How Sheikha Lubna Became UAE’s First Female Minister
Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi shattered the glass ceiling and made history in 2004. She became the UAE’s first woman to hold a ministerial post. Her groundbreaking appointment as Minister of Economy revolutionized the UAE’s political world and inspired countless women throughout the region.
The achievements of Sheikha Lubna go way beyond her original appointment. She blazed a trail for women’s representation in government as the UAE’s first female minister. Her exceptional leadership earned her the role of Minister of Foreign Trade in 2008, and she later became Zayed University’s President in 2014 [-2]. Forbes Magazine recognized her influence by ranking her 36th on The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women List in 2017. CEO Middle East magazine named her the Arab world’s most powerful woman for six straight years. These accolades highlight her personal success and the UAE’s progress toward gender equality. The United Nations ranked the country seventh globally and first regionally in its Gender Inequality Index as of March 2024.
Early Life and Education
Image Source: The National News
Born on February 4, 1962, in Dubai, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi comes from a distinguished royal lineage that shaped her path to becoming the UAE’s first female minister. Her father, Khalid bin Sultan Al-Qasimi, ruled Sharjah Emirate from 1965 to 1972. She is also the niece of Sheik Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the current Emir of Sharjah.
Family background and royal lineage
Her royal connections didn’t define her upbringing. Her parents valued education above privilege. They lacked formal degrees but instilled a steadfast dedication to learning in their children. “My late father was actually more supportive of us, the girls,” she once recalled. Her mother taught her children to get a university degree before thinking about marriage or career.
Young Sheikha Lubna expressed remarkable academic talent, especially in mathematics and physics. “The love of my life was solving differential equations when I was a teenager,” she shared. “Reading physics to me meant life. I was a geek”. This natural gift for analytical thinking pointed to her future success.
Studying computer science in California
Sheikha Lubna ranked ninth among all UAE high school graduates. She first thought about architecture or medicine as career options. During her language studies in Britain, she found her passion for information technology.
She made a bold choice in 1975 to study technology – rare for women at the time. She headed to California with her brothers but chose to stay with an American family instead of living with them. This decision gave her valuable cultural lessons that helped her diplomatic career later.
At California State University, Chico, she stood out academically. She graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. She managed to keep her position at the top of her class throughout university.
Pursuing an Executive MBA in Sharjah
Back in the UAE, she boosted her credentials with an Executive MBA from the American University of Sharjah in 2002. This qualification prepared her for future leadership roles.
Her educational experience shows her determination and her family’s forward-thinking mindset. “People always assume that generation is very traditional. They are, but they are progressive,” she explained about her parents’ generation. This strong educational foundation and family support helped her make history as the UAE’s first female minister.
The Unexpected Call to Leadership
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The year 2004 altered the map of UAE politics and Sheikha Lubna’s professional journey took an unexpected turn.
The phone call that changed everything
Sheikha Lubna received a call that would change her life while she worked on a government assignment in Tunisia. Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed, who later became Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, asked her a simple yet profound question: “The government calls for you to be a minister of the Cabinet. What do you say?” This opportunity was extraordinary – she would lead the significant Ministry of Economy portfolio and become UAE’s first female Cabinet minister in history.
Why she asked her mother first
Her unexpected reply caught many off guard. “I said, ‘I’ll ask my mother,'” Sheikha Lubna shared in a 2021 interview. People questioned this unusual response, but she explained, “Others would say, well, this is strange. Why would you ask your mom? But I wanted to know whether this is something that she believed is OK”. This response showed her strong family values and respect for traditional blessings as she prepared to make history.
Original reactions and public response
Regional responses to her appointment varied widely. “There were these opinions that are not reflective of the UAE saying, ‘how can you have a woman as a minister. It should be always men’. Yet simultaneously, many celebrated the decision, saying, ‘this is great, this is a great break, moving forward in the Gulf'”.
Notwithstanding that, doubts faded quickly. Sheikha Lubna experienced wholehearted support at her first Cabinet meeting: “You just turn around you, see the smiles and everybody’s happy and excited about the decision”. She acknowledged the challenges ahead – stepping up from leading a 19-member startup to managing a ministry with over 300 team members.
Her Trailblazing Ministerial Journey
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Sheikha Lubna stands as a trailblazer among UAE female ministers with an impressive governmental career across high-profile positions. Her leadership capabilities and versatility shine through her service in multiple ministries.
Minister of Economy and Planning (2004)
Sheikha Lubna made history as the UAE’s first female cabinet member in November 2004. His Highness Sheik Zayed appointed her to lead the newly merged economy and planning portfolio. She successfully modernized the UAE’s economy, financial markets, and investment policies. Her tenure focused on economic reforms that enhanced transparency and streamlined processes.
Minister of Foreign Trade (2008)
The role of Minister of Foreign Trade became Sheikha Lubna’s responsibility in February 2008, a position she held until 2013. She strengthened UAE-US relations significantly, with bilateral trade reaching USD 15 billion in 2008 – a 32% increase from 2007. Her leadership helped the UAE secure its position among the World Trade Organization’s top 30 trading countries.
Minister of International Cooperation (2013)
Sheikha Lubna served as Minister of International Cooperation and Development from 2013 to 2016. This role allowed her to build on her diplomatic achievements and expand the UAE’s global partnerships.
First Minister of Tolerance (2016)
Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum created a new ministry and appointed Sheikha Lubna as the first Minister of State for Tolerance in February 2016. The ministry’s mission focused on eliminating ideological, cultural and religious bigotry. She served in this groundbreaking role until October 2017.
President of Zayed University
Sheikha Lubna has led Zayed University as its President since 2014, alongside her ministerial responsibilities. This academic leadership position reflects her steadfast dedication to education and development.
Breaking Barriers and Inspiring a Nation
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Sheikha Lubna blazed a trail as the UAE’s first female minister. Her remarkable experience tested her resilience and demonstrated her exceptional leadership capabilities.
Challenges as the first female minister in UAE
A telling moment came at her first World Trade Organization meeting in Hong Kong. The organizers looked for the “authorized UAE minister,” expecting to see a male representative. The US media branded her “Dubai’s secret weapon” during DP World negotiations in 2006. Her diplomatic skills proved crucial in breaking down international barriers. She skillfully directed the transition from leading a 19-member startup to managing a ministry with over 300 employees.
How many female ministers in UAE today?
Sheikha Lubna’s groundbreaking appointment sparked significant changes. The UAE cabinet now has nine female ministers. Women represent 66% of the public sector workforce and hold 30% of leadership positions. The Federal National Council seats show equal representation with women occupying 50% of the seats.
Her role in shaping gender equality policies
Her appointment transformed the regional landscape. She noted, “Every year after that, there was an appointment of female ministers in the Gulf countries, as well as in the Middle East”. The UAE took another step forward by requiring public boards to include at least one woman.
Global recognition and awards
Sheikha Lubna’s influence reached far beyond UAE’s borders. She became the first Emirati to receive the prestigious Clinton Global Citizen Award in 2007. Her global impact earned her consistent recognition from Forbes, which ranked her 36th among the world’s most powerful women in 2017.
Sheikha Lubna made history as the UAE’s first female minister. Her experience from computer science student to cabinet member shows her excellence and the UAE leadership’s forward-thinking vision. She delivered outstanding results in every role—from Economy to Foreign Trade to Tolerance—and broke down gender barriers along the way.
Her appointment created waves of change as women’s presence in UAE governance grew. What began with a single woman has now grown to nine female ministers. Women make up 66% of the public sector workforce, and the Federal National Council has achieved gender balance. Her success paved the way for similar appointments throughout the Gulf region and Middle East.
Without doubt, her exceptional education and royal background gave her a strong foundation. Yet her real achievements came from personal merit, commitment, and leadership abilities. Global recognition followed, with spots on Forbes’ Most Powerful Women list and the Clinton Global Citizen Award—a testament to her worldwide influence.
Sheikha Lubna’s achievements go beyond personal success. She embodies the UAE’s radical change toward gender equality, helping the country rank seventh globally on the UN Gender Inequality Index. She showed how to overcome challenges—from doubts about female leadership to managing large ministerial teams—and became a role model for future generations.
Her remarkable career proves one thing: she didn’t just ride the wave of change—she created it. Her legacy lives on through every woman who steps into leadership roles across the UAE and beyond, showing that talent has no gender barriers.
