Sabina Abuova: Establishing Qatar’s Premier Tech Unicorn First and foremost, Sabina Abuova stands as the principal strategic force behind Snoonu, Qatar’s groundbreaking technology success story. Specifically, as Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Qatar’s leading super-app, she has been fundamentally crucial to Snoonu’s evolution from modest startup to Qatar’s premier tech unicorn. Consequently, her comprehensive leadership in brand development and corporate strategy has decisively positioned Snoonu as Qatar’s dominant market player in food delivery, e-commerce, and logistics services. Sabina Abuova: Accelerating Qatar’s Tech Expansion Building upon this foundation, Sabina Abuova’s co-leadership propelled Snoonu to achieve unprecedented milestones in Qatar’s startup ecosystem. Initially, the company secured Qatar’s largest Series A funding round at $5 million, subsequently followed by a substantial $12 million Series B round. Most significantly, in a landmark achievement that firmly cemented Snoonu’s market dominance, the company’s valuation exceeded 1 billion Qatari riyal in its strategic deal with Jahez – thereby establishing Qatar’s first tech unicorn company. As a direct result, these consecutive financial accomplishments represent transformative developments for Qatar’s burgeoning technology sector while firmly establishing Snoonu as Qatar’s definitive homegrown solution to global super-app platforms. Sabina Abuova: Driving Snoonu’s Monumental Growth Additionally, under her strategic co-leadership, Snoonu has consistently achieved remarkable milestones. Notably, this includes closing a landmark $5 million Series A round—the largest for a Qatari startup at the time—followed by a subsequent $12 million Series B round. Moreover, this financial success thoroughly cemented Snoonu’s status as a homegrown leader and validated its innovative super-app model, effectively transforming food delivery, e-commerce, and logistics into one seamless platform. Furthermore, the recent deal with Jahez valued Snoonu at over 1 billion Qatari riyal, officially making it Qatar’s first tech company to reach this historic valuation milestone. Sabina Abuova: Advancing as Qatar’s Technology Authority Furthermore, Sabina Abuova has progressively emerged as one of Qatar’s most influential voices in technology and entrepreneurial innovation. For example, her specialized expertise has reached prestigious international platforms, including the Digital Bridge 2025 forum and Doha Women Forum 2025. Simultaneously, her professional recognition as one of Fast Company Middle East’s Top 50 AI Leaders substantially underscores her expanding influence throughout Qatar’s ongoing technological transformation. Sabina Abuova: Forging Gulf Technology Partnerships In a groundbreaking strategic move, Qatar’s homegrown tech champion Snoonu has partnered with Jahez Group, a leading integrated ecosystem of on-demand services in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration establishes the foundation for a transformative journey in the Gulf’s digital landscape. The landmark deal values Snoonu at over QAR 1 billion, thereby making it the first Qatari tech startup to cross this milestone. Consequently, this positions Snoonu firmly on the path to becoming Qatar’s first unicorn while establishing one of the most dynamic technology powerhouses in the GCC region. Sabina Abuova: Orchestrating Qatar’s Digital Evolution In conclusion, Sabina Abuova’s integrated methodology strategically combines business acumen with creative excellence, thereby directly powering Snoonu’s market success while simultaneously enhancing Qatar’s broader technology ecosystem. Through her advanced education via the Stanford LEAD Program, combined with her unwavering commitment to technological innovation, she continuously advances both Snoonu’s strategic mission and Qatar’s competitive position within the global technology landscape, ultimately demonstrating that Qatari startups can successfully compete on the international stage. Stay Connected: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinaabuova?originalSubdomain=qa https://www.instagram.com/executivewomen_ https://www.facebook.com/ExecutiveWomen Read more articles: https://executive-women.global/en/empowering-women-in-middle-east-family-businesses-overcoming-challenges/
Sabina Abuova: Building Qatar’s First Tech Unicorn
Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdulla Al Qasimi: Cultivating the Next Generation of Storytellers at the Sharjah International Film Festival.
For over a decade, Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdulla Al Qasimi, the Director of the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF), has been at the forefront of a cultural movement. Under her leadership, SIFF has been transformed into more than just an event; it is a dynamic ecosystem where children and youth are not merely spectators but the central protagonists of their own cinematic journeys. A Festival with a Future-Facing Vision Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi’s core philosophy is that a film festival should be a catalyst for growth and imagination. She has built SIFF into a unique space where young audiences discover cinema as both a source of entertainment and a powerful educational tool. It is a platform where budding filmmakers find the confidence to share their work, and where films from around the world spark meaningful conversations about creativity, culture, and positive change. She firmly believes that festivals like SIFF are not just about screening films but about inspiring futures, encouraging young people to imagine, to tell their own stories, and to see cinema as a vital bridge between cultures. Nurturing Young Voices: From Audience to Creator A key pillar of Sheikha Jawaher’s strategy is the focus on nurturing children and youth as active storytellers. Through SIFF and FANN, she has championed initiatives that go beyond passive viewing. The festival’s extensive program of workshops, talks, and interactive sessions is meticulously designed to equip youth with practical skills—from screenwriting and animation to directing—and the confidence to pursue their passions. This hands-on approach ensures that the festival’s impact extends far beyond the screen, building a sustainable creative foundation for the future. Championing Arab Cinema for Young Audiences Understanding the profound importance of representation, Sheikha Jawaher is a passionate advocate for producing and promoting high-quality Arab content for young viewers. She emphasizes the critical need for films and series that reflect the voices, stories, and cultural context of children in the region. By providing a dedicated platform for this content, she ensures that young Arab audiences see themselves on screen while also sharing their rich heritage with international peers, fostering a genuine two-way cultural exchange. Building Bridges: Sharjah and South Korea in Focus This year, under her direction, SIFF 2025 will highlight a special cultural exchange with South Korea, showcasing how cinema can connect diverse societies. This focus will bring a curated selection of Korean films for young audiences and facilitate collaborations between filmmakers, illustrating the universal language of storytelling and its power to build mutual understanding and appreciation. Stay Connected: https://www.instagram.com/sharjahiff/ https://www.instagram.com/jawaherq https://www.instagram.com/executivewomen_ https://www.facebook.com/ExecutiveWomen Read more articles:
Don’t Heal So Hard You Forget How to Be a Decent Human – By Cosette Awad
We all have that friend who used to be a lot of fun. You could bond over your dread of Monday mornings and celebrate a weekend with no plans. Then they discovered self-improvement. Now, your venting session about a bad day is met with a thoughtful sigh and, “You know, I used to get triggered by that, but now I see it as part of my heal.” Congratulations to them. But for some, the path of personal growth leads to a sense of superiority. Their journey seems to have less to do with genuine healing and more with turning every conversation into a stage for their own enlightenment. When ‘Boundaries’ Become a Weapon It often starts subtly. You share a story about a disastrous date, and instead of laughter or commiseration, you get a diagnosis. “It sounds like you’re attracting a pattern,” they might say. “Have you tried writing a list of non-negotiable traits?” You came for empathy and left with unsolicited homework. Your stress about a work deadline becomes “a failure to set boundaries.” Your frustration with a flaky friend is labeled “an attachment wound.” The friendship itself may even become a casualty, ending with a text about “curating energy,” a polite demotion from “Friend” to “Negative Vibes.” The “Healed” Friend vs. The Truly Evolved One This is the critical distinction. The “healed” friend uses their growth as a shield, creating distance and hierarchy. Their language is laced with judgment disguised as advice. They have confused healing with graduating from the messy, complicated business of human connection. In stark contrast, the truly evolved friend is the one you don’t see coming. Their growth is quiet. It shows up not in the words they say, but in how they make you feel. They have done the inner work, but they wear their enlightenment lightly. You can tell them about your terrible date, and they’ll laugh with you, not at you. They might say, “He spent the whole night talking about his novelty socks? That’s spectacularly awful. Tell me everything.” They listen to your work stress and offer, “Your boss sounds impossible. Let’s brainstorm how to make it bearable,” instead of suggesting you “reframe your perspective.” The truly evolved friend understands that connection isn’t about fixing you. It’s about sitting with you in your discomfort, without an agenda. They remember what it was like to be in the trenches, and they haven’t pulled the ladder up after themselves. Their self-care hasn’t made them fragile; it has made them more durable, more present, and infinitely kinder. They are the safe harbor in the storm, not a lighthouse constantly signaling their own superior position. Are YOU the Problem? A Quick Self-Check Before we judge, it’s wise to look inward. Have you recently: If yes, you might be leaning into the cliché. The good news is that awareness is the first step back to genuine connection. The Bottom Line: Healing Shouldn’t Be a Solo Sport The uncomfortable truth is this: if your healing makes you feel superior to those still working through their struggles, you’ve just traded one problem for another. Real growth expands your capacity for compassion, not criticism. True healing isn’t about building a fortress of self-care so pristine that no one else’s problems can get through. It’s about rolling up your sleeves and sitting in the mud with a friend sometimes. The most genuinely evolved people are easier to be around, not more difficult. So the next time you feel the urge to enlighten someone with your hard-won wisdom, ask yourself: Am I helping, or am I just showing off? What’s the point of finding your inner peace if you lose your friends in the process? Sometimes, the most therapeutic thing you can do is put down the self-help book and pass the chips. After all, the ultimate sign of growth is remembering how to be a good friend, not a perfect one. Stay Connected: https://www.instagram.com/cosetteawad.author https://www.instagram.com/executivewomen_ https://www.facebook.com/ExecutiveWomen Read more articles: https://executive-women.global/en/its-okay-to-not-be-okay/
Georgina Rodríguez × Holsten Bring the Viral Bakala Moment to Life at Riyadh Boulevard
Limited-edition Georgina × Holsten merch headlines a three-day pop-up inspired by the much-talked-about sighting Riyadh, KSA —10th September 2025: What began as a casual sighting with Georgina Rodríguez accompanied by a bottle of Holsten at a neighbourhood bakery, quickly became a cultural talking point across the Kingdom. This September, Holsten is bringing that moment to life at Riyadh Boulevard, recreating the setting that sparked all the conversation: Rajeev’s bakala. From 22–24 September, visitors can step inside the pop-up and discover exclusive Georgina × Holsten merchandise, including Georgina’s T-shirts available for a limited time and while stocks last. Guests will also enjoy complimentary Holsten samples as they explore the space, adding to the fun and immersive atmosphere. Beyond the merch, the experience captures the playful spirit of that now-famous encounter, blending humor, culture, and curiosity. Where: Rajeev’s Bakala (Pop-Up), Riyadh Boulevard When: 22–24 September 2025 The story that began with Georgina Rodríguez and her Holsten moment is now on the Boulevard. And with the whispers still swirling… maybe Georgina will be there? Sray connected: https://www.instagram.com/executivewomen_ https://www.facebook.com/ExecutiveWomen
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