Page 68 - 5th BBS Newsletter - En & Ar

Afnan Rashid Al Zayani

A Bahraini national, married with four children. Holding a BS in food technology from Texas Tech University
– USA. In 1977, she joined Bahrain Flour Mills Company as a quality control and research supervisor. In 1982,
she moved to the private sector. Presently, she is the owner and president of Al Zayani Commercial Services
WLL. She is also a partner in Martinizing Laundry. She sat on the boards of Al Zayani Investments, Al-Ayam
Publishing, Bahrain Bourse, Bahrain Flour Mills Company. From 2002 - 2018, Mrs. Al Zayani was a board
member of Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society, and was the president from 2002-2004.

She was a founding member and secretary to the board of Bahrain Businessmen’s Association from 2001-
2011. In 2009, she became the first president of MENA Businesswomen’s Network. From 2006- 2018, she
was elected as a board member of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and head of The Businesswomen’s
Committee. In addition to being a businesswoman, Afnan Al Zayani has also published from 1983-2016 seven
cookery books in Arabic and English. Starting with Al Soofrah Al Khaleejiah, the first cookery book published
in Bahrain, followed by (A Taste of the Arabian Gulf) published in 1988, the first dedicated Gulf cookery book
in English. In 1992, she received Bahrain National Achievement Award in recognition of her efforts in
preserving the heritage of the Arabian Gulf cuisine.
In 1986, she started her cookery programmes from Bahrain TV with (Al Soofrah Al Khaleejiah) followed by
many programmes one of which was (Gulf Delights) in English. In 2007, she presented (Ramadan Attyab) on
MBC TV. She has also presented three programmes on Qatar TV.
In 2012 - 2021, she presented (Let’s cook with Afnan) on Bahrain TV, highlighting Bahraini food
entrepreneurs.
Throughout her career, Afnan has also received many awards in recognition of her business achievements.
In 2010, Afnan won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for publishing (Afnaniyat), selected as the Best
Arabic and English Cookbook published in 2009. In 2010, she has also received Vital Voices Leadership in
Public Life Award. In 2013, Afnan was awarded the Medal of Efficiency by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al
Khalifa, the king of Bahrain.

Contact Info:
Al Zayani Commercial Services WLL.
Contact: 17297676
Website: http://www.azcsbh.com//
E-Mail: info@azcsbh.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azcsbh/

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