A number of renowned Arab women will be awarded for their achievements at a prestigious event today (Dec. 6) in London. The Arab Women of the Year Awards Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony will showcase the capabilities of Arab women as leaders and will bring together representatives of governments, businesses and civil society.
The 2018 awards are created by London Arabia Organization, and have been supported by the Mayor of London. This year’s event will be held in partnership with Regents University London, the Bicester Village Shopping Collection, Y Asset Management, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and London & Partners. The event also aims to act as an avenue to promote cultural understanding between Britain and the Arab world.
Professor Aldwyn Cooper, advisory board chairman and vice chancellor and CEO of Regent’s University, said: “The last year has seen an increasing focus on the role of women in society all across the world. We have continued to see social change in Arab countries, led and supported by the country leaders, to move from the dominance of men through to the substantial growth of input from women from many countries and many different backgrounds.”
He added: “One of the best ways to form bridges between countries is through trade and by celebrating each other’s successes. This is one of the key aspects of this event, which seeks to recognize the tremendous contributions being made by women in the Arab world as they take on new leadership roles.”
Omar Bdour, chief executive officer of the London Arabia Organization, said: “The awards can act as a way of promoting the achievements of Arab women who have become role models for our children’s generations. Giving recognition to these women can inspire even more to follow in their footsteps.”
He added: “Hosting the awards in London highlights the close relationship between the UK and Arab world. We hope that our event will play a part in helping to end stereotyping of the Arab world and of Arab women, who accomplish so much, despite much of the West’s impression of them.”
Desiree Boiler, Value Retail’s chair and chief merchant, said: “Partnering with London Arabia is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the Middle East — these guests are an integral part of our business, we work hard to ensure they feel at home in our villages and we’re delighted to support an event which promotes cultural understanding of the Arab world.”
London celebrates achievements of Arab women
London celebrates achievements of Arab women
Kuwait Fund for Development: Six decades of humanitarian and developmental impact across globe
On Dec. 31, the Kuwait Fund for Development marks the anniversary of its establishment, opening a new chapter of success and ambition as one of the most prominent pioneers of development on both regional and global levels. Founded in 1961, the fund became the first and oldest development institution to operate in Arab countries and other developing nations.
Today, after more than six decades of continuous work, the Kuwait Fund for Development remains steadfast in its mission and has never ceased its efforts to support development causes in developing countries. As it celebrates its 64th anniversary, the fund has drawn a national portrait under the theme “Partners in Development,” reflected through its projects spread across the globe, all of which aim to build brighter and more sustainable future.
An external development arm
The establishment of the Kuwait Fund for Development embodied a wise and visionary decision by the leadership of Kuwait at the time. Kuwait was the only developing country that chose to share the challenges of development with other developing nations, cooperating with them through the provision of concessional loans, grants, financial assistance, and technical support tailored to their development priorities.
Since its inception, the Kuwait Fund for Development has served as Kuwait’s external development arm, sparing no effort in supporting development causes and extending assistance to developing countries worldwide.
Vision and early beginnings
In the early 1960s, the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, then head of the financial department, proposed the idea of establishing a development entity that would serve Kuwait’s foreign policy and assist Arab and other developing countries in achieving development across various sectors. The idea received strong support from the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, as it aligned with Kuwait’s vision at the time to build a modern state.
Consequently, an Amiri decree was issued on Dec. 31, 1961, establishing the Kuwait Fund for Development with an initial capital of 50 million Kuwaiti dinars ($162.6 million).
Global reach and development impact
The fund’s activities have extended to all corners of the world, contributing to the financing of projects in 106 countries, including 16 Arab countries, 41 African countries, 19 in East and South Asia and the Pacific, 17 in Central Asia and Europe, and 12 in Latin America and the Caribbean.
This support was delivered through 1,037 concessional loans provided to the governments of these countries, with a total value of approximately 7 billion Kuwaiti dinars. In addition, the fund has provided grants and technical assistance to support a wide range of development services, helping beneficiary countries implement their development programs. A total of 420 grants and technical assistance operations were extended, amounting to approximately 401 million Kuwaiti dinars.
Loan agreements
During the past year, the Kuwait Fund for Development signed several loan agreements supporting development across different regions of the world. Among these were two loan agreements with the government of Bahrain. The first loan, valued at 31.25 million Kuwaiti dinars, contributed to financing the Electricity Transmission Networks Development Project. The second loan, valued at 10 million Kuwaiti dinars, supported the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Highway Development Project (Phase II).
On the sidelines of the World Bank Group meetings held in Washington, D.C., the fund has also signed a 4 million Kuwaiti dinar-worth loan agreement with Saint Lucia to help finance the Sir Julian R. Hunte Highway Project, as well as another 4 million Kuwaiti dinar-worth loan agreement with Belize to support the George Price Highway Project.
Supporting and assisting refugees
The Kuwait Fund for Development’s contributions to humanitarian action stand out at both regional and international levels. Since its establishment, the fund has represented a unique model in supporting and assisting refugees in countries affected by disasters, conflicts, and wars, in line with Kuwait’s moderate and balanced policy.
These efforts have helped strengthen Kuwait’s relations with Arab and international partners. The fund has played a significant role in the reconstruction of Lebanon and Iraq following periods of crisis, and its assistance to the Palestinian people has never ceased.
International Participation
Over the past year, the Kuwait Fund for Development recorded notable participations in major international forums. These included taking part in the 2025 annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., with a delegation headed by the fund’s Acting Director General Walid Shamlan Al-Bahar. The fund also took part in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, held in Tokyo, Japan.
Additional international engagements included participation in the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Awaza, Turkmenistan, and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, organized by the UN in Seville, Spain.
