The UAE’s Sheikha Nasser Al Nowais has been nominated for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), it was announced on Friday.
The UAE Government Media Office said that Sheikha Nasser has been nominated for the period from 2026 to 2029, making her the first Emirati woman to run for this position.
If elected, she will become the first woman from the region to hold a prominent leadership role within the UNWTO, marking a new milestone for the UAE.
“My nomination by the UAE to run for this position is reflective of the importance our country places on empowering Emirati women in leadership positions. It emphasizes the country’s efforts in promoting joint action to enhance the growth and sustainability of the sector regionally and internationally,” Sheikha Nasser said.
Who is Sheikha Nasser Al Nowais?
- She graduated from Zayed University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration- Major in Finance, in 2006.
- She is the Corporate Vice President – Owners’ Relationship Management at Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC
- She is the first female board member of the Dubai Hotel Group under the Dubai Chamber of Commerce
- She is a member of the Global Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) MEA Chapter
- She chairs the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Tourism Working Group and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, as well as the Hospitality Advisory Committee
