In honor of Emirati Women's Day, here's a list of inspirational Emirati females setting an example in the UAE.
Noura Al Kaabi
A global influencer and thinker, ranked amongst the top 30 most influential women in government by Forbes Middle East, awarded "Business Woman of the Year" at the Gulf Business Awards and listed as one of the 100 most powerful Arab women by Arabian Business, to mention a few, Al Kaabi is an Emirati business woman and the Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development for the United Arab Emirates since October 2017.
Dr Aisha Bin Bishr
Named among the world's most influential Arabs for 2019, H.E. Dr Aisha, Director General of Smart Dubai, is a champion of government innovation being the first woman in the world to lead an entire city’s smart transformation.
Dr Amina Al Rustamani
Prior to becoming the Group CEO of TECOM communications, Al Rustamani started her career in 2001 as an electrical engineer with TECOM Investments (now TECOM Group), becoming one of few women in the Middle East to enter the profession. She has also helped Dubai become a fashion hub, opening the fashion-dedicated Dubai Design District free zone. She ranked number 9 in the CEO Middle East's fifth annual list of the world's most powerful Arab women in 2015 and was picked as the Advertising Person of the Year by Dubai Lynx for 2015.
Muna Al Gurg
A businesswoman and philanthropist, Al Gurg is the Managing Director of retail at Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group LLC and sits on several boards of directors of companies and non-profit organizations. She is also Chairwoman of Young Arab Leaders, promoting education, entrepreneurship and youth development. She received the Emirates Women’s Award and the Arabian Business StartUp Award for Women in Business.
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi
Listed as the 36th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, Qasimi is the first woman in the UAE’s history to assume a cabinet position when she was appointed as Minister of Foreign Trade. Previously, the Minister of Tolerance, she leads the UAE's philanthropic efforts. She graduated from the California State University, Chico with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and has an Executive MBA from the American University of Sharjah.
Najla Al Midfa
Emirati business leader and first Emirati woman to be honored with Eisenhower Fellowship, Al Midfa is CEO of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) and known for her outstanding achievements in developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the United Arab Emirates. She is also Founder of Khayarat, a platform that enables young Emiratis to make informed career choices. Prior to this, she was a Senior Manager at the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and a senior associate at McKinsey and Company‘s New York office.
Shaikha Al Qassimi
A CrossFit athlete, an ambassador for Canadian brand Lululemon Athletica and also a Red Bull athlete with backgrounds in coaching ladies classes in Sharjah and Dubai, Al Qassimi finds growth in inspiration - women, children, friends, family, and everyone else. A competitor since 2013, ranking 3rd in the Gulf category in both the Battle of the East & Battle of Heroes, her goal never deviates from wanting to inspire Arab women as well as podium finishes.
Aisha Al Mansouri
Just one of two female cadets among 450 trainee pilots (a traditionally male-dominated profession in the Middle East) when Etihad Airways first opened its training program in 2007, Al Mansouri has made history several years later as the first Emirati woman to take to the cockpit of the world’s largest passenger airliner, A380. As senior first officer, she is second-in-command to the captain, a role she hopes to achieve within the next four years. And she would one day like to use her master’s degree, which she obtained last year in airline operation management.
Sara Al Madani
The 31-year-old Emirati entrepreneur is the youngest board member of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and is also a board member at the UAE SME and Enterprise Council. With multiple ventures on the go, including a fashion house she launched when she was just 15, a new tech company, a creative consultancy, a restaurant and last year's 12 Emirates calendar design, there's no stopping this young Emirati girl boss!
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