By ; Mohamed Elkholy
Dalia Ibrahim, CEO of Nahdet Misr Publishing House, has been awarded the prestigious PublisHer Excellence Award 2025 – Lifetime Achievement Category, in recognition of her influential career and transformative contributions to publishing and cultural advancement across the Arab world.
The award was presented at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy, during the second edition of the PublisHer Excellence Awards—an initiative launched by H.E. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi to celebrate and elevate women’s leadership in publishing and promote inclusive, forward-thinking practices across the global creative industries.
This prestigious accolade celebrates over three decades of Dalia Ibrahim’s leadership, marked by her unwavering commitment to spreading knowledge, preserving cultural identity, empowering women and youth, and expanding access to education and lifelong learning.
Under her leadership, Nahdet Misr has grown into a regional leader in integrated learning and publishing solutions.
Its portfolio spans cultural publishing, curriculum development, digital learning, teacher training, technical and vocational education, and support for EdTech innovation.
Dalia has played a central role in enriching the Arab cultural library with thousands of titles for children and adults, while reviving and reintroducing literary classics to promote heritage, diversity, and intellectual curiosity.
Her pioneering efforts have also extended to innovation and entrepreneurship. She launched the region’s first EdTech-focused corporate venture capital arm, supporting hundreds of entrepreneurs, investing in 24 startups, and mentoring emerging changemakers in education and culture.
Most recently, she has spearheaded large-scale skills development initiatives focused on technical education, helping address youth unemployment and aligning education with evolving workforce demands across the region.
Commenting on the award Dalia Ibrahim stated: “I deeply value this recognition, which crowns a lifelong belief in the mission of publishing and a professional journey that began with a noble goal: to make knowledge accessible to all and to ensure that Arab women are true partners in shaping the future. It’s a journey made possible through collective efforts driven by this shared purpose. I extend my sincere thanks to H.E. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi and the PublisHer initiative for this honor, which I consider a tribute to every woman who chooses to lead with purpose and impact.”
Dalia Ibrahim’s impact continues to resonate on both regional and global levels. She currently chairs the Education Committee at Egypt’s National Council for Women and serves on the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship. In recognition of her leadership, she was named among Forbes Middle East’s Most Powerful Businesswomen for both 2024 and 2025.
