The American Women's Association of Dubai (AWA) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide support for women who are citizens or legal residents of the United States or who are spouses of U. S. citizens by sponsoring informational programs, arranging social functions, providing common interest groups, and promoting charitable activities for our members. To these ends, we offer a selection of activities and opportunities to get involved:

MONTHLY MEETINGS
Our monthly meeting is usually held the first Tuesday of every month. They are held at various hotels in Dubai and usually include a social hour with time for our breakfast buffet and a different program each month. Some of our past programs included cultural programs, speakers on women's health issues, presentations on shopping and antiques, and many other wonderful topics. We have also enjoyed fashion shows, Marketplace, and Travel Fair once a year.

MEET & GREET
A newcomer's coffee is held on the third Tuesday of every month. This offers newcomers to Dubai the opportunity to meet our members and each other for a morning of socializing and information. We also offer a "Late in the Day" meeting for those who work and cannot attend the daytime Meet & Greet.

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BALL
This black tie gala event is the highlight of the year. The funds raised by this ball help the seniors who qualify for the AWA scholarship program. This wonderful event brings together our members, the local community, corporate sponsors and guests. We also have many other special events throughout the year such as the Santa Safari, mosque and palace tours, and trips to other countries.

MEET THE CHEF
On the last Monday of each month, members gather at different restaurants and venues to meet a featured chef who will conduct a cooking demonstration followed by lunch where the members can taste and enjoy the creations. Some of the best chefs from around the world divulge their secret recipes. Not an event to miss!

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Each year old and new groups get together to pursue activities and interests they have in common. Currently we offer Moms and Kids Day Out, Book Club, Writers Club, Golf, Mah Jong, cooking groups, and stitch group, to name just a few. These activities meet throughout the month.

Come Join Us for MAHJONG! 

This is a great way to meet new people and strengthen your memory skills! Mahjong involves skill, strategy, and calculation, as well as a certain degree of luck. We have all levels of players and welcome new people seasoned or novice, no experience necessary. The object of the game is to build complete suits or melds, usually of threes, from either 13 or 16 tiles. The first person to achieve this goal wins the game.

Hey, let's BOWL some balls and have some laughs. 

The bowling group is filled with ladies that like to have fun.  No need to be an expert bowler, you just need to bring your sense of humor.  We would LOVE to have new people join us. Come all the time or come when you can.  We bowl monthly so no big weekly practice commitment. We look forward to meeting you!

The Investment Club—Women Owning Wealth (WOW) 

We are a serious group that has a lot of fun. WOW is an investment club started for several reasons. We like the idea of making money, but it is not the principal reason for starting this club.  The primary goal of the partnership is to learn about stocks and various stock markets.  Our partnership is currently full, but you could go on a waiting list or we would be happy to advise you and others on how to start your own club.

BABY AND TODDLER PLAYGROUP

What a great way to connect with other mothers here in Dubai!  We get together every other week for about 2 hours and talk, share parenting stories and well, sometimes just vent. We meet at parks, indoor play facilities and sometimes a mom's home.  We are always looking for new mothers to come join us.

BOOK CLUBS

BOOK CLUB 1
The original book club group that started it off. Here's a listing of their selections of the past year: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant,  Madam Secretary by Madeline Albright, The Friend That Got Away by Jenny Offill and Elissa Schappell, Touching Earth by Ranik Manicka , The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion 

BOOK CLUB 2—The Bookies
If you like to read, you might consider joining "The Bookies," a group of women who meet in one another's homes once a month in a casual atmosphere to discuss the books we have selected. We typically meet from 10-12 pm on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month, although we work around the school calendar holidays.

Some of the books we've chosen for this year include Freakonomics by Leavitt & Dubner, Palace Walk by Mahfouz, Mr. Muo's Travelling Couch by Sijie, and Brave New World by Huxley.

STITCH GROUP

We meet on the first and third Sundays of the month to work on our individual stitch and craft projects. We do a lot of stitching and visiting as we enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and some light savories. Members work on a variety of projects including cross-stitch, embroidery, needlepoint, knitting, quilting and mending. We even have a few members that come for a chat and don't work on a thing!

CREATIVE KITCHENS 1-2 & 3

These groups meet once a month to expand their culinary skills in the home of one of the group members. A different theme or course of a meal is highlighted to teach the group the how-tos of how to perfect the dishes. One month might be Thai cuisine, the next a variety of soups and the next Italian. Creativity of what is presented is limited only by the imagination. Recipes are given to each member so you can do it yourself at home in the future. Each person may choose to present by herself or have a partner help her to cut down on the preparation and presentation time.

For Fall of 2007  Creative Kitchen 1 & 2 merged so there is room for a new fresh group (or new group #2) to begin sharing recipes with one another.  A group can contain as few as 10 and as many as 20 women. Dates, times and locations to meet are all made by those who sign up.

SUNSETTERS

Evening activities designed for adult couples, but not excluding those without a spouse. Events in the past have included a sunset sailing cruise off of the Dubai coast, target shooting and dinner at the Dubai Shooting Club and a private wine tasting with a sommelier from African & Eastern Co. at a local 5 star hotel. Stay tuned to the AWA on-line calendar for upcoming events.

DINNER CLUB

Provides a fun way to get to know other AWA members (and allows partners to join in the fun as well).  The environment is relaxed and affable with themed nights adding to the entertainment value!  The food is delicious and goes with the theme for the night.  Join us on the last Thursday night of the month for a night of Murder Mystery, Mardi Gras, Halloween, or your choice!

**Dinner is potluck, cost is AED 25 per person.

Come join us in the high impact action sport.  Even if you have never played we are looking for people to join us and learn.  We generally play twice a week at the Jebel Ali Club and the cost is AED 15 per person.

Beginner
This eight week clinic will introduce you to the game in a fun and relaxed environment. You will learn the fundamentals of the game, including putting, chipping, pitching, bunker play and full swing technique. This course is for those with no prior golf experience or for those who have had only a few lessons.

Intermediate
This eight week clinic is designed for those who have had lessons in the past, but require help to refine their game to competently play on the main golf course. All aspects of the game, including short game technique, bunker player, iron and wood shots, course management and shot strategy will be covered.  An individual video swing analysis will be included.