Dubai-based Nadeen Ayoub to represent Palestine for first time at Miss Universe 2025
First-ever Palestinian contestant prepares to take global stage in Thailand
DUBAI – Nadeen Ayoub, a 27-year-old Palestinian based in Dubai, will make history this November as the first-ever representative of Palestine at the Miss Universe pageant.
Crowned Miss Palestine in 2022, Ayoub announced her participation in Miss Universe 2025 on Instagram, wearing a traditional white dress embroidered with tatreez – an ancient Palestinian art form where each stitch tells a story of heritage and identity.
Who is Nadeen Ayoub?
A graduate in literature and psychology from the University of Western Ontario, she also works as a certified fitness coach and nutrition consultant. Her family originates from Jaffa, and her childhood was split between the West Bank, Canada, and the United States before settling in the UAE.
Ayoub rose to prominence after competing in Miss Earth 2022 in the Philippines, where she placed in the top five and won the Miss Water title. Since then, she has continued to use her voice to shed light on the plight of her people, particularly amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
She has over 1.1 million Instagram followers and is the founder of Sayidat Falasteen, a media platform under the Miss Palestine Organisation that amplifies the stories of Palestinian women. Through it, she shares narratives of resilience, creativity, and ambition rarely seen in mainstream coverage.
A psychology student, Ayoub also raises awareness about the collapse of mental health services in Gaza, focusing on the psychological impact of conflict on children. She has launched the Olive Green Academy in Dubai, the first women’s training centre in sustainability and AI in the UAE.
Her advocacy is deeply personal, often highlighting women entrepreneurs such as soap maker Howaida Abu Yaacoub, who overcame hardships to build a family business. “We are more than our struggle,” Ayoub has said.
“We are women with dreams, talents, and a powerful voice to offer the world.”
Miss Universe 2025
Miss Universe 2025 will be held in Pak Kret, Thailand, on November 21, marking Palestine’s debut since the competition began in 1952. Ayoub has described the moment as “more than a title” but rather “a platform to speak up for the people of Palestine, especially our women and children.”
Last year, Emilia Dobreva, a Dubai resident and mother of three, represented the UAE at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico City, marking another milestone for the region on the global stage.