Prominent diplomats, academics, media figures, and Emirati female diplomats attended the session and delivered inspiring talks about their professional experiences. The discussions focused on women’s empowerment and enhancing their presence in the diplomatic field.
The session also highlighted the experiences of female diplomats from various countries and ways to empower women and encourage them to pursue careers in diplomacy. It focused on sharing experiences and lessons learned from these experiences and promoting dialogue and engagement with the audience, thus supporting efforts to empower women in diplomacy.
Wise and Visionary Women
Sana Al Muhairbi, Head of the Political Affairs Section at the UAE Embassy in Moscow, opened the session. He delivered a speech on behalf of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Sultan Essa Al Jaber, the UAE’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation. The speech emphasized that women have demonstrated throughout history their ability to combine practical wisdom with humanitarian vision. They possess the qualities of patience and effective communication, making them pioneers in building bridges of understanding between people. If diplomacy is the art of balancing different interests, then women have demonstrated an exceptional ability to make this balance more humane and sustainable.
She stated that talking about women diplomats is about aspirations and the documentation of a long history of successes we witness today. In this context, we must point out the tireless efforts made by the UAE to enhance women’s participation in the diplomatic arena. Since the country’s founding, the leadership has paid special attention to empowering women, considering it a strategic choice and a comprehensive national vision. The percentage of women working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reached 49.5%, and a significant percentage hold leadership positions in missions and embassies worldwide.
Qualifying Young Female Diplomats
Al Muhairbi pointed out that the UAE has initiated special training and qualification programs for young female diplomats and provided scholarships and courses to enhance their presence in international forums. She explained that Russian women have also had a prominent presence in the diplomatic field for decades, contributing tangibly to shaping foreign policies and managing sensitive international issues.
She stated that the UAE-Russia partnership in supporting the role of women at the national and international levels reflects the convergence of visions between the two countries. Both recognize that women’s participation is not a matter of formal equality but a real strength contributing to global stability and shared development. The greater the presence of women in decision-making, the more capable the world will face its challenges.
Leadership and Influence
Fahad Al-Mahri, Head of TRENDS Dubai Sector, delivered a speech on behalf of Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory. He said that recent years have witnessed an undeniable qualitative transformation in women’s representation internationally, moving from observation to action, from a marginal role to leadership and influence, and from a limited voice to official representation at the highest places.
He explained that empowering women in diplomacy is not a cosmetic option but an absolute necessity for achieving justice, enhancing the effectiveness of foreign policies, and building bridges of understanding and communication between peoples from a more comprehensive perspective. When women participate in formulating the foreign policy vision, this vision becomes more diverse, more connected to reality, and more capable of expressing humanity in its broadest sense.
He also emphasized that supporting and empowering women diplomatically carries a strategic and cultural dimension. It reflects the UAE and its leadership’s vision to build a balanced society and representative institutions that reflect the collective identity across all its spectrums. He added that women have proven their ability to lead, negotiate, and achieve national gains in international politics.
Belief in Women’s Potential
Al-Mahri pointed out that despite their importance, women’s empowerment is not achieved through legislation or institutional initiatives but rather through building a culture and ecosystem that believes in women’s potential and provides them with a supportive environment from the early stages of education through vocational training and finally, their full representation in decision-making positions.
He stated that this session is an earnest call to open up to global experiences, exchange expertise, and strengthen cross-cultural partnerships, ensuring a diplomatic environment that reinforces women’s role and recognizes them as a key element in achieving peace and sustainable development.
