In 1998, L’Oréal and UNESCO joined forces to found the L’Oréal - UNESCO “For Women in Science” program. United by a shared conviction that the world needs science, and that science needs women, the L’Oréal-UNESCO partnership is a unique and ambitious program developed with the goal of promoting women in scientific research. Since the program’s inception, 77 Award Laureates and over 1600 Fellows from 108 countries have been recognized. Providing unprecedented support to women around the world, the program encourages the promotion of women in science on a global scale.

The L'Oréal -UNESCO Pan Arab Fellowships ‘For Women in Science’, is one of the first regional programs launched by L’Oréal Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO in 2010. This program aims at celebrating the phenomenal achievements of the region’s women scientists and to empower them to further contribute to the world of science.

Following the success of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Pan Arab Fellowships ‘For Women in Science’ since its launch in 2010, the program was extended to include candidates from 17 Arab countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, the Sultanate of Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, U.A.E. and Yemen.

The fellowships are granted to ten exceptional Arab women scientists with each new Fellow receiving 15,000 Euros in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of science and to further progress her career.