Women Yemeni Pioneers: Documenting Achievements of 30 Women Over a Century

Al-Fanous

In its endeavor to change the stereotypical image of the role and status of Yemeni women in society, the "Al-Fanuos" platform presented a new and innovative idea with an educational and enlightening aspect about the importance of the role of Yemeni women. It highlighted in a light-hearted, interesting, and simple manner the most important achievements Yemeni women have accomplished in various fields, both locally and internationally.

The idea was titled "Women Yemeni Pioneers" as a window that shed light on the past and present of Yemeni women and highlighted their practical, scientific, and creative roles in all fields. During the month of Ramadan, it introduced the public to thirty Yemeni women who have left creative marks both in the Arab world and internationally.

Through research spanning 100 years, it became evident that Yemeni women were ahead of their peers in the Arabian Peninsula in several fields, including judiciary, law, journalism, television, theater, drama, directing, art, literature, and sports, winning numerous awards on the Arab and international levels.

This report presents 30 Yemeni women as follows:

Women Yemeni Pioneers

Seham Amer

Champion Seham Amer, born in Sana'a Governorate, holds a bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the Faculty of Education. She is a martial arts champion at both the Arab and international levels, having won first place in the Women's International Kickboxing Championship in 2023. She began practicing martial arts at the age of six, including karate, kung fu, kickboxing, muay thai, ... Read More

Asmahan Baihani

Broadcaster Asmahan Baihani was born in Aden in 1945. She joined Aden Radio in 1961, making her one of the pioneers of radio broadcasting in Yemen, along with broadcasters Fawzia Ghanem, Fawzia Omar, and others who were embraced by Aden Radio in the early 1960s. She presented many distinguished radio programs, the most famous of which was "Ma Yasih Illa ... Read More

Afrah Badwilan

Judge Afrah Badawilan was born in the city of Mukalla in Hadhramaut, she holds a bachelor's degree in law from the Faculty of Law, University of Aden. She has held many positions in the judiciary, and she was the first female judge in personal status in Mukalla Directorate, and President of the Juvenile Court in both Aden and Sana'a Governorates ... Read More

Faiqa Al-Sayed

Politician Faiqa Al-Sayed is a Yemeni politician born in Aden in 1953. Her family comes from Hadhramaut Governorate from Al-Bawawi family. She holds a BA in Political Science and Media, Journalism Department from the University of Algeria. She is one of the pioneers of political work in Yemen. She has been known for her political activity since the early days ... Read More

Raqia Humaidan

Lawyer Raqia Humaidan was born in Aden in 1947 and holds a bachelor's and master's degree in law from the University of London. She is the first female lawyer in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula, where she began her work in 1980. She stood in the courts as a courageous, bold, and capable lawyer, and she defended many political cases, ... Read More

Nihal Al-Aulaqi

Dr. Nihal Al-Aulaqi was born in Aden, her family belongs to Shabwah Governorate, she holds a bachelor's degree in legal sciences from Mohammed VI University in Morocco, and a master's and doctoral degrees in law from the same university. She received the US Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award for 2016 in recognition of her efforts to promote ... Read More

Arwa Othman

Writer Arwa Othman, born in Taiz Governorate, is a graduate of the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, University of Sana'a (1989). She is a writer, journalist, and researcher in heritage and women's rights advocate. She is passionate about Yemeni heritage and has worked on documenting folk dances, folklore, and local costumes. She heads the House of Folklore. She served ... Read More

Tawakkol Karman

The lawyer Tawakkol Karman, a journalist and human rights activist from Taiz Governorate, holds a Bachelor's degree in commerce and a postgraduate degree in political science from Sana'a University, as well as an honorary doctorate in international law from the University of Alberta, Canada. She is the first Yemeni and Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 ... Read More

Manar Sultan

Born in Taiz Governorate and a student at the Martyr Al-Hakimi School in Al-Muzhaffar Directorate, she won first place in the 2023 World Quran Memorization Competition. Manar outperformed 41 participants from Arab and Islamic countries. Despite the greatness of her achievement, she did not receive the honor she deserves for what she has achieved for Yemen ... Read More

Aamena Mohsen Al-Abed

Aamena Mohsen Al-Abd, born in Abyan Governorate, holds a bachelor's degree in Social and Political Sciences.. She has an extensive and distinguished record of pioneering contributions.. A multifaceted and resilient woman, she has made significant impacts in various fields, including revolutionary, partisan, security, public, human rights, developmental, service, educational, women's, and media work.. She was involved in the armed struggle ... Read More

Samira Obeid

Dr. Samira Obeid was born in Aden and holds a bachelor's and master's degree in philosophy from Friedrich Schiller University in Germany, and a doctorate in philosophy from St. Petersburg University in Russia. She was appointed Minister of State in 2014 and then reappointed Minister of Justice until 2015. She held various positions, including Assistant Professor at the College of ... Read More

Amat Al-Alim Alsoswa

Media personality, diplomat, and politician Dr. Amat Al-Alim Alsoswa was born in Taiz Governorate and comes from Dhamar Governorate. She began her work as a broadcaster at Taiz Radio and then moved to work on television in Sana'a, becoming the chief broadcaster before being appointed Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information in the early 1990s. She held a number of ... Read More

Amat al-Razzak Hammed

Dr. Amat al-Razzak Hammed was born in Taiz Governorate and holds a PhD in Philosophy in Education, Curricula and Teaching Methods from Ain Shams University in 1978, the first Yemeni woman in this field. She was appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Labor three times between 2006 and 2014. She held a number of academic positions, including: Head of the ... Read More

Adila Ibrahim

Educator and broadcaster Adila Ibrahim, born in Aden in 1934, was the first woman to study abroad, attending the Teachers' College at the University of Omdurman in Sudan in 1948. Her late mother, Lulah Haidar, was one of the pioneers of education in Aden, and her aunt, Noor Haidar, was a pioneer in girls' education in Aden. Her husband was ... Read More

Khadija Al-Salami

Director Khadija Al-Salami, born in Sana'a in 1966, studied directing in the United States and produced a number of films that have gained international acclaim. She is considered one of the pioneers of television directing in Yemen. She has also been involved in diplomatic work and served as a media advisor to the Yemeni embassy in Paris. She has produced ... Read More

Ramzia Al-Eryani

Ramzia Al-Eryani, born in Ibb Governorate in 1954, is a writer, human rights activist, and diplomat. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Cairo University in 1977 and a Master’s degree in Arabic Literature in 1979. According to some sources, she is considered the first Yemeni novelist with her first novel (The Victim of Greed) published in 1970. She ... Read More

Da'arah Saeed

The freedom fighter Da'arah Saeed, born in Radfan District, Lahij Governorate, in 1928, was the first woman to take up arms against the British colonialists as part of the leaders of the October 14, 1963, Revolution. She was a member of the leadership of the Liberation Army in Radfan. She carried out many guerrilla operations, inflicting significant losses on the ... Read More

Mona Luqman

Writer and human rights activist Mona Luqman is the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Food for Humanity Foundation, which operates developmental projects in several Yemeni governorates, the most important of which are water projects and girls' education. She has made significant contributions to conflict resolution and the promotion of security, cohesion, and social peace. Mona has also ... Read More

Sarah Eshaq

Director Sarah Eshaq, born in 1984 in Edinburgh, Scotland, returned at an early age to Sana'a where she completed her primary and secondary education before moving to Linlithgow Academy for her secondary studies and then to Edinburgh University, where she obtained a degree in Sociology. She also earned a Master's degree in Directing from the Edinburgh College of Art. She ... Read More

Insaf Al-Saqaf

Director and actress Insaf Al-Saqaf was born in the city of Aden and is one of the first female directors in Yemen and the Gulf. She holds a diploma in acting and directing from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Aden and a master's degree in theater directing from Belarus. Her first acting work on stage was in the play ... Read More

Bushra Al-Maqtari

Journalist and writer Bushra Al-Maqtari, born in Taiz Governorate, is a central committee member of the Yemeni Socialist Party, known for her opposition to oppression, tyranny, and backwardness. She has won numerous Arab and international awards, including the German “Palm” Prize for Freedom of Speech and Journalism, the Françoise Giroud Prize for defending rights and freedoms from Paris, the Leaders ... Read More

Entesar Hawash Al-Subaihi

The paratrooper Entesar Hawash Al-Subaihi, born in 1969 in Tor Al-Baha, Lahij Governorate, joined the military in 1984 at the age of 16. She is the first woman in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula to fly as a military paratrooper, exhibiting rare courage in entering this challenging field. Her uncle, the martyr Abdo Saleh Youssef Al-Subaihi, was the founder of ... Read More

Nabila Azim

Singer Nabila Azim was born in the city of Aden and is a pioneer of women's singing in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula. She was discovered by the Adeni musician Yahya Maki and appeared on the Adeni scene between 1957 and 1958. Her first songs were "Ya Nasi Hawana", "Yali Ghramk Zada", and "Ana Antha Arabiya". She was the first ... Read More

Yasmeen Al-Qadi

Journalist and human rights activist Yasmeen Al-Qadi is from Marib Governorate and is the President of the Marib Girls Foundation. She holds a BA in Media from Sana'a University and has made significant contributions to adopting women's and youth issues, engaging them in peacebuilding, and stimulating social and economic transformation. In 2020, she won the International Women of Courage Award ... Read More

Awras Sultan

Dr. Awras Sultan was born in Aden in 1962 and holds a master's degree in pediatrics. Her father is the great writer and historian Sultan Naji, author of the book "The Military History of Yemen", one of the most important references on military history in Yemen. She is one of the first women to reach Parliament, where she was a ... Read More

Dina Al-Mashhri

Inventor Dina Al-Mashhri is a Yemeni researcher and inventor born in Taiz in 1990. She holds a Master's degree in Nuclear Chemistry from the University of Peace in Austria and a PhD Fellowship in Chemical Research from UNESCO. She has registered seven inventions in her name and has won around 13 international awards, including the Grand Prize of the World ... Read More

Wahiba Farea

Dr. Wahiba Farea, born in Taiz Governorate, holds a BA in Arts, an MA, and a PhD in Foundations of Education and Educational Planning. She has held many high-ranking positions and tasks, including serving as President of Arwa University in 1996 and being appointed Minister of Human Rights in 2001. She was the first Yemeni woman to hold this position ... Read More

Mahya Najeeb

Journalist Mahya Najeeb, born in Aden in 1926, was one of the pioneers of journalism in the Arab world. In 1960, she became the editor-in-chief of "Fataat Shamsan" magazine, making her the first woman in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula to head a women's magazine. She played a prominent role in the women's movement in the 1960s and represented Yemeni ... Read More