Nahla Zayed December 5, 2024 – The historic Abdeen Palace Museum turned into a showcase of Arab talent as TAKREEM hosted the 14th edition of its awards ceremony, honoring outstanding achievers from across the region and reaffirming Cairo’s place as a capital of culture and creativity in the Arab world.
Launched in 2009, TAKREEM was created to spotlight exceptional Arab success stories and celebrate the changemakers shaping their communities. This year’s ceremony brought together senior political leaders, prominent business figures, Prince Mohamed Ali and his wife Princess Noal Zaher, members of the Saudi royal family, and influential public personalities for an evening dedicated to achievement, impact, and hope.
The 2025 laureates reflected the breadth of Arab excellence across several sectors. Among this year’s honorees, Professor Bahaa Ansaf, President of the University of Baghdad, received the Excellence in Education Award.
Beyond that, the Humanitarian and Civic Excellence Award was shared by Zahra’ Langhi, one of the founders of the Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace, and the Lebanese association Ajialouna, represented by Dr. Lina Dada.
In addition, Professor Ali J. Chamkha, Dean of the College of Engineering at Kuwait University of Science and Technology, was honored with the Scientific and Technological Achievement Award, while renowned Syrian chef and author Anissa Helou received the Cultural Excellence Award.
From the world of business and sustainability, Eng. Ahmed Elsewedy, CEO and Managing Director of ELSEWEDY ELECTRIC, received the Corporate Leadership Award, alongside Eng. Helmy Abouleish, Chairman and Managing Director of SEKEM, who was presented with the Sustainability and Environmental Leadership Award. The evening also highlighted the power of women’s leadership, with Rawya Mansour, CEO of Ramsco Egypt and Oasis Technologies Monaco, being honored with the Outstanding Arab Woman Award.
Finally, the evening’s culminating honors recognized Dr. Akef Maghrabi, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, alongside a special tribute for Children’s Cancer Hospital 57357, represented by the late Mrs. Ola Ghabbour.
Commenting on the occasion, Ricardo Karam, media personality and Founder of TAKREEM, underlined the deeper message behind the ceremony, saying: “We gather today to show that the Arab world is fully capable of offering inspiring role models, and that the success stories we celebrate are not the exception but the norm when the Arab individual is given the chance to create and to drive change. What we do at TAKREEM is a duty towards our region and towards the younger generations who need to see role models and believe in their ability to shape the future.”
The ceremony concluded with a formal dinner bringing together the laureates and guests of honor, rounding off an evening that celebrated Arab identity and its enduring capacity to inspire hope and create positive impact on the international stage.
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About TAKREEM Foundation
TAKREEM is a leading non-profit foundation established in 2009 in Beirut with the aim of changing prevailing stereotypes about the Arab world by showcasing the achievements and success stories of Arabs across the globe. Since its inception, TAKREEM has honored outstanding individuals from across the Arab region and contributed to strengthening ties between people of the region and those in the diaspora, while promoting a positive image of Arab identity.
The foundation builds bridges between North Africa, the Middle East, the Gulf, and Arab communities abroad, creating a dynamic community of innovators and changemakers. Through its programs, TAKREEM highlights the region’s excellence in culture, education, science, environment, humanitarian work, social development, and economic initiatives.
In 2024, TAKREEM held its annual fundraising gala in Monaco under the auspices of Prince Albert II. Since its launch, the foundation has honored close to 100 prominent Arab figures from different countries, including world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid; HRH Princess Ghida Talal of Jordan; eminent Egyptian cardiac surgeon Prof. Sir Magdi Yacoub; and celebrated Lebanese artist Nabil Nahas, among many other influential names.
For more information, please visit: takreem.org.
About Ricardo Karam, Founder of TAKREEM
Ricardo Karam emerged as a prominent media personality in Beirut in the 1990s, a period marked by reconstruction, economic revival, and renewed hope in a city with which his name has become closely associated. His first television program, launched in 1996, achieved immediate success as he hosted leading Lebanese figures who embodied the country’s pre-war golden age. The show became a window that took viewers back to a time when Brigitte Bardot dined in Byblos, and Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald performed among the ancient ruins of Baalbek.
While he studied chemical engineering at the Arab University in Beirut, Karam’s passion for music and entertainment drew him into television. His in-depth, thoughtful interview style stood out at a time when loud talk shows dominated Lebanese screens, earning him a loyal audience from the very beginning. Over the years, he went on to interview global leaders, activists, and decision-makers in politics, business, culture, and the arts; a rare accomplishment for an Arab talk show host.
Through his conversations with influential personalities around the world, Karam has encouraged Arabs to push boundaries and broaden their horizons. He has since evolved from interviewer to author, public speaker, and advocate for Arab creativity and social causes.
In 2009, driven by his belief in the power of storytelling as a force for positive change, Karam founded TAKREEM to honor Arab trailblazers and preserve the region’s rich traditions. After that, in 2018, as a natural extension of TAKREEM’s mission, the TAKminds initiative was launched to bring together thought leaders and changemakers through events and conversations that inspire dialogue and transformation. Finally, in 2019, TAKREEM AMERICA was established as a platform to connect Arab expatriates in the United States and the Americas with their heritage and the aspirations of their region.
Today, Ricardo Karam is a sought-after speaker and moderator at leading economic, cultural, and political forums around the world. He also serves on the boards and advisory councils of several universities, institutions, and non-profit organizations, placing his experience and network at the service of their missions.
