UK Arab Personality of the Year 2025: Past Winners and What’s New This Year
From Mecca to Jerusalem, Damascus to Baghdad, and Cairo to Rabat, Arabs have long carried their culture and values into the streets of London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. For generations, Arabs in Britain have asked: How can we present an image that truly reflects who we are? How do we give back as much as we gain, build as much as we dream, and show the real worth of Arab contribution to British life?
That search for representation inspired Al-Arab in UK (AUK) platform to launch the Arab Personality of the Year Award (APYA) — an initiative that celebrates outstanding Arab talent, shares success stories, and turns recognition into something deeper than ceremony: a statement of pride and belonging.
More than an honour, APYA aims to restore the public image of British Arabs as people defined by generosity, excellence, ethics and community spirit.
2023: A Vision Takes Shape
The first ceremony, held in London on 17 March 2023, honoured four pioneering figures chosen after consultations with leading Arab voices in the UK:
- Dr Rehab Al-Jamel – scientist and business leader in medicine and pharmaceuticals
- Mohamed Elneny – Arsenal football star at the time
- Abdulrahman Al-Jabri – content creator promoting UK tourism for Arab audiences
- Othman Moqbel – humanitarian and charity expert
That year, APYA carried a clear humanitarian message. Its charitable proceeds went to support earthquake victims in Syria and Türkiye — a reminder that for Arabs in Britain, compassion comes before publicity.
2024: When Gaza Took Centre Stage
The second edition, on 17 October 2024, coincided with a year of ongoing devastation in Gaza. Naturally, Palestine became the heart of the evening — not as a slogan, but as a shared moral truth.
The night featured soulful performances by Rachid Gholam and heartfelt messages from Mohammed Al-Kandari and Omar Al-Thuwaini.
That year’s honourees devoted their work to Gaza:
- Dr Ghada Karmi
- Leanne Mohamad
- Lowkey (Kareem Dennis)
- Dr Ahmed Mukhallati
- Sarah Al-Agha
- Ahmed Alnaouq
The message was unmistakable: excellence and conscience are inseparable.
2025: From Platform Recognition to Community Recognition
What sets the 2025 edition apart is its open nomination process. For the first time, the Arab community across Britain was invited to put names forward through AUK’s call for nominations on 3 August 2025.
The response was overwhelming, with dozens of submissions from every region and field — proof of how much talent exists within Britain’s Arab community.
On 6 October 2025, an independent judging panel was announced, chaired by Prof Dr Qusay Al-Ahmadi, the Iraqi Cultural Attaché, and including:
Sabah Al-Mukhtar – Dr Samer Al-Jamous – Katia Youssef – Tahreer Waswas – Samira Mallouki – Abdulrahman Al-Jabri – Mona Adam
They assessed nominees on six clear criteria:
- Service to Arab and humanitarian causes
- Positive cultural and social impact in Britain
- Sustainable benefit to the community
- Leadership and inspiration
- Artistic authenticity
- Innovation and service to humanity or the environment
Full details are available here.
The panel selected four winners directly and invited the public to vote for three additional honourees through APYA’s official site from 22 October 2025.
As far as I’m concerned, every shortlisted name is already a winner. APYA is not a contest — it’s a collective act of recognition.
Beyond Celebration: A Humanitarian Purpose
The 2025 APYA Gala Dinner, set for 1 December 2025, aims to sponsor 1,000 orphans in Palestine and other Arab countries most in need — a goal that captures what APYA truly stands for: celebration in service of humanity.
The evening will be hosted by Ola Al-Fares and Ibrahim Khadra, with a special performance by the London Arabic Orchestra led by maestro Bassel Saleh, and guests from across Britain and beyond.
Why It Matters
This initiative exists because Arabs in Britain deserve a platform that honours their achievements and amplifies their voice in public life.
Because our children should inherit stories of pride, not prejudice.
Because solidarity, compassion, and excellence are values to be lived, not claimed.
And because every act of recognition is, at its heart, an act of hope.
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