Arab America Foundation names 30 Under 30 awardees for 2026

By AI, Created 5:26 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – The Arab America Foundation announced 30 Arab American awardees for its 2026 30 Under 30 class, recognizing young professionals across the U.S. The honorees will be celebrated at the Connect Empowerment Summit in the fall, highlighting emerging leaders in fields from medicine to entrepreneurship and public service.

Why it matters: - The 30 Under 30 program spotlights Arab American professionals ages 20-30 who are building careers and community influence at the same time. - The award recognizes leadership, academic achievement and commitment to Arab heritage across a wide range of fields. - The honorees reflect a broader push to elevate Arab American visibility in business, public service, education, the arts and health care.

What happened: - The Arab America Foundation announced the 30 awardees for its 2026 30 Under 30 initiative on May 13, 2026. - The class includes Arab Americans from across the U.S. - Judges from different states reviewed applications anonymously, without names or ethnicity attached. - The awardees are Rewan Abdelwahab, Noura Abou Hamze, Nadeen Abusada, Sophia Agag, Majd Al-Marrawi, Yzen Al-Marrawi, Zaid Al-Shoha, Omar Aljebrin, Hend Alkarzon, Sarah Asali, Yousef Bazzi, Layla Dhabaan, Reem Eldabagh, Moutaz Elias, Yasmine Elkharssa, Ibrahim Emara, Phebe Fahmy, Amir Farhat, Bayan Galal, Abdullah Ghali, Jude Hammoud, Aya Hamza, George Harb, Gabriel Khoury, Majid Matariyeh, Jumana Meri, Alexander Restum, Sedra Shahin, Nesreen Shahrour and Mai Zaru. - The awardees will be honored at the Connect Empowerment Summit in the fall, on a date to be announced. - See the awardee bios.

The details: - The program recognizes professionals ages 20 to 30. - Fields highlighted include education, law, public service and politics, nonprofit work, business, entrepreneurship, engineering, medicine, the arts, entertainment, writing and media. - Awardees were selected for excelling in their studies, contributing to their communities and showing commitment to Arab heritage. - The competition was open to students who live and/or work in the U.S. and are of Arab descent. - The Arab America Foundation said the awardees have shown leadership in academics and extracurricular activities. - The foundation described the class as a group that exemplifies Arab American identity in a multinational world. - Coordinators Nabelah Ghareeb and Elias T. Khalil led the initiative. - Warren David, co-founder of the Arab America Foundation and president of Arab America, said the awardees represent the promise, talent and resilience of a new generation of Arab American leaders.

Between the lines: - The anonymous review process signals an effort to reduce bias and keep the selection focused on merit. - The wide mix of careers suggests the foundation is framing Arab American leadership as expansive, not limited to one sector. - The program also functions as a cultural visibility play, linking professional success with heritage pride.

What’s next: - The 2026 class will be recognized at the Connect Empowerment Summit in the fall. - The foundation has not yet announced the summit date. - The Arab America Foundation continues its work as a nonprofit educational and cultural organization focused on promoting Arab heritage, educating Americans about Arab identity and culture, and connecting Arab Americans with one another and other communities. - More information is available through the foundation’s social channels, including LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.