The General Women's Union, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, organised a high-level dialogue session entitled "Emirati Women in International Forums: Leadership, Representation and Impact", to highlight the exceptional achievements of Emirati women in the fields of diplomacy and international work, coinciding with the celebration of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, affirmed in her address at the opening of the session that the International Day of Women in Diplomacy represents a global occasion to recognise the vital role women play in promoting dialogue between peoples, building bridges of understanding, and supporting efforts for peace and sustainable development.
She explained that the adoption of this day by the United Nations came as an affirmation of the importance of women's participation in diplomatic work and in shaping international policies and decision-making at various levels. In this context, the United Arab Emirates takes pride in the support of its wise leadership and the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak — "Mother of the UAE" — Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, as the UAE was among the leading countries that participated in sponsoring the United Nations resolution adopting 24 June as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, stemming from its firm belief that women's empowerment is a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development and enhancing security, stability and international cooperation.
She continued: "We are pleased to commend the efforts of the General Women's Union in supporting Emirati women across all fields, and we affirm our commitment to continuing work towards achieving the targets of the 'Mother of the UAE 50:50' vision, in a manner that reinforces the UAE's standing as a global model in women's empowerment and leadership."
She stressed that celebrating women in diplomatic work is not merely a celebration of individual achievements, but a celebration of the story of a nation that believed in women's capabilities, invested in their potential, and opened the doors of leadership and excellence before them. Today, Emirati women continue to write new chapters of this inspiring story, representing their country with competence and distinction in regional and international forums.
Noura Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the General Women's Union, affirmed that celebrating the International Day of Women in Diplomacy reflects the UAE's firm commitment to enhancing women's leading role in shaping the international landscape.
The session saw high-quality participation from women leaders, with contributions from Hanan Khalfan Al Olaili, Political Adviser for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Manal Al Braiki, Director of the Strategy and Future Department at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy; and Rawdha Mohammed Al Otaiba, Political Adviser at the Office of the Minister of State. The dialogue was moderated by media presenter Amira Mohammed.
The session discussed inspiring figures that reflect the success of the Emirati empowerment model: women constitute approximately 49.5% of the workforce at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and female students account for 60% of enrolment at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, which augurs well for the sustainability of this excellence.
Speakers noted the presence of more than 580 Emirati women in the diplomatic corps and missions, alongside 13 Emirati female ambassadors recorded for 2025.
The session also addressed the qualitative achievements that have accompanied this diplomatic presence, most notably the election of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Nowais as Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization, making her the first woman and the first Emirati to lead the organisation, with the support and votes of more than 160 countries.