IN THE UAE NEW TERRITORY WOMENCHARTING PIONEERING THE

FOUNDER AND OWNER, YAPPAREL CV: When Dina opened the doors to yApparel in Jumeirah in 2014, it became the first fitness and lifestyle apparel boutique of its kind in the Middle East. It has already grown to incorporate new brands, extra staff and a fully operational online store that ships around the globe. Where it began: “After almost six years in marketing and PR in the corporate world, I decided it was time to take the leap of faith into the world of entrepreneurship. Yoga has been my passion since I was 15 – when I returned from the US to the UAE in 2010 I noticed that the fashion/retail element was missing in a growing fitness industry, so I decided to take the opportunity to fill the gap.” Proud moment: “I've just completed my yoga teacher training – an immense and intensive experience which has allowed me to better understand and be closer to many of my customers, as well as giving me and yApparel a new channel where we can touch people's lives.”

FOUNDER, HISSAH ENRICHMENT CENTRE CV: A criminologist, forensic psychologist, and a trauma specialist, Lama Younis is also a children's rights activist working to eradicate child abuse in the GCC and beyond. She established the Hissah Enrichment Centre to help children and adults achieve personal empowerment and improve their personal and professional relationships. Where it began: “One incident that influenced me when I was young was seeing a young woman beat her child mercilessly using a wooden spatula in a supermarket. It encouraged me to learn about child abuse so I'd be equipped to create awareness in parents using the right resources. This led me to pursue psychology.” Dreaming big “My ultimate goal is to bring change not just in this region, but also the rest of the world. Abuse is a social evil and it's important that we stand together to fight it.” What winning means to me: “I'd like the Emirates Woman Awards 2015 to serve as a channel for more people to acknowledge my work and work with me towards building a safe community.”

DINA GHANDOUR

LAMA YOUNIS