11 GEMS Students Honored With Sheikha Fatima Award For Leadership

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

This award plays an important role in promoting female students into leadership roles, says executive vice-president at GEMS Education

• PUBLISHED: Tue 3 Feb 2026, 5:55 PM

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• Khaleej Times Staff

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Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Award for Excellence has played an important role in promoting female students into leadership roles and helping them achieve greater heights in the future, a senior GEMS Education official said.

Addressing the annual award ceremony at GEMS Winchester School Dubai on Tuesday, Ranju Anand, executive vice-president at GEMS Education, paid tribute to Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak's vision of fostering leadership and supporting the active role of women in society.

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She noted that the award, introduced in 2005, recognises female students across GEMS schools for outstanding academic performance, leadership and community commitment and provides scholarships to help nurture future leaders.

“Today is a very special day. Each year, we present this excellence award to female students to encourage and elevate them into leadership roles across various sectors, particularly sports, education and social development,” she said.

This year, 11 students were selected from GEMS schools across the UAE for their exceptional academic results, leadership qualities and meaningful contributions to social, environmental and global citizenship initiatives.

The award-winning students expressed their excitement saying that recognising young learners for academic and co-curricular excellence is both inspirational and motivating.“GEMS provides an extremely important platform that empowers female students and recognises their skills,” they said.

Hareem Rizvi, an outstanding student from The Westminster School Dubai, vowed to maintain her excellence in the years ahead.“It is a proud moment for me, family and the school and I finally captured the prize,” she said.

“I threw my hat in the ring twice for this award over the past two years but couldn't quite cross the finish line. I never gave up and now I hold the crowning jewel of excellence in the education sector. Be persistent, never give up and always try something new,” Hareem told Khaleej Times.

Another award recipient, Ebunoluwa Hannah Atinuke Adelani from GEMS Winchester School, Abu Dhabi, said she was thrilled and credited her parents and teachers for helping her reach this milestone.

“I'm happy and absolutely thrilled. I genuinely thank my parents and teachers, who have been my guiding stars on this journey to achieving such an important milestone,” she told Khaleej Times.

Earlier, Matthew James Lecuyer, principal and CEO of GEMS Winchester School Dubai, delivered the welcome address and congratulated the winners. The school's head boy, Yousuf Aly Mohamed, and head girl, Niharika Arvind, co-hosted the event.

Nominated by their schools for academic excellence, social responsibility and commitment to global citizenship, each award winner received a scholarship covering one year's tuition fee at their respective school.

Award winners for 2025-26

1. Hareem Rizvi, The Westminster School, Dubai

2. Basmah Hamad Amer Salem Alzarei, GEMS Cambridge International School, Abu Dhabi

3. Leen Nael Abdel Latif Suleiman, GEMS Westminster School, Sharjah

4. Riffa Mehnaz Ziaul Rahman, The Cambridge High School, Abu Dhabi

5. Sowmyaraju Iyer, GEMS Winchester School, Dubai

6. Nour Ahmed Mahmoud Helal Mosaad, GEMS Cambridge International Private School, Sharjah

7. Maha Gul, GEMS Winchester Private School, Fujairah

8. Joshika Jain, The Winchester School, Jebel Ali

9. Ebunoluwa Hannah Atinuke Adelani, GEMS Winchester School, Abu Dhabi

10. Soha Abdulla, GEMS Cambridge International School, Dubai

11. Sangaynangsal Tamang, GEMS Winchester School, Ras Al Khaimah

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