Asians on New Year Honours List 2026

The 2026 New Year Honours List has been published and over 1,100 people across the UK have been recognised for their contributions to society.

Individuals have been recognised for being dedicated community champions, role models in sport, healthcare, academia and voluntary service.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said:

“This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.

“Their quiet dedication speaks to the decent, compassionate country we are proud to be.

“On behalf of the whole nation, thank you – and congratulations to everyone recognised today.”

The honours handed out include Companions of Honour (CH), Grand Cross, Order of the Bath (GCB/KCB/CB), Order of St Michael and St George (Knight/GCMG/KCMG/DCMG/CMG), Knighthood and Damehood (Knight/DBE), Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and British Empire Medal (BEM).

In the New Year Honours List, ethnic minority representation has doubled to 14%.

As for the Asian contributions, the New Year Honours List commends the hard work and efforts of men and women with South Asian roots who have made a major impact on communities around the UK.

Meera Syal received a Damehood for services to Literature, Drama and Charity.

As one of the first British Asian people to regularly star on British TV and a staple of the influential Goodness Gracious Me, Meera has been praised as a barrier-breaking pioneer.

Former England cricketer Isa Guha received an MBE.

Since retiring from playing, Isa has become a celebrated broadcaster and has also founded the charity Take Her Lead, which aims to increase participation of women and girls in cricket.

Watch DESIblitz’s Interview with Isa Guha from 2014

Fashion entrepreneur and the founder of Khubsoorat Collection, Mani Kohli, was awarded an MBE for her services to fashion.

She is the first South Asian female fashion designer to receive an MBE in this category.

She said: “Looking back on nearly 48 years in London, receiving the MBE feels deeply humbling.

“My journey began in adversity, but it was shaped by resilience, community and belief.”

“This recognition reflects not just my story, but the many people and communities who walked alongside me.”

British Asians who have been recognised in the New Year Honours List 2026 include:

Knighthood

• Professor Cedric Nishanthan Canagarajah – Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester. For services to Higher Education.

Damehoods

• Meera Syal CBE – Comedian, Writer and Actor. For services to Literature, to Drama and to Charity.
• Professor Meena Upadhyaya OBE – For services to Community Cohesion in Wales and to Medical Genetics.

Companions of the Order of the Bath

• Daljit Singh Rehal – Chief Digital Information Officer, HM Revenue and Customs. For services to Technology and to Public Service.

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

• Omar Ali – Global Financial Services Leader, Ernst and Young. For services to the Financial Services Industry.
• Neeta Avnash Kaur Atkar MBE – Lately Senior Independent Director to the Board, British Business Bank. For services to Small Business Finance and the British Business Bank.
• Shazia Hussain – Director of Children’s Social Care, Department for Education. For services to Children and Families.
• Rupesh Mohan Mehta – Lately Director, Planning, Department for Transport. For services to Transport Planning.
• Dhruv Prashant Patel OBE – For services to Civic Leadership and to Charity.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

• Shah Ruhul Amin – Co-Founder and Chief Architect, Onfido. For services to Fintech and Artificial Intelligence.
• Professor Syed Saeed Ashraf – Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Morriston Hospital, Swansea. For services to Cardiac Surgery, the Provision of Training Surgeons from Abroad, and Academic Contribution.
• Mohamed Isap – Chief Executive, IN4 Group. For services to Education.
• Professor Gurpreet Singh Jagpal – For services to Enterprise, Entrepreneurship Education and Policy.
• Rukshana Kapasi – Director of Health, Barnardo’s. For services to Transforming Care, to Health Equity and to the Patient Voice.
• Dr Harjinder Singh Lallie – Founder, Gurmat Sangeet Academy. For services to Musical Heritage, to Faith Communities and to Integration.
• Paavan Popat – Chief Executive, TLC Care. For services to Intergenerational Housing.
• Nadia Shehzi Fall – Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director, Young Vic Theatre and lately Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director, Theatre Royal Stratford East. For services to Theatre.
• Narinder Kaur Shergill – Security Advisor, Serious Fraud Office. For services to the Administration of Justice.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• Shamsul Abdin – Head, H&K Cycle Club. For services to Charitable Fundraising.
• Dr Nazee Akbari – Chief Executive Officer, New Citizens’ Gateway. For services to Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
• Harith Sadiq Ali – Fundraiser. For Charitable Service.
• Monwara Ali – Chief Executive Officer, Waltham Forest Community Hub. For services to the community in Waltham Forest.
• Safaraz Ali – Chief Executive Officer, Pathway Group. For services to Diversity and Inclusion in Business.
• Louise Ansari – Lately Chief Executive Officer, Healthwatch England. For services to Health Equity.
• Fatima Benzbir – Regional Manager Airports and Festival and Events, National Express. For services to the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
• Rishi Bhuchar – Philanthropist. For services to Philanthropy.
• Jadavji Karsan Bhudia – Systems Commissioning Manager, Tideway. For services to Improving Water Quality.
• Dr Raja Biswas – Consultant Physician in Care of the Elderly, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. For services to the NHS in Wales.
• Hassan Chaabane – Team Leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to Defence.
• Ishtiaq Ahmed Din – Playwright and Screenwriter. For services to the Arts and Young People in the North East.
• Isa Tara Guha – Founder and Chair, Take Her Lead. For services to Inclusivity and Cricket.
• Shanaz Begum Gulzar – Creative Director, Bradford Culture Company. For services to Culture in Bradford.
• Hazrat Islam – Senior Manager, Regions and Providers Directorate, Department for Education. For services to Further Education.
• Rokia Khair – For services to Heritage and to Charity in Derbyshire.
• Maninder Kohli – For services to Fashion.
• Professor Avtar Singh Matharu – Professor of Chemistry, University of York. For services to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and to Interfaith and Community Cohesion.
• Dr Ritan Ashvinkumar Mehta – Head of Medical and Team Doctor, England Senior Women’s Football Team. For services to Association Football.
• Ranu Mehta-Radia – Founder, Sai School of Harrow, London Borough of Harrow. For services to the community in Greater London.
• Bhishma Raj Niraula – Hindu Religious Teacher (Pundit Ji), Royal Gurkha Rifles, Brunei. For services to British Forces Brunei.
• Babar Ali Qureshi – Co-Founder, The Research Club and i-view London. For services to Business, to Charity and to Cricket.
• Kambiz Ramzan Ali – For services to the Sport of Taekwondo and the community in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
• Dr Dwarampudi Rama Krishna Reddy – Director, Homeless Housing. For services to Homeless People in Preston.
• Kulwant Singh Sehmi – Lately Departmental Head, Imaging Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. For services to the NHS and to Diagnostic Ophthalmic Imaging.
• Sajda Khatoon Shah – Strategy and Transformation Lead, Sajda Shah Consultancy. For services to Community Development.
• Mohammed Shaukat – Volunteer, Glasgow Central Mosque. For services to the community in Glasgow.
• Balbir Singh – Artistic Director, Balbir Singh Dance Company. For services to Dance.
• Abu Taher – Co-Founder, Shanghati Literary Society. For services to the Bangladeshi Community.
• Sajid Ebrahim Varda – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, UK Muslim Film and Muslim International Film Festival. For services to Diversity and Inclusion in the Film and Television Industry.

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

• Fatima Ahmad – Foster Carer, Kirklees Council. For services to Foster Care.
• Amila Begumahmed – Teaching Assistant, Cyril Jackson Primary, London Borough of Tower Hamlets. For services to Education.
• Asma Reyaz Haq – Founder, Marks Gate Relief Project. For services to the communities in the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge.
• Manjinder Singh Kang – Community Safety Manager, Network Rail. For services to Rail Safety and to Charity.
• Bhajan Matharu – Assistant Headteacher, Deanesfield Primary School, London Borough of Hillingdon. For services to Education and Early Years.
• Pritesh Pattni – Postmaster, Bristol Street Post Office. For services to the community in Birmingham and to Charity.
• Indra Rukmani Perera – Early Years Leader, Rainbow House, London. For services to Early Years Education.
• Kanti Karsan Pindoria – Police Staff, Special Constable and Volunteer Police Cadet Leader, Metropolitan Police Service. For services to Policing and to the community in London.
• Shaeera Fatima Sahi – For services to Young People.
• Sabhijinder Singh Hayer – Gym Manager, Sam’s Gym and Head Coach, Oldbury Academy Weightlifting Club. For services to Weightlifting and to the community in the West Midlands.
• Sahina Ugradar – For services to the community in Ilford, London Borough of Redbridge.

These honorary titles are awarded to these individuals in recognition of their commitment to serve and help Britain in their areas of work and services.

The Asian recipients of these awards have proved their specific dedication without a doubt to their contributions.

DESIblitz congratulates all of the honoraries on the New Year Honours List 2026!