Latest news with #AlNowais
CairoScene
a day ago
- Business
- CairoScene
Shaikha Al Nowais Nominated as First Woman to Lead UN Tourism
The Emirati executive could become the first woman Secretary-General in the UN agency's 50-year history. Shaikha Al Nowais of the United Arab Emirates has been officially nominated to serve as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). If elected, she would be the first woman to lead the agency since its founding in 1975. The nomination was confirmed during the 123rd session of the UN Tourism Executive Council, held in Segovia, Spain. Al Nowais received 24 votes in the final round, surpassing candidates from Greece, Mexico, and Ghana. Her appointment is hoped to be ratified at the UN Tourism General Assembly later this year, which will be hosted in Saudi Arabia. Al Nowais brings over 16 years of experience in the global tourism and hospitality sector, most notably serving as Corporate Vice President at Rotana Hotels. She is also a board member of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, chairs the Abu Dhabi Chamber's Tourism Working Group, and sits on the advisory board of Les Roches Hospitality Academy. Her proposed leadership vision for UN Tourism centres on promoting responsible tourism, increasing opportunities for women and youth, leveraging digital transformation, and encouraging innovative financing and inclusive governance across the sector. If confirmed, Al Nowais will begin her four-year term in January 2026, succeeding current Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
Sharjah 24
4 days ago
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Emirati Shaikha Al Nowais named first female UN Tourism Chief
Her election was announced on May 30, 2025, during a vote held at UN Tourism headquarters in Madrid, Spain, with the participation of 35 member states. The outcome was met with international praise, recognizing the UAE's sustained efforts to drive global tourism development, foster cross-border partnerships, and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. A milestone for Emirati and Arab Women Commenting on her appointment, Al Nowais expressed pride in representing the UAE and Arab world, dedicating her victory to the country's leadership, including President His Highness Sheikh 'This moment is not just a personal achievement—it is a collective triumph for Emirati women and the Arab world,' said Al Nowais. 'I am deeply honored by the trust placed in me and will dedicate all my efforts to enhancing the UAE's leadership on the global tourism map.' A vision for transformative tourism Al Nowais emphasised her intention to lead a global transformation in the tourism sector through regenerative tourism practices that benefit both people and the planet. She outlined five strategic pillars that will shape her tenure: promoting responsible tourism that safeguards nature, culture, and communities, empowering youth, women, and underserved populations through capacity-building, leveraging technology to improve quality of life while ensuring ethical use, innovating financing models that support sustainable tourism growth, and institutionalising smart governance with transparency and accountability at its core. She called for accelerated efforts and innovation in the face of pressing global challenges such as climate change and geopolitical instability, noting that tourism must remain a resilient and adaptable driver of sustainable development. A distinguished career in hospitality and tourism With over 15 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality sectors, Al Nowais has made her mark as a forward-thinking leader. She was the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors of the Dubai Hotel Group and played a key role in advancing cooperation between public and private sectors. She is also a member of the Middle East and Africa Chapter of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA), where she has contributed to shaping hospitality investment and asset management strategies. A graduate of Zayed University with a degree in Business Administration and Finance, Al Nowais has received numerous industry accolades, including multiple 'Best Hotel Brand' and 'Best Business Hotel Chain' awards, as well as recognition by Forbes Middle East for her sustainability leadership. Her appointment marks a turning point in global tourism leadership and a powerful symbol of progress for gender equity, sustainability, and regional representation at the highest levels of international governance.
Skift
4 days ago
- Business
- Skift
UAE Business Woman Named UN Tourism Chief
The election is important in determining who will lead the strategic direction of global tourism governance for the next four years. An Emirati business leader, Shaikha Al Nowais, has been nominated for the leadership position of the UN's tourism agency, which will make her the first woman to ever hold the position. The executive council of UN Tourism voted on May 30 in Madrid to determine leadership for the next four years. The winning candidate needs support from at least 18 of the council's 35 members. The Council elected Shaikha Al Nowais as the next Secretary-General, to begin in January 2026. Her nomination will now be put to the UN Tourism General Assembly for their approval. The nomination represents a landmark first for the sector, as the first woman leader of UN Tourism in its 50-year history. Al Nowais has over 16 years of experience in global hospitality. She has held roles such as Corporate Vice President at Rotana Hotels, overseeing owner relations across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Turkey. She also chairs the Abu Dhabi Chamber's Tourism Working Group and serves on the boards of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council and Les Roches Hospitality Academy. The leadership contest comes as UN Tourism struggles with major membership losses. The U.S., Canada, the U.K., and several Nordic countries have withdrawn, citing insufficient value for their financial contributions. Shaikha Al Nowais faced five other candidates, including incumbent Zurab Pololikashvili of Georgia, who sought a third term. UN Tourism initially questioned whether Pololikashvili could run again due to term limits, though the organization later said those concerns were resolved. Other candidates included: Gloria Guevara (Mexico), a 35 year tourism industry veteran who was Minister for Tourism in Mexico, Harry Theoharis (Greece), who has served as Greece's Minister of Tourism during the Covid-19 pandemic recovery phase, as well as Habib Ammar (Tunisia), a senior civil servant with decades of experience in Tunisia's public administration, and Muhammad Adam (Ghana), a diplomat and former ambassador to Spain. Developing. Story to be updated.
Politico
16-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
Will a Woman Finally Lead Global Tourism at the UN?
Hey all! Thanks for reading Women Rule. Feel free to reach out with any tips, questions, concerns: klong@ and ecordover@ This week, I spoke with business leader Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais on her campaign to serve as the first secretary-general of the United Nations Tourism Department. Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais is running to make history as the first woman secretary-general of the United Nations Tourism Department, and is making economic empowerment and opportunities for women a core component of her campaign. Nominated by the United Arab Emirates, Al Nowais is an Emirati business leader with decades of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry. She currently serves as vice president of owner relationship management at Rotana, an Abu Dhabi-based hotel management corporation. Her nomination alone is historic, as she is the first Emirati woman to be backed for the role. Nominees for the secretary-general position include candidates from Ghana, Tunisia and Greece. One other woman, Gloria Guevara of Mexico, is also vying for the title. The current secretary-general, Zurab Pololikashvili, nominated by Georgia, was seeking a third term, but withdrew from the race this week after the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs rescinded their support and endorsed Al Nowais. U.N. Tourism general assemblymembers will hold a nominating ceremony May 30 for the position. If elected, Al Nowais would oversee the agency's efforts to encourage access to sustainable, responsible tourism globally. Women Rule spoke with Al Nowais on her nomination, the changing role of women in UAE business sectors — and how she aims to improve economic opportunities for women in the tourism and hospitality industry. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. I'd like to hear about one of the key components of your campaign, which is economic empowerment for women in the industry. I've been working in the tourism industry, the hotel industry particularly, for the last two decades. And as you know there's not a lot of women represented in that sector. We see numbers grow, but not as much as we want to see. It's a people-oriented type of mental industry, and it takes a lot of time and effort. You need to be on standby all the time, and it's very demanding, but they don't know the fact that when women are there, they actually do make a difference. So we started with 10 percent and today [women] represent around 28 or 30 percent of the workforce. Particularly in Saudi [Arabia], most of the nationals that join the workforce in Saudi are women, and particularly in hospitality, because they want to make a difference. They want to be part of this industry which makes a huge impact on the economy. What I would like to emphasize within this role is to make people aware of the industry, the results the industry is driving and making it more accessible for women. We want them to feel comfortable in this environment, especially an environment which is more male-dominated. Every two, three months we have a working group, where we bring all the women together. It's an open space, and it allows us to create a dialogue and know exactly what is frustrating them, the things that they would like to address, and how we can solve them. We either come up with quick wins, quick solutions, or we can at least tell them that this is something that we will think of and ensure that it gets implemented, whether it's related to nursing, whether it's related to women that have kids. How can we create the right working environment for them to be able to work comfortably knowing that their kids are in a safe place? So it's a balance. We need to make sure that there's a right balance between the work environment and between families. And this is something that we have tried and measured. What are the biggest challenges for women in business in the UAE? And more broadly, do you see any parallels in those challenges for women in the U.S.? In the UAE, we're very lucky with our leadership. They were able to see that women are able to drive results, and that's why women in the UAE are able to get to where they are. You have ministers, you have doctors, you have engineers, you have captains. And this is the reason that our leadership is trying to push women to the forefront. Every publicly-listed company in the UAE has to have at least one board member who is a woman, because they want to give the opportunities to women out there, and particularly those who have the right experience and expertise. I think the U.S. has also advanced. Many nations, not only the U.S., need more time to get to higher percentages of women in the workplace, but they're getting there. You have a significant amount of experience as a business leader in the tourism and hospitality sector in the UAE. How has gender equity always been a priority in your work? Yes, I believe we need to give people, whether women or men, the right opportunities. We have to know because it's very important in this industry to be able to determine and identify the right talent, and talent is key for us to survive and to be successful. If elected, you would be the first woman to serve as the Secretary-General of the U.N. tourism department. What would that mean for you? I'll be, obviously, very proud. I'd be honored. And it's a responsibility. I'd have to execute it and put measurable elements that would allow me to prove that my promises are accomplished. It's not just promises, but delivering. So there's a lot of things I would like to do, and one of the things I would like to focus on is women. Why is it important for you to prioritize gender equity and, more broadly, social equity in the tourism and hospitality sector? Going back to the human and emotional connection, women can be more emotionally connected. If you are emotionally connected to people, you will be able to serve them better. I have a story. Everyone has a story, but it all depends on how you relay that story, how you communicate it, how you document it, because those stories will resonate in people, and they will be able to remember, remember you with those stories, and be able to relate to those stories. And you know, give better. The World Travel and Tourism Council reported that the U.S. is set to lose roughly $12.5 billion in international travel spending, citing Trump administration policies as a deterrence for foreign visitors. I'm curious to get your thoughts on that. Tourism is a connector. It bridges between cultures and bridges between people, and it should always be focused on being a good force so people will continue to want to travel. They will continue to want to explore different destinations no matter what comes up. Tourism should remain focused as being a neutral medium and connecting between cultures and people and economies as well. POLITICO Special Report AOC's 3 a.m. Comment Over Miscarriages Sparks Fiery Exchange with GOP Male Counterparts by Ben Leonard for POLITICO: 'As the House Energy and Commerce panel entered the early morning hours Wednesday of its marathon megabill markup, Texas GOP Rep. Randy Weber told Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to address members of the committee — not the camera. Around 3 a.m., the prominent New York Democrat attempted to address a question to committee Republicans about what the consequences might be for patients having miscarriages under the GOP's proposed work requirements to qualify for Medicaid. The broader legislation would exempt pregnant patients and those undergoing postpartum care from having to work as a condition of getting Medicaid services, but does not explicitly mention whether people experiencing a loss of pregnancy would need to be actively employed during that time, too.' Justice Department Must Reinstate ABA Domestic Violence Grants, Judge Says by Daniel Barnes for POLITICO: 'The Justice Department unconstitutionally retaliated against the American Bar Association by terminating grants for a program aimed at helping victims of domestic violence, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. Five grants from DOJ's Office on Violence Against Women to the ABA's Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence totaling $3.2 million must be reinstated and fully paid out, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled.' Democrats Grill Noem on Abrego Garcia and 2 Deported US Children by Ali Bianco for POLITICO: 'Democrats on Wednesday pressed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on what her agency is doing to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran national who was mistakenly sent to El Salvador, as well as the case of two American children who were recently deported by the Trump administration. In a heated House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Noem said DHS is following all federal court orders and that 'everybody has gotten due process' while later testifying that due process does not 'guarantee a hearing.'' Number of the Week Read more here. MUST READS Exclusive: Pentagon Halting Gender-Affirming Healthcare for Transgender Troops, Memo Says by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali for Reuters: 'The Pentagon is halting gender-affirming healthcare for transgender troops as it moves to implement President Donald Trump's plan to kick them out of the U.S. military, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Monday. The instructions from the Defense Department barred any new hormone treatments as well as any surgical procedures for transgender troops, the memo said.' What Would It Mean to Defend All Abortions? by Amy Littlefield for The Nation: 'Democrats love to avoid it, and Republicans love to lie about it. Even among pro-choice voters, abortions that take place when the fetus looks less like a blob of tissue and more like a baby stir the kind of complex feelings that our political discourse seldom accommodates. As a result, later abortion has never had the widespread support that earlier abortion receives.' Gabbard Fires Leaders of Intelligence Group That Wrote Venezuela Assessment by Warren P. Strobel for The Washington Post: 'Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has fired the top two officials at the National Intelligence Council, weeks after the council wrote an assessment that contradicted President Donald Trump's rationale for invoking the Alien Enemies Act and deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members without due process. Gabbard removed Michael Collins, the acting chair of the National Intelligence Council, as well as his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof, according to a spokesperson for Gabbard's office.' Quote of the Week More on that here. on the move Artealia Gilliard is joining the American Clean Power Association as chief comms officer. She previously was head of environmental and sustainability comms and advocacy at Ford Motor Company. (h/t POLITICO Playbook) Taylor Weeks Armentrout is joining Axiom Space as vice president of government relations. She previously served as a senior adviser in NASA's office of legislative and intergovernmental affairs. (h/t National Security Daily) Shawnda Turner is now regional finance director for the NRSC. She previously was senior fundraising associate at Fundraising Inc. (h/t POLITICO Influence)
Khaleej Times
16-04-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi's M42 partners with UK firm to develop AI-driven therapeutics for age-related diseases
Abu Dhabi's M42 has announced a partnership and investment in UK-based longevity biotech leader Juvenescence. The new alliance is aimed at discovering and developing AI-enabled therapeutics to advance the treatment of life-threatening and age-related diseases and improve healthy lifespan. M42 and Juvenescence will harness the power of artificial intelligence, genomics, and biobanking to accelerate clinical trials and bring transformative medicines to market faster. The collaboration was revealed during Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW), where M42 is a Foundational Partner. Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer at M42, said, 'With this investment and partnership, M42 is taking great strides in reinforcing Abu Dhabi's push as a global nexus for AI-enabled therapeutics and biomedical innovation to tackle local and international health challenges.' Age-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent due to growing global life expectancy. With the UAE actively pursuing advanced solutions to address the healthcare needs of its aging population, this partnership comes at a critical time. Al Nowais added, 'With Juvenescence, we are unlocking the potential of AI to transform the way we discover and deliver drugs, bringing innovative, life-changing therapies to patients worldwide. This is not just about innovation, it's about impact – on lives, on science and on the future of health.' From Abu Dhabi to the world Further, the partnership will aim to identify novel drug targets and therapeutics, as well as explore collaboration in R&D with leading academic and research organisations globally and support the development of the country's biotechnology strategy. Dr Fahed Al Marzooqi, Chief Executive Officer of M42's Integrated Health Solutions platform and Acting Chief Executive Officer of M42's AI Life Sciences platform, added, 'By uniting AI innovation with biotech expertise, we're not only advancing the fight against age-related diseases but also building a global ecosystem that empowers prevention, precision, and progress — delivering transformative therapies from Abu Dhabi to the world.' Dr Richard Marshall, Chief Executive Officer at Juvenescence, said, ' Our work together will enable the creation of a unique pipeline of innovative therapeutics that will have enormous potential to target the underlying causes of age-related disease and improve the health span of patients globally.'
