DUBAI: Two content creators from Saudi Arabia, Haya Sawan and Eman Gamal, are among 50 selected worldwide for TikTok’s 2025 Change Makers program.
Now in its second year, the program aims to spotlight and amplify “mission-driven creators making a positive impact” both on and off the platform, according to TikTok.
Sawan is a Saudi entrepreneur and motivational speaker focused on health and wellness.
She founded fitness initiative SheFit in 2019, serves on the board of the Saudi Surfing Federation, and is managing partner of the fitness space Motion Academy.
“For me, storytelling is a catalyst, uniting different fields to ignite curiosity, fuel action, and guide people toward meaningful impact,” Sawan told Arab News.
Gamal is a licensed pharmacist, clinical nutrition specialist, mental health advocate, and public speaker. She has worked as a medical representative with regional firms including the Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corp.
Along with health and nutrition, her content also focuses on technology and innovation. She said she enjoys sharing insights that have made a difference in her life, hoping they will positively impact her audience as well.
“For me, TikTok isn’t just a platform; it’s a real space for change,” she added.
This year, TikTok also selected Yara Bou Monsef, who is based in Lebanon and the UAE, to join the program.
She first began making TikTok videos to teach sign language. Now, her content blends humor, lifestyle, and fashion with sign language awareness and education.
Her goal is to connect with her audience and make people “feel seen and welcome,” whether by teaching sign language or sharing life in Beirut and Dubai, she said, adding: “If one viewer feels included because of a story I share, that’s what success looks like to me.”
The five-month program will see TikTok support the selected creators with training and resources to further their growth on the platform. It will also host events and provide real-life opportunities to help the creators network and build connections.
Kinda Ibrahim, regional general manager of operations for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, Pakistan, Central & South Asia, at TikTok, said: “We are incredibly proud to see creators from the MENA region on TikTok’s 2025 Change Makers list.
“Their passion and creativity show TikTok’s dedication to not just content creation, but for real change that touches lives and connects communities across the region and beyond.”
