Noha Al-Harthi is the 2024 Arab Woman Award Winner in Science and Technology

The Arabian Business honoured Dr. Noha Ahmed Al-Harthi with the 2024 Arab Woman Award for Science and Technology.

On top of that, Dr. Noha Al-Harthi heads the Emerging Technologies Department of the Technology, Research, and Innovation Department of the NEOM Project.

A Pioneer in Science and Technology

This honour came along in recognition of her contributions to technical innovation and development, as well as her groundbreaking and significant work in expanding the frontiers of scientific inquiry.

As the head of NEOM, Dr. Noha Al-Harthi spearheads strategic initiatives in the areas of advanced robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, including quantum and neuromorphic computing, and human-machine interface. These tactics help NEOM realise its goals of creating advanced knowledge cities and a sustainable future.

On the X platform, Dr. Noha Al-Harthi stated, “I am proud and honoured to announce that I have been awarded the Arab Woman Award for Achievement in Science and Technology 2024, Arabian Business.” Thanks to everyone who shared my trip, I dedicate this honour as a poignant reminder of our region’s strength, resolve, and ambition. A sincere thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. With perseverance, we advance towards wider vistas, but we still have a long way to go.

Moreover, Dr. Noha Al-Harthi’s accomplishments did not end there; she led projects in several sectors since she loved and was passionate about her profession. She created and put into practice creative solutions that adapt to the shifting demands of towns and cities, strengthening NEOM’s standing as the world’s most significant future travel destination and establishing new benchmarks for sustainability and adaptability.

Interestingly, Dr. Noha is the first researcher from a Middle Eastern university to get the renowned prize from the German Gauss Centre for High-Performance Computing. In addition, she was the first Saudi woman to get a drone pilot’s licence and received recognition with the Women’s Excellence Awards 2022 ‘Woman of the Year in Science and Technology’.

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Al-Harthi’s Commitment to Empowering Women in Research and Technology

As she helps to shape the future of global technology and promote sustainable development, Dr. Al-Harthi is well-known in the most significant international forums, such as the World Economic Forum. She also collaborates with international organisations to promote ethical practices in technology, ensuring that technological advancement benefits all of humanity.

Additionally, it is well known that Dr. Al-Harthi is enthusiastic about supporting women in research and technology. She actively participates in academic steering committees, oversees mentoring programs to empower a new generation of innovators, supports initiatives to increase the representation of women in the technical sector, and fosters research collaboration—all of which help to develop advanced research and create an innovative culture.

Notably, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is where Dr. Noha earned both her master’s and doctoral degrees.

The Jumeirah Mina A’Salam Hotel in Dubai hosted the 2024 Arab Woman Awards ceremony, where prominent figures from the Arab world, including businesswomen and community leaders, came together to honour the accomplishments of women who have had a positive impact on their communities and made exceptional contributions. A renowned group of 200 to 300 businesswomen, senior executives, and powerful leaders came together to honour outstanding women from different Arab nations.

Besides, honouring women who have made exceptional contributions and accomplishments throughout the Arab world was part of the event’s programme, and the winners of the awards—which covered 12 categories—were revealed. The event’s goal was to encourage the next generation of women to pursue excellence in multiple fields.

Honouring Exceptional Women

Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah received the Outstanding Contribution to Charity Award, while Al Suwaidi Foundation received the Special Recognition Award. Dr. Noha Ahmed Al Harthi received the Achievement in Science and Technology Award, Sakina Barbia received the Achievement in Sustainability Award, Ghada Al Rumayyan received the Most Inspiring Woman Award, and Rola Diab received the Rising Star of the Year Award.

In addition, Afra Al Hamli won the Achievement Award in Diplomacy and International Relations, Dr. Tahani Al Qadiri won the Achievement Award in Healthcare, Jessica Kahawaty won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Lubna Bouza won the Achievement Award in Media, and Engy Shalhoub won the Businesswoman of the Year Award.

The Journey to Winning the Worldwide “Gauss”

Speaking in a different context, Dr. Noha Al Harthi, Head of the Technology Team in the Technology Sector at the NEOM Project, emphasised that the project started a year ago and is a component of her PhD thesis as she described the lengthy process, she underwent to win the worldwide “Gauss” Award.

Noha Al-Harthi stated that she spent a full year preparing for the conference and presented the research, emphasising that the selection process is not typical and experts conduct it.

Also, she added that all research submitted to international universities must adhere to international standards because the process takes at least four or five months, and she went on to say that the research is related to one of the most important problems facing electrical engineering.

Furthermore, she emphasised that the research covered a wide range of topics, including “mathematical algorithms and computer science,” all of which are the result of processing large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. This allowed us to achieve high accuracy, which in turn allowed us to manufacture aircraft.

I am certain that we can enhance the research and make it more comprehensive, she added. In terms of her participation in the NEOM project, she said: “I was specially qualified and at a high level, me and those with me, and we can make other achievements in this future city, and any distinguished research that NEOM attracts, and any academic research will have a major role.”

The Gauss Centre, a global hub for high-performance computing research, has been presenting the best research papers at the International Supercomputer Conference in Germany for nine years, a significant event in the world of high-performance computing, where supercomputers are classified and listed in the top 500 websites.

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