August 28th is Emirati Women’s Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the incredible achievements of women in the UAE.
This annual event is not just about acknowledging the progress we’ve made, but also shining a spotlight on women who are breaking barriers and defying long-standing stereotypes.
Gender balance is a core value deeply woven into the fabric of today’s society, and the nation has made massive strides in women’s empowerment and gender equality. Emirati Women’s Day is a perfect opportunity to take a step back, reflect on the wins, and focus on the road ahead.
Cosmo ME brought together a group of phenomenal Emirati powerhouses to share their stories, highlight their triumphs, and offer a peek into their journey of challenging norms and redefining what it means to be an Emirati woman in today’s world.
So let’s celebrate the amazing women who are not just making history but are also shaping the future. Here’s to the dreamers, the doers, and the game-changers in the Emirates and beyond.
Alya Al Ali – Singer and Dancer
“Emirati women are as good as any other women in the world,” says Emirati-British singer and dancer Alya Al Ali (also known as Alya Singsz). “And they can do anything. There shouldn’t be boundaries on what we can accomplish”.
As a singer and dancer Alya regularly faces scrutiny, as well as support for her chosen path. Despite the negative criticism she focuses on the positives, and emphasizes the importance of Emirati women challenging norms and pushing boundaries. “At the end of the day, there have to be Emirati women out there who are trying to change the way things are and going out of the box, because otherwise there won’t be a change,” she says. “There are so many young Emirati influencers now, and they’re finally doing everything that they love,” she says. “There are so many now being like, ‘Yeah, I’m an Emirati woman, this is me, I’m going to post exactly what I want and do what I want‘, and I love that.”
For Alya, breaking away from dated stereotypes is the way forward: “We need to keep empowering and supporting each other, especially Emirati women because they all understand what it’s like to be in this position. Stay in one team, empower each other”.
Alya applauds the Emirati government for their work on developing young talent, which inspires more women to achieve their goals. “The government has been so supportive and encouraging, for example with the Sharjah Performing Arts School. That’s so good, we need more of that,” she says. “We need more places where we can be supported and places where we can go and learn.”
Her main role model is Noura Al Kaabi, currently serving as Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (previously the Minister of Culture and Youth from 2020 to 2023). “I was already doing music before that, but then I met her and had a meeting with her, and seeing her and what role she’s in and how respected she is, and for her to take the time to listen to what I had to say and support me in what I wanted to do, I really respected that. I loved that”, Alya says.
Amna Al Qubaisi – F1 Academy Racer
“My life has always been about racing”, says Emirati-born Amna Al Qubaisi. She started racing when she was just 14 years old, with her father as her first inspiration to enter the world of motorsport. Amna and her sister, Hamda Al Qubaisi, are the first Emirati girls, and the first from the GCC, to join the F1 Academy. “It’s really an honor,” Amna says. “We’re so happy Red Bull chose us.”
Amna’s presence in motorsports has significantly challenged perceptions of Arab women in male-dominated industries. She says that although there are a lot of Emirati women in high positions, many people still have outdated stereotypes about Emiratis, particularly Emirati women. “People think Emirati women aren’t allowed to do anything. They think women still can’t drive,” Amna says. “They were shocked when they saw me competing.”
“When I started competing in single-seaters, I realized that all the media representation in Europe made it a bigger deal than just me enjoying a hobby,” she says. “Families that were strict with their daughters have become more open-minded. Fathers are supporting their daughters in male-dominated fields,” she says.
Her aunt and cousin also played a significant role in shaping her path. Her aunt, Amal Al Qubaisi, was the first female leader of a national assembly in the United Arab Emirates and the Arab world. “And my cousin was the first Emirati woman to graduate from Harvard University,” she proudly shares. “They really paved the way for me and my sister, as they were the first to travel abroad and be in male-dominated fields.”
Reflecting on her journey, Amna is grateful for the opportunities now available to young girls. “I’ve already paved the way for a lot of girls, and when they see that someone like me can do it, they have the inspiration and motivation to say, ‘If she can do it, then I can do it as well.'”
Ameera Al Awadhi – Social Media Influencer
Ameera’s journey began while she was still in college, studying Media Production at Zayed University. During her time in class, she recalls that many of the open discussions revolved around the idea that it wasn’t the norm for Emirati women to be involved in social media. “Society is not exactly ready yet for Emirati women to be at the forefront of social media. Being visible on public platforms is very difficult,” she used to say. She added that it was challenging to explain this to family, as people often misunderstood intentions, and it wasn’t seen as “ladylike.”
Ameera’s professor told her, “Well, Ameera, it sounds like you’re afraid of what other people think, and that’s why you’re not doing it.” That statement hit much closer to home than she was prepared to admit at the time. After that class ended, Ameera made a vow to stop making decisions based on what others might think of her. This moment marked the beginning of her career.
According to Ameera, there’s a stereotype surrounding Emirati women that says they should wear abayas, cover their hair, get married young, and not be too vocal. “At least, that’s what I gathered from the comments I received from strangers online,” she shared. However, the reality is quite different. “When you meet Emirati women, it’s almost the exact opposite. There’s so much diversity in personal style, life choices, and lifestyle habits, and that’s not typically shown in the media.”
“The government is really supportive of Emirati women being outspoken, shooting for the stars, and accomplishing whatever dreams they set out to achieve. But your everyday people might have a different mindset about it”, she says. “Now, I’m meeting women who are just so vocal and unapologetically themselves, expressing themselves creatively online. Some are even younger than me, and I look up to them because they’re doing it so uniquely and beautifully.”
Safiya Al Sayegh – Olympic Cyclist
Safiya’s cycling journey began in childhood, when she and her father decided to buy second-hand bikes to become more active together. “Cycling gave me a way to relieve my thoughts and anxieties,” she says. “It was stressful balancing university and cycling, but at the same time, it provided me with that stress relief.”
Though she didn’t face as many stereotypes locally, Safiya acknowledges that international misconceptions were more prevalent. She broke through these barriers by winning an Asian medal. “I had posted something about the Asian championships coming up, and I remember a comment saying, ‘Asian? Don’t kid yourself.’ I didn’t achieve it just to prove that person wrong, but it was nice…”
“They thought Dubai was such a closed-off country with few opportunities and no exposure for women,” she explains. Safiya believes that despite lingering misconceptions, the UAE has progressed tremendously, especially for women. “Government-wise, we’ve got a 50/50 presence of women and men. It’s balanced. You see a lot of female ministers nowadays.”
For girls aspiring to follow in her footsteps, Safiya offers this advice: “You might see it as impossible or hard, but keep chasing it.” She adds, “I had the dream of going to the Olympics, but I didn’t know if I would actually make it.” Safiya emphasizes that passion is crucial. “Passion fuels the way,” she says. She shares the importance on loving what you do, and it will open doors for you—even ones you didn’t know you wanted open.
Noura Al Jasmi – Miss Earth Middle East 2024
Breaking stereotypes and misconceptions around Emirati women is a mission close to Noura’s heart. Driven by her dream to be the first Emirati to achieve something important—like winning Miss Earth—she has set her sights on “setting groundbreaking examples on a global stage.”
She acknowledges that social media plays a vital role in showcasing Emirati lifestyles, heritage, and culture. “People are loving it, getting to know the Emirati culture,” she says. “We already know that Emirati women have long been making significant strides in various fields— as ministers, pilots, business leaders, even influencers. These accomplishments have paved the way, showing that Emirati women are not only capable but excel across a range of professions.”
She encourages women to “pursue your passions with confidence and resilience,” adding, “Embrace your cultural heritage while also seeking opportunities that allow you to grow and make an impact. It’s important to stay true to your values and not be deterred by social expectations. Use your unique perspective to drive positive change.” Noura says that’s how you pave the way for future generations as well.
Noura’s favorite saying perfectly captures her attitude toward life: “Wear your confidence as a dress, put on your goal as sunglasses, and just walk.” Walk toward your goal, and don’t let any obstacle bring you down.
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