Her Excellency Maryam Eid AlMheiri, the CEO of Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi and twofour54, was recognised last night [Dec 9] at the Arab Woman Awards for her work in helping to build a thriving media industry in the UAE.

Her Excellency received the Media Award at a ceremony held at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi for both her work in the sector and her prominence as a role model for young women.

The Arab Woman Awards were launched in 2009 with the aim of raising awareness of the significant achievements of Arab women across the GCC. So far, more than 300 women have been recognised for their work in fields such as media, the Arts, fashion, and business.

The awards are held in four Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and the recipients are chosen by a panel of judges drawn from a variety of fields. The criteria for each award includes that nominees have achieved something outstanding in their field over the past 12 months, as well as having contributed positively to society and act as an inspiration to young women who might follow in their footsteps.

One of the goals of twofour54 is to develop local talent, which is key to building a sustainable media sector. It has launched initiatives focused on raising awareness of career opportunities as well as programmes to help young people on their journey to becoming the storytellers of the future by developing their skills and experience. This include creative lab, which has 13,000 members, and the annual twofour54 Summer Camp, which allow young people to work alongside media professionals as well as create their own projects.

Her Excellency Maryam Eid AlMheiri said: “I am honoured to have received the Media Award at the Arab Woman Awards.

“This award is as much a reflection of the inspiration I have received from the wise leadership of our country and the support of my family and colleagues as it is of my own professional achievements.

“It is an intrinsic part of our society to dream and to plan for the future, something that has been instilled in all of us since we were children. It is why we have achieved so much as a nation in such a relatively short period of time.

“So, I urge young people across the Arab world to also follow their dreams, to share their stories, and ensure their voices are heard. I urge them to look for opportunity around every corner so they can realise their full potential.”

As the CEO of Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi, Her Excellency is responsible for its strategic agenda, building a sustainable media industry that contributes to the economic and cultural development of Abu Dhabi, while positioning the emirate as a focus for global media.

MZA’s subsidiaries include both media hub twofour54 and Abu Dhabi Film Commission. twofour54’s thriving community includes global names such CNN, Cartoon Network, Apple, Ericsson and Ubisoft.

Looking to the future, Maryam is leading the move of twofour54 to its state-of-the-art home on Yas Island, which will allow the community to sustain further development and build on its success.

twofour54’s new home will be 30% larger at 77,000 sq. metres, with the option to expand in phases to up to 300,000 sq. metres by 2030. It will feature state-of-the-art offices, TV studios, retail and recreation on a campus built for purpose that encourages collaboration and creativity.