The European Union Delegation to the United Arab Emirates organised a special Suhoor event during the holy month of Ramadan, under the theme “Women in Diplomacy”, to mark International Women’s Day. Hosted by the EU Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Lucie Berger, at her residence in Abu Dhabi, the gathering brought together distinguished female ambassadors from EU Member States, Emirati diplomats from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE diplomats in training, youth organisation representatives, and students of international relations.

Among the distinguished guests were H.E. Meropi Christofi, Ambassador of Cyprus; H.E. Alison Milton, Ambassador of Ireland; H.E. Maria Camilleri Calleja, Ambassador of Malta; and H.E. Maria Belovas, Ambassador of Estonia. They engaged in insightful discussions with students from the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA), the University of Sharjah, and representatives from the Arab Youth Centre.

The event provided a platform to celebrate the crucial role of women in diplomacy, fostering discussions on their contributions and the challenges they face in the field. Through meaningful conversations, the gathering aimed to inspire and empower the next generation of female diplomats in the UAE.

H.E. Lucie Berger, EU Ambassador to the UAE, emphasised the importance of such initiatives, stating:

Diplomacy has long been a male-dominated field, but women are increasingly shaping global affairs. This Suhoor is an opportunity to recognise their achievements, discuss the barriers they continue to face, and identify ways to further promote gender equality in diplomacy. By bringing together experienced diplomats and aspiring young leaders, we hope to create meaningful exchanges that will inspire and empower future generations.

This Suhoor is part of the EU Delegation’s broader efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment across various fields. One key initiative is the EU Delegation’s Career Talks series, organised with UAE universities to highlight women excelling in traditionally male-dominated fields. Over the past months, the series has provided a platform for remarkable women from the EU and UAE who have built successful careers in diplomacy, defence, engineering, and emerging technologies. Their stories continue to inspire young women to pursue their ambitions fearlessly. This year, the EU Delegation will expand this initiative to focus on aviation, politics, finance, and AI, further strengthening women’s presence in these fields.