Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi: A Trailblazer Among the World’s Most Powerful Women
In the rapidly evolving business landscape of the UAE, female entrepreneurs are demonstrating remarkable confidence and strategic vision—leveraging artificial intelligence to scale their ventures and redefine the contours of small business success.
As the first woman to hold a ministerial post in the UAE, Sheikha Lubna has continuously broken barriers. Over the years, she has held several key ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Economic and Planning, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and later, Minister of State for Tolerance, where she advanced a national platform of acceptance, coexistence, and diversity.
Her contributions extend beyond politics. With a background in information technology, she developed a system that drastically reduced cargo turnaround times at Dubai Airport and, in 2000, founded Tejari, the region’s first business-to-business online marketplace. Her leadership also touches humanitarian and social causes, serving on the board of the Dubai Autism Center and volunteering with Friends of Cancer Patients.
Educated in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Korea, Sheikha Lubna embodies the global perspective that has defined her career. Forbes highlighted her not only for her governmental achievements but also for her role in philanthropy and innovation, cementing her place as a role model for women across the Arab world.
Her success story reflects a broader truth: Emirati women are not simply shattering the glass ceiling—they are building new horizons. According to Emirates Woman, the UAE consistently leads the Arab world in representation on Forbes’ annual Power List of businesswomen, reaffirming the nation’s position as a hub for women’s empowerment and leadership.
