Qatar's mighty women

Women empowerment and gender equality are not mere slogans in Qatar as women play crucial roles in all major sectors such as administration, healthcare, education, social and cultural fields.

More than 37 per cent of the workforce are women aged 25 to 29 while the women labour force in the age group of 30 to 34 accounts for 49 per cent. 

According to a recent report published by the Qatar News Agency, women's participation in policymaking positions alone constitutes 30 per cent. Qatar's Second Population Policy 2017-2022 and National Vision 2030 intended to increase the number of women in higher positions and political sectors of women.

Women in the Shura Council, Judiciary, Industry, Sports

Qatar witnessed four women in the Advisory Council for the first time in November 2017. It made significant progress, including encouraging women leadership, allowing women to contest and vote in elections.

They also play a major role in the industrial sector while their investment in the local market be close to 20 - 25 Bn riyals.

In 2003, Mariam Abdullah Al Jaber was appointed as the first district attorney in Qatar.

A special sports committee was formed for Qatari women in 2000 and made way into the London Olympics in 2012.

Women ministers

Qatar was the one of the first Gulf countries to appoint a woman minister. Sheikha Ahmed al-Mahmoud, demised in January 2020, was appointed the first woman member of the Qatari cabinet as the Minister of Education in 2003. The country has already appointed several women ministers. In 2013, Hessa bint Sultan Al Jaber was appointed Minister of Information and Communications Technology and became one of first female parliamentarians in 2017.

Hanan al-Quwari is the Minister of Public Health since January 2016 and was regarded one of the 100 most powerful Arab women in the CEO Middle East 2015 list.

Qatari women in various international forums and business.

Sheikha Hissa Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani was appointed as the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the United Nations Commission for Social Development for the period 2003-2005, making her the world's first woman to take up the post. Qatari women are members of the several UN bodies such as the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed Al Thani was Qatar's first ambassador to the UN in Geneva and currently serves as the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations.

Lolwah Rashid Al-Khater became the first woman spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, women's number in diplomatic positions rose to 22, which was just 3 ten years ago.

Hissa Haddad, world's famous shoemaker from Qatar, has launched her own brand at Paris Fashion Week. Her works show a magnificent combination of the Middle East tradition and design of modernity.

The co-founder and chairperson of the Qatar Foundation, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, is named as one of Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women. She is also chairperson of Silatech, vice-president of the Supreme Education Council (since 2002) and was UNESCO's Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education in 2003. Sheikh Moza plays a crucial role in many organizations, including Qatar Social Work Foundation, Doha Film Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Primary Healthcare Corporation, National Commission for Education , Culture and Science.