Shaikha Lubna named most powerful Arab woman

Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, has been voted the most powerful Arab woman by Forbes magazine. She was ranked among the 100 most powerful women in the world in this year's list of the most influential women in politics, business, media and "lifestyle". During a special course called "A Success Story", hosted by Ajman's Municipality and Planning Department, Shaikha Lubna spoke about her school days and excellent performance, she also talked about a scholarship — awarded to her by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan — to the US where she studied IT, a specialisation which was not available at the time in the UAE. Shaikha Lubna called the Forbes result a "UAE global achievement". Policies adopted by the national leadership, beginning with Shaikh Zayed, have "bolstered the role of UAE women in sustainable development as well as their international and regional status", she said. There is a "keen interest in advancing women's role in social and economic development" within the UAE's leadership, she added. Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi has Honorary Doctorates in Science, Law and Economics from California State University, the University of Exeter and the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Korea), respectively. She was included in The Wall Street Journal's "50 International Women to Watch," was named "The Most Powerful Arab Woman" in the Forbes magazine list of the World's Most Powerful Women in 2010," and was chosen as the "Most Powerful Arab Woman" by Arabian Business magazine.