Women of Substance 2026 — Nomination Guidelines
The Women of Substance Awards honour exceptional women whose leadership, innovation, and impact shape the UAE's professional, social, and cultural landscape. These guidelines ensure a fair, transparent, and consistent nomination process across all award categories.
Eligible nominees must be women professionals, founders, creators, or leaders who have demonstrated significant contribution within the UAE. All nominees must be UAE residents and are required to submit a copy of their Emirates ID as part of the nomination. Achievements must clearly align with the selected award category, supported by a minimum of 10 years of professional experience, except for the Rising Star category, which requires at least two years. Nominations may be submitted directly by the nominee or by colleagues, clients, partners, or community members, with each nominee eligible for only one category.
A complete nomination includes a 150–200 word profile summary, 3–5 key achievements, a 200–300 word impact statement, and supporting evidence such as media coverage, testimonials, project summaries, or performance metrics. The Advisory Board evaluates submissions based on:
- Impact & Contribution
- Leadership & Influence
- Innovation & Creativity
- Commitment & Resilience
- Social Responsibility
- Future Potential
Category-specific weighting is applied to ensure relevance and fairness.
Strong nominations demonstrate clear metrics, compelling storytelling, and alignment with UAE priorities such as innovation, empowerment, sustainability, and community upliftment. All information must be accurate, original, and submitted before the deadline.