Ramadan in UAE: EU Ambassador’s Suhoor celebrates women’s role in diplomacy

Abu Dhabi: A Ramadan Suhoor hosted by the European Union delegation to the UAE celebrated the crucial role of women in diplomacy.

Hosted by the EU Ambassador to the UAE, Lucie Berger, at her residence in Abu Dhabi, the gathering brought together female ambassadors from EU member states, Emirati diplomats from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE diplomats in training, youth organization representatives, and students of international relations.

Meropi Christofi, Ambassador of Cyprus; Alison Milton, Ambassador of Ireland; Maria Camilleri Calleja, Ambassador of Malta; and Maria Belovas, Ambassador of Estonia, among others, were present at the occasion. 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.

During the International Women’s Day event, held under the theme ‘Women in Diplomacy,’ discussions focused on the contributions made by women ambassadors and the challenges they face. The gathering aimed to inspire and empower the next generation of female diplomats in the UAE.

Berger pointed out that 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,” Berger noted.

Career Talks series

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, organized 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, defense, engineering, and emerging technologies. 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.