Haifa Al Kaylani, the Palestinian-British founder of Arab International Women's Forum, has been appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Anne, the Princess Royal, awarded Mrs Al Kaylani with the honour his week during an investiture at Windsor Castle in recognition of her services to women, young people and cultural relations between the UK and the countries of the Middle East.
For more than 20 years, London resident Mrs Al Kaylani has sought to empower women in Arab countries by connecting them to institutions in the UK and around the world.
The Arab International Women’s Forum, which she founded in 2001 and still heads, supports women and young people in setting up businesses and developing skills.
Mrs Al Kaylani said she was “deeply honoured and humbled” to receive the distinction during a “profoundly moving and memorable experience”.
The accolade marks “a special and very touching milestone not only in my four-decades-long work as a development economist, but in my personal journey, and in recognising my contributions to the social and economic empowerment of women and young people in the Middle East and North Africa,” she added.
“I am more motivated than ever to continue my work, inspired by the values and aspirations that this prestigious award embodies.
“To be recognised in such a manner is truly a privilege, and it has encouraged me to further dedicate myself to making a positive impact in the sustainability areas I care passionately about and for the region we all love dearly.
“It is a testament to the collective effort, dedication, and support of my colleagues, family, and the communities I have had the privilege to serve and collaborate with.
“This honour is truly a shared achievement, and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as we work together towards a brighter, more inclusive and more prosperous and peaceful future for women and young people and all in the Arab region and the world.”
Mrs Al Kaylani was born into a Palestinian-Lebanese family and went to school in the UK, later studying at Oxford University.
“In all my work, I am addressing the subject as an economist, not as a feminist,” she said.
“I am a development economist, and for me, without empowering 50 per cent of its population no country can develop politically, socially or economically.”
She was motivated to set up the AIWF, in part, by negative stereotypes of Arab women in the UK at the time.
“There was a lot of misunderstanding about the role of women in the region,” she recalled.
She had encountered these stereotypes while serving as the president of the International Federation of Women’s Associations in London.
People were surprised to see an Arab and Muslim woman at the helm of the organisation.
“I would be asked: You’re an Arab? You’re a Muslim?” she recalled.
Since then, the AIWF has evolved to support women, young people and sustainability. Among her early projects was helping women in Arab countries to set up businesses.
“It was important to think of women as engines of growth,” she said.
Haifa Al Kaylani OBE's life - in pictures
The Arab uprisings in 2011 further inspired her to set up an initiative for young Arab women leaders.
“The youth were educated but they were not able to find jobs. They were not fully utilised,” she said.
Focusing on women aged 20 to 40 years, the AIWF held conferences across major Middle East capitals, including Abu Dhabi, and internationally.
“This was in order to discuss what is stopping them from optimising that potential,” she said.
The AIWF has focused on women’s role in addressing climate change and sustainability joining forces with Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy platform (WiSER) to produce a report ahead of Cop28.
Mrs Al Kaylani gave four addresses at the climate change conference in December, including moderating a panel at the Arab Women Leader’s Summit.
“Women have to be at the table. Their voices must be heard,” she said.
Her understanding of the culture in Arab countries helped her navigate the challenging terrain with ease, she said.
“I come from the region. I am an Arab, very proudly with three roots, and a UK citizen. I understand our culture, I was brought up in our region with the appreciation for our heritage,” she said.
“When I address issues about the empowerment, I am saying we must support women’s roles as partners, at home, in society, in government, in the business sector.”
She paid tribute to her late husband, whom she says was her greatest supporter.
“The AIWF took a lot of my time over the years, and a lot of my family time. Without my husband’s support and encouragement, I could not have done it,” she said.
Yet she feared the challenges that the Israel-Gaza war would bring to the region.
“Our region has been plagued over the years by conflict. It’s women and children who suffer the most. We have seen that with our own eyes,” she said.
“It’s very important that we try to foster peace. Without peace there cannot be growth, there cannot be prosperity, people cannot work, cannot build a better future for their families. And of course, women’s empowerment also suffers.
“The most important thing we need to work on is working for peace.”
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
Blonde
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Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
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