Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi reflects on historic career and Emirati women’s progress
Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi has reflected on the milestones that shaped her career in government and diplomacy, while highlighting the wider role Emirati women continue to play in the development of the UAE.
Speaking at the second edition of the Emirati Women’s Forum at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, Sheikha Lubna discussed her journey as the UAE’s first female minister and the transformation of women’s participation across government, business and society.
A historic appointment in 2004
One of the defining moments in Sheikha Lubna’s career came in 2004, when she was appointed Minister of Economy and became the first female Cabinet minister in UAE history.
The appointment was significant not only nationally but across the wider region.
At the time, women remained underrepresented in senior government positions across much of the Middle East, making her appointment an important symbol of changing perceptions around Arab women in leadership.
Sheikha Lubna said the milestone was made possible by the confidence the UAE leadership had already placed in women and their ability to contribute at the highest levels.
From business to government
Before entering government, Sheikha Lubna had built her career in the business sector.
Moving into public service represented a major transition.
She recalled taking responsibility for a ministry with around 1,200 employees, a significant leadership challenge at the beginning of her political career.
She said the support she received from UAE leaders and fellow Cabinet members gave her the confidence to take on the role and carry out her responsibilities.
For Sheikha Lubna, that experience demonstrated an important principle behind women’s advancement in the UAE: opportunity must be accompanied by genuine institutional support.
Women’s progress began long before politics
Although her own appointment represented a major political milestone, Sheikha Lubna stressed that the story of Emirati women’s empowerment did not begin with women entering the Cabinet.
Women had already established themselves in areas including medicine, engineering and technology long before they moved into senior government positions.
Their increasing presence in politics and national leadership was therefore another stage in a much longer process.
She described women’s success as being built around three elements: trust, opportunity and empowerment.
Emirati women have always played a central role
Sheikha Lubna also looked further back into the UAE’s history.
She noted that Emirati women played an essential role in their families and communities even before the establishment of the Union.
Historically, women often managed households and raised children while men travelled for work, making them central figures in maintaining family stability and preparing future generations.
That contribution, she said, remains an important part of understanding women’s role in the country today.
Modern achievements in business, politics and diplomacy are therefore part of a much deeper tradition of responsibility and resilience.
Representing the UAE globally
Sheikha Lubna’s career also gave her the opportunity to represent the country internationally.
She highlighted the importance of Emirati women serving as representatives of the UAE abroad, helping strengthen relationships between cultures while communicating the country’s values and identity.
As women take on increasingly visible roles in diplomacy, business and international organisations, their influence extends beyond professional achievements.
They also become part of how the UAE presents itself to the world.
Protecting Emirati identity for future generations
Another major theme of Sheikha Lubna’s remarks was national identity.
She argued that preserving Emirati values and passing them on to younger generations is a responsibility shared by government, schools, communities and families.
But the family remains particularly important.
She encouraged Emirati women to continue teaching children the importance of responsibility, patriotism and belonging.
For Sheikha Lubna, national development is therefore not only about economic or professional progress. It also depends on ensuring that future generations remain connected to the values and identity of the UAE.
A career that became part of UAE history
Sheikha Lubna’s appointment more than two decades ago marked a turning point for women in UAE government.
Since then, Emirati women have taken on increasingly prominent positions across ministries, diplomacy, science, technology, business and other sectors.
Her own career became one of the earliest and most visible examples of that change.
Speaking on Emirati Women’s Day, her message was ultimately focused not only on how far women in the UAE have come, but on the foundations that made that progress possible: trust from leadership, access to opportunities and the support required to turn those opportunities into lasting achievement.
