initiatives on air.

Most of the winners, who expressed great satisfaction that their work has been acknowledged and recognised with this award, however, admitted that their journey continues unabated. Happy to inspire other ladies in similar fields as their own, some said every task undertaken was not just a learning experience but also one that gave them immense joy and satisfaction.