For a casual observer, the gathering of around 450 women may have appeared like a fashion event. And considering the sponsor — L\'Officiel (a women\'s fashion magazine) — one would have been convinced of the nature of the gathering. But the event was not a a show of chic outfits and fabulous make up but a celebration of something far more important than a soirée … it was a recognition of the remarkable achievements of women in the UAE on a glittering evening held at the Fairmont hotel to announce the winners and give awards. Each nominee excelled in her field, be it art, medicine, literature, fashion, philanthropy or writing. Successful in their own right, many of these women overcame numerous personal and professional obstacles to ride proud on top of their disciplines. Gulf News visited the winners to shed light on their achievements. Entrepreneurship, ingenuity and tenacity were clearly dominant characteristics that drove the winners to success. Some came of privileged background, yet unspoiled by their wealth, and unashamed to work hard to reach new heights of personal achievements. Some entrepreneurs captured an idea that appeared at first a \"nice to have\", then developed the concept into a product to address a market gap. \"I noticed while shopping that simple t-shirts that reflect our culture are missing so I got the idea of designing casual t-shirts echoing the UAE traditional embroidery, incorporating our heritage and culture into modern art,\" Shaikha Manar Bint Mohammad Al Hinai, winner of the Young Designer Award of the Year, told Gulf News. Shaikha Manar launched her business a year ago in the UAE and expanded in Oman, Bahrain and will soon be in Qatar.