The EY initiative, now in its third year in the United Arab Emirates, inspires female Emirati business students to take up careers in transaction advisory services (TAS) and corporate finance

Dubai, UAE – 29 January 2020:   Rowayyah Alhefeiti, an Emirati female student from Zayed University, has been named the winner of the EY UAE Corporate Finance Woman of the Year (CFWY) award at a ceremony held in Dubai. Rowayyah was selected from a group of seven finalists who competed at the national level in the country. Following her win, Rowayyah will now compete against finalists from 21 other countries, including:  Australia, Bahrain, Germany, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Norway, Russia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States at the global level.

Held for the third time in the UAE, the CFWY competition is an initiative by EY to identify future Emirati talent and encourage the next generation of female finance professionals to explore unconventional sectors within the industry. 

The finalists in the competition included Alia Alnoori from the American University in Dubai, Latifa Reqaqi from the Higher College of Technology, Noora Alhameli from Zayed University, Salama Al Ameri from the United Arab Emirates University, Sara Alsawalhi from the American University in Dubai, and Shamma Al Marzouqi from Zayed University. All participants demonstrated exceptional critical thinking during the process, highlighting the aptitude and skillfulness that they will bring to the finance industry in the country. 

Rowayyah Alhefeiti, the 2020 United Arab Emirates winner of the ‘EY Corporate Finance Woman of the Year’ title and a student of Zayed University says: 
“I am honored to be named this year’s EY Corporate Finance Woman for the UAE. The competition offered a great opportunity to apply my current financial skills to a real business case study. It was also enlightening to be able to speak directly to EY professionals and better understand the career opportunities available to finance students interested in transaction advisory services. I am proud to have made it this far in the CFWY program and I am incredibly excited to represent my country at the global competition in Rome. Applying for the CFWY program is just the first step I am taking to making a difference in both my local community and the international business scene.”

The win will also see Rowayyah secure an internship with EY, along with an opportunity to join the Graduate Program. 

Rana Sanyoura, Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) Partner and CFWY Sponsor, EY, says: 
“This is the third year that I have attend the CFWY awards in the UAE and I continue to be inspired by the finalists each year. I truly enjoyed hearing their stories and learning about their perseverance and drive to make positive change in themselves and their communities. I admit it was not an easy choice to select one winner. The finalists have demonstrated their breadth of knowledge about challenging business, economics, and technology topics. They also showed great teamwork despite the competitive nature of the event.”

“I was proud to see the impact this program had on the finalists. I am confident that the experience will drive a tangible positive change for Emirati women who seek career opportunities in transaction services and corporate finance across the public and private sector. EY is delighted that it is able to do its part to support Emirati females and empower them to build a better tomorrow for themselves and their country.”

The competition for the Corporate Finance Woman of the Year award in the UAE received applications from several universities across the country. The submission process required candidates to determine how they would create a lasting legacy as a future Emirati leader. They were also required to offer their points of view on a recent business transaction in the UAE that was of interest to them. Following deliberations, the finalists presented their answers to the regional leadership and Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) professionals from EY, along with group workshops and one-to-one interviews.