IWD 2026: Entrepreneur Middle East Honors H.E. Reem Al Hashimy’s Leadership in a Time of Crisis

This article was co-authored by Tamara Pupic, Managing Editor, and Aalia Ahmed, Features Editor, Entrepreneur Middle East.

This International Women’s Day, Entrepreneur Middle East spotlights a female leader whose calm, principled voice has emerged as one of the pillars guiding the UAE through the current geopolitical tensions in the region. 

“I would like to emphasise that despite the intensity of the events, our stance remains measured,” Her Excellency Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, said during a media briefing with journalists in Abu Dhabi on March 3, 2026. “We do not seek to expand the circle of confrontation, and we do not believe that military solutions create permanent stability. Our region does not need this escalation. Returning to the negotiating table is the only rational way forward.”

Addressing the broader implications of the current regional developments, Al Hashimy emphasized that the UAE’s response remains anchored in stability, diplomacy, and long-term prosperity. “With this balance between firmness and responsibility, the UAE moves forward with confidence and resolve, defending its security, safeguarding regional stability and affirming that a secure future is built not by force alone, but through dialogue, vision and shared aspirations for greater prosperity.”

“Let trust remain stronger than fear, and steady institutional action swifter than chaos, a calm and deliberate resolve amid the noise,” she added.

H.E. Al Hashimy, who has been serving as the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation since February 2016, also oversees the Political Affairs Office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a position she has held since her appointment as Minister of State in February 2008.

She was also instrumental in leading the UAE’s successful bid to host Expo 2020 Dubai, achieving a historic milestone by bringing the first World Expo to the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region. She previously served as Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai and currently leads the Expo City Dubai Authority as its CEO, overseeing the continued development of Expo City Dubai as a lasting legacy of the global event.

In September 2022, Al Hashimy made history when she became the first woman to deliver a speech for the UAE at the UN General Assembly (UNGA). “We are on the cusp of a new phase in the international order. In the UAE, we are determined for this phase to be guided by peace, recovery, and prosperity as part of a global order based on solid international relations,” she had said during her speech at the 77th UNGA. “Through these ties, we can explore new paths for joint cooperation in the fields of economy, sustainable development, advanced technology, and research.”

Al Hashimy also chairs the UAE National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, which works to advance the implementation of the SDGs in alignment with the country’s national development priorities. In addition, she serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Dubai Cares, a philanthropic organization dedicated to expanding access to education in developing countries, and as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.

Beyond her formal titles, Al Hashimy has played a defining role in shaping the UAE’s approach to international partnerships at a time when diplomacy increasingly intersects with economic development, humanitarian cooperation, and global sustainability efforts. Through her work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she has overseen initiatives that strengthen the UAE’s engagement with developing nations, particularly across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, while advancing the country’s commitment to collaborative global development. Her portfolio has often placed her at the intersection of diplomacy, economic cooperation, and international aid – all areas where the UAE has steadily expanded its global presence over the past decade.

Al Hashimy’s leadership has also reflected the UAE’s broader diplomatic philosophy: one rooted in dialogue, multilateralism, and long-term cooperation rather than confrontation. Whether representing the country on the global stage or communicating with the public during periods of regional uncertainty, Al Hashimy has consistently emphasized the importance of steady institutional leadership and constructive engagement. 

In doing so, she has come to embody a leadership style that mirrors the UAE’s own positioning in global affairs—measured, forward-looking, and firmly anchored in the belief that sustainable progress is built through partnership rather than division.