July 2017
Fatima Al Qubaisi becomes the first Emirati woman to graduate from Harvard Law School.
September 2016
Emirati woman navigator Sahar Rasti becomes the first woman to work in Safeen at Abu Dhabi Ports and the first to receive the IALA Level-2 certification in the UAE. Rasti completed what is called Level-2 certification awarded by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).
February 10, 2016
Eight women are appointed as ministers in the newly formed UAE cabinet.
February 11, 2016
Khawla Abdul Rahman Al Mulla appointed Chairperson of the Sharjah Consultative Council, the first time a woman is elected to chair the council.
February 2016
Sara Al Ameri, Emirates Mars Mission Science Team Leader at the Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), becomes the Chairperson of the UAE Council of Scientists.
November 18, 2015
Dr Amal Al Qubaisi makes history by becoming the first woman in the Arab world to be elected as speaker of UAE Federal National Council (FNC)
October 15, 2015
Mariam Al Mansouri, the first female squadron leader and an F-16 fighter pilot of the UAE air force, receives the Asia Game Changer Award at Asia Society’s Game Changer Awards at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
October 15, 2015
The UAE sets a precedent in gender balance and women’s empowerment at the workplace. Accounting for more than 66 per cent of jobs in the workforce in the public sector, they occupy key decision-making positions, according to Dr Shamsa Saleh, CEO of the Dubai Women Establishment and General Coordinator of the UAE Gender Balance Council.
October 12, 2015
UAE women leaders attend the 11th Women’s Forum Global Meeting held in Deauville, France. The group of Emirati women visited the forum under the directives of Shaikha Manal Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of UAE Gender Balance Council and President of Dubai Women Establishment.
October 03, 2015
Naema Abdullah Saeed Al Sharhan from Ras Al Khaimah makes history by becoming the third woman to be elected to the Federal National Council, with 1,004 votes.
September 21, 2015
Hind Abdul Aziz Al Owais becomes the first Emirati woman to be posted as a senior adviser at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
August 26, 2015
Martyrs Mothers’ and Children are Ours, a humanitarian initiative, will see a group of Emirati media representatives visit the mothers of martyrs to support them emotionally and financially.
June 14, 2015
Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union (GWU), isn named the Islamic Personality of the Year 2015, making it the first time the award has been conferred on a woman.
April 25, 2015
The Dubai Women’s Establishment (DWE) signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ducab for ongoing partnership and collaboration towards empowering Emirati women in the workplace, especially in the private sector. The agreement will see Ducab sponsor the annual Women Leadership Exchange Programme (WLEP) organised by DWE in collaboration with the Women for Sustainable Growth network and Sweden-based Mil Institute.
March 07, 2015
Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak launches the National Strategy for Empowerment of Emirati Women in the UAE from 2015-2021.
February 10, 2015
The UAE Gender Balance Council formed. The council aims to boost UAE efforts to evolve and enhance women’s role as key partners in building the nation’s future.
October 2014
Major Mariam Al Mansouri becomes UAE’s first woman pilot to lead a strike mission in Syria against Daesh.
July 2014
Hana Kazim becomes the first Emirati to graduate and join the alumni list of Hollywood legends at the most prestigious film school in America, the American Film Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles.
June 10, 2014
Captain Mariam Hassan Salem Al Mansouri, becomes the first Emirati female pilot to serve in the UAE Air Force.
March 17, 2014
Hafsa Al Ulama is appointed as UAE Ambassador to Montenegro.
March 08, 2014
Pioneering Emirati poet Ousha Bint Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al Suwaidi is honoured with the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2014 Personality of the Year award yesterday in recognition of her contribution to Arab literature.
January 18, 2014
Emirati innovator Fatima Jasem Al Za’abi, 31, receives invitation to dinner at the White House from US President Barack Obama, in recognition for her innovative use of Microsoft PowerPoint for creating architectural designs for homes.
January 04, 2014
Raja Easa Al Gurg, Managing Director of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group LLC and President of the Dubai Business Women’s Council, appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of HSBC Bank Middle East Limited (HBME). She is the first ever Emirati woman to be appointed to the Board of HBME.
August 02, 2013
Lana Nusseibeh becomes first Emirati woman Ambassador to the United Nations.
January 04, 2012
Mariam Al Safar, 28, becomes the first Emirati woman to drive a train in the Middle East.
December 09, 2012
The UAE Cabinet adopts a resolution making it mandatory for women to be represented on the board of directors of all government bodies and companies.
September 24, 2011
Shaikha Eisa Ganem Al Arri becomes the second woman to be elected to the FNC.
June 24, 2011
Noufa Al Afeefi, 22, becomes the first Emirati woman to become a UAE Air Traffic Control Area Officer.
June 17, 2011
Shaikha Najla Al Qasimi is appointed UAE Ambassador to Sweden.
June 09, 2011
Salma Al Baloushi becomes the first Emirati female to graduate from the airline’s cadet programme as a co-pilot and completes her first flight as a first officer on Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi to Athens.
May 20, 2010
Dr Hessa Abdullah Al Otaiba is appointed UAE Ambassador to Spain and Vatican.
March 2009
Hamda Al Mahdaly is the first female Emirati fitness trainer and has dreams of going international.
March 2009
Salma Al Beloushi makes history by becoming the first Emirati female to fly a single-engine plane solo.
February 2009
Ebtisam Ali Rashid Al Bedwawi becomes the first Emirati female judge in the Dubai Courts Department.
December 16, 2006
Dr Amal Al Qubaisi becomes first Emirati woman to be elected to the FNC. There are, in fact, nine women in the current FNC.
November 29, 2006
65 women or 14.25% of total candidates contest the first Federal National Council election.
September 12, 2006
1,100 women are included in the electoral college will get to vote in the elections for the Federal National Council.
November 01, 2004
Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi becomes first Emirati women to join the UAE Cabinet as Minister of Economy and Planning.
August 21, 2002
Hafsa Al Ulama becomes the first Emirati woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
(Compiled by Gulf News Archives)
