4 Female Arab Diplomats You Should Know About

Happy #InternationalDayofWomeninDiplomacy

When it comes to positions of importance, Arab women have been the ultimate trailblazers as they smashed through the glass ceilings in industries and political environments often dominated by men.

Through their sheer hard work and knowledge, their power to change the narrative of gender equality within the region and efforts to raise awareness about women’s rights, they are paving the way for the future generations of pioneering Arab women. In celebration of International Day of Women in Diplomacy, we’ve noted the Arab women diplomats you should know about…

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Karma Ekmeji - Lebanon

Karma Ekmeji aas the Head of the International Affairs and Relations Unit at the office of the President of the Council of Ministers (PCM) of Lebanon, Saad Hariri, where she served as an adviser and the focal point for all international dossiers. Karma also founded the ‘Diplowomen’ concept, a physical and digital platform that acts as a hub for knowledge sharing, mentoring and networking in this field. She is a member of the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network and a senior policy fellow at Issam Fares Institute, as well as the mediation advisor at UN Women.

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Lana Zaki Nusseibeh - UAE

Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh has served as the United Arab Emirates Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations since September 2013. She has also served as Assistant Minister for Political Affairs since February 2021 and non-resident Ambassador of the UAE to Grenada since November 2017.

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Afnan Al-Shuaiby – Saudi Arabia

Afnan Al-Shuaiby is a Saudi national and former Secretary General and Chief Executive of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) in London, England. She has held various positions in Saudi Arabia in education, and foreign companies in the USA. Dr. Al-Shuaiby also worked as Advisor to the President of the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council in Washington, D.C. and is a member of the Board of Directors of the London-based Arab International Women’s Forum (AIWF). She was named "Diplomat of the Year" for the Middle East in 2011 in recognition of her achievements as a foreign diplomat in London by Diplomat Magazine.

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Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – Saudi Arabia

Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is a member of House of Saud and the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States. She took office as ambassador in 2019—becoming the first female envoy in the country's history. She has advocated for female empowerment and has worked to expand opportunities for Saudi women within the Kingdom.

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Leading Ladies

4 Female Arab Diplomats You Should Know About

Happy #InternationalDayofWomeninDiplomacy

Karma Ekmeji - Lebanon

Lana Zaki Nusseibeh - UAE

Afnan Al-Shuaiby – Saudi Arabia

Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – Saudi Arabia

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