March 2019: The first edition of Al-Thuraya Awards by She’s Mercedes was recently unveiled and launched by Juffali Automotive Company, the exclusive distributor for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In September 2015, Mercedes-Benz launched the global “She’s Mercedes” platform that is dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women, and to unleash their best. This approach inspired the launch of “Al-Thuraya Awards” to empower, support, and celebrate Saudi women’s achievements in four different categories, which are Entrepreneurship, Social Services, Innovative Art and Design, and Sports Impact.
Hundreds of inspiring success stories were submitted across the kingdom once the registration started. Only sixteen contestants were qualified to the first stage, where their nomination to the final stage was decided by public voting.One week was enough to drive tens of thousands of voters to the award’s website to vote for their contestant of choice. Thus, eight contestants were qualified to the final stage and ceremony, two from each category.
In the final phase, the winners were chosen through live voting by a judging panel that included Mrs. Haya Sawan for the sport impact category, Mrs. Marriam Mossalli for the innovative art and design category, Ms. Maria Mahdaly for the entrepreneurship category, and Mrs. Kawthar Al-Arbash for the social services category, as well as, Mrs. Sarah Dundarawy, Ms. Lara Mneimneh, and Ms. Al-Dana Juffali who joined the panel as general judges.
With more than 300 businessmen, and businesswomen, and the society’s elite individuals in attendance, the awards were announced at a gala dinner in Jeddah. Each contestant presented her success story and the obstacles she faced to the judging panel. After the judges voted for each category, the awards were given to: Dr. Sarah Al-Abdulkarim for the social service category, Ms. Yusra Abuljadayel for the sport impact category, Ms. LamiaAl-Rumaih for innovative art and design category, and Mrs. Nadia Al-Mulhim who won the entrepreneurship category award.
Mr. Khalid Juffali The Chairman of The Board of EbrahimJuffali & Brothers Company congratulated the winners and all the contestants who reached to the final phase of the award, and thanked them for their participation in Al-Thuraya Awards and how their success stories were a source of inspiration to everyone attending the ceremony. Mr. Juffali also extended his appreciationto the judging panel for their great effort and valuable contribution.
Mr. Juffali added “She’s Mercedes platform has gained a global reputation in supporting and empowering women, as well as, highlighting their achievements. To reflect on that, Al-Thuraya Awards was launched specifically to support and empower Saudi women, and to recognize women as a key aspect in the development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is an important element towards achieving the objectives of the 2030 vision”.