ChapterHistory

In November 2011, an inventive member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Brittni West Ware, created the Facebook page “Ivy in the UAE” for the purpose of linking members living in this region. This young AKA could not have known the impact this form of social media would have on the history of our beloved Sisterhood. Since it’s inception, this page has served as a point of connection for Alpha Kappa Alpha members and as the primary springboard for activities.

A group of AKA members had their first Founders’ Day Celebration in January 2012 and continued to celebrate annually for three years prior to the establishment of the interest group. During this time, the group saw continuous growth in both the number of members in the country and in the interest group. This was perhaps most strongly felt at an informal gathering held in September 2013 at Mushrif Mall in Abu Dhabi where 35+ Alpha Kappa Alpha members showed up for a Sisterly Relations event. The number of Alpha Kappa Alpha women residing in the United Arab Emirates was astounding! Following that meeting, the group continued to meet and participate in service projects, such as, the Diabetes Walk and the Red Crescent clothing drive.

In May 2014, the group of members held a formal interest meeting to discuss the possibility of chartering a chapter in the Middle East. At that time, there were four active members and a 60-day challenge was implemented in order to reactivate as many Alpha Kappa Alpha members as possible. Success came in August 2014 when over 35 members were successfully reactivated. An application to become an interest group was humbly submitted in October 2014. Upon receiving a favorable vote from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Directorate, the Pearls of Arabia Interest Group was established in November 2014. There were 38 dedicated members with a vision of bringing “Service to All Mankind” to the United Arab Emirates.

Once becoming an interest group, the Pearls of Arabia diligently worked to Launch New Dimension of Service through our programs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Many partnerships were acquired and sustained throughout the UAE Community. They focused on the five targets, as well as community impact days, such as, Think HBCU and Pink Goes Red which are still implemented today. Additionally, they participated in the Annual Diabetes Walk, supported other local Black Greek Letter Organizations in their service projects, collected necessities for disaster victims, and awarded scholarships to students attending HBCUs from within the UAE Community.

On the 22nd of January 2016, the Pearls of Arabia officially became the 16th Chartered Chapter of the International Region to be forever known as the Omega Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® Since its chartering, Omega Theta Omega has continued its commitment to service and leadership within the UAE Community. The chapter’s membership has expanded to include members from Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, and repatriated members who reside in the United States. Omega Theta Omega continues to build upon the legacy of the Pearls of Arabia as it has completed three mission trips to Tanzania and Ghana from 2016 – 2019 to truly Serve All Mankind.