Shamma Al Mazrui
{{Short description|United Arab Emirates politician (born 1993)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Family name hatnote|Al Mazrui|lang=Arabic}}{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = Her Excellency
| native_name = شما بنت سهيل المزروعي
| name = Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|02|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| spouse = Mubarak bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei{{cite web | url=http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302681208 | title=Mohammed bin Rashid attends al Mazrouei wedding | date=4 November 2018 }}
| children = 1
| alma_mater = New York University, Abu Dhabi (BA)
University of Oxford (MPP)
| office = Minister of Community Development
| term_start = 6 March 2023
| term_end =
| president = Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
| primeminister = Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
| predecessor = Hessa Essa Buhumaid
| office1 = Minister of State for Youth Affairs
| term_start1 = 15 February 2016
| term_end1 = 6 March 2023
| president1 = Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
| primeminister1 = Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 = Sultan Al Neyadi (2024)
| nationality =
| occupation =
}}
Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui (born 22 February 1993) is an Emirati politician who is currently serves as the minister of community empowerment of the United Arab Emirates. She previously served as the minister of state for youth affairs.{{Cite web |last=Salim |first=Nasreen Abdulla, Sahim |title=Youngest minister in the World: How Shamma Al Mazrui's life changed after Sheikh Mohammed's open call |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/government/youngest-minister-in-the-world-how-shamma-al-mazruis-life-changed-after-sheikh-mohammeds-open-cal |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Khaleej Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=National |first=The |title=Emirati minister tells UN of further human rights protection |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2023/05/08/emirati-minister-tells-un-of-significant-progress-on-human-rights/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=The National |language=en}}
Early life and education
Al Mazrui was born on 22 February 1993{{cite AV media| url-status = live|language=ar| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211210/G_IHrPkmFaw| archive-date = 2021-12-10| url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_IHrPkmFaw&list=LLhZguTEGwTLKdALQAEygWWw&index=5&t=0s| title = كلمة معالي شما المزروعي في مجلس محمد بن زايد لأجيال المستقبل | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} in Abu Dhabi.{{cite web|url=http://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/news/campus-community/2016/02/nyuad-congratulates-uae-youth-minister-shamma-al-mazrui.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217064718/http://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/news/campus-community/2016/02/nyuad-congratulates-uae-youth-minister-shamma-al-mazrui.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 February 2016|title=NYUAD Congratulates UAE Youth Minister Shamma Al Mazrui|publisher=NYU Abu Dhabi}} Shamma is the daughter of Suhail bin Faris Ghanim Ateish Al Mazrui,{{Cite web |date=2018-04-11 |title=Al Mazrouei Family Wedding |url=http://mediaoffice.ae/en/media-center/news/11/4/2018/al-mazrouei-family-wedding.aspx?TSPD_101_R0=964602ff13131ed4998cc18db5ab9a9cp0g0000000000000000a1c36846ffff00000000000000000000000000005bd241f0007a2b557f |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026025133/http://mediaoffice.ae/en/media-center/news/11/4/2018/al-mazrouei-family-wedding.aspx?TSPD_101_R0=964602ff13131ed4998cc18db5ab9a9cp0g0000000000000000a1c36846ffff00000000000000000000000000005bd241f0007a2b557f |archive-date=2018-10-26 |access-date= |website=mediaoffice.ae}} a businessman, who was also the chairman of Dubai Investments board of directors for over 20 years. Shamma's brother Faris bin Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui{{Cite web|url=https://www.emaratalyoum.com/life/society/2016-01-19-1.860793|title = أفراح المزروعي وبن بيات| date=18 January 2016 }} is the head of Mubadala's Ventures and Growth;{{cite web | url=https://www.mubadala.com/ru-en/home | title=Mubadala Investment Company | date=28 July 2021 }}{{Cite web |last1=Scaria |first1=Seban |last2=ZAWYA |title=UAE's Mubadala is investing $200mln in Marcelo Claure's new VC firm |url=https://www.zawya.com/en/wealth/funds/uaes-mubadala-is-investing-200mln-in-marcelo-claures-new-vc-firm-swmq0h26 |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=www.zawya.com |language=en}} while her twin brother Ahmed bin Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui, is a businessperson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/uae-cadets-graduate-from-prestigious-sandhurst-academy-1.618840|title = UAE cadets graduate from prestigious Sandhurst academy|date = 11 August 2017|work=The National}}
Al Mazrui is an alumna of The International School of Choueifat, Abu Dhabi, Class of 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://iscabudhabi.sabis.net/news/a-graduate-of-isc-abu-dhabi-is-the-youngest-minister-in|title=A graduate of ISC Abu Dhabi is the youngest minister in the world - The International School of Choueifat — Abu Dhabi|website=iscabudhabi.sabis.net}}
Al Mazrui has a Bachelor of Arts in economics with a concentration in finance{{Cite web|url=https://dipmenglish2017.sched.com/speaker/he_shamma_al_mazrui.1wq6mt72|title = H.E. Shamma al Mazrui's schedule for Dubai International Project Management Forum}} from New York University Abu Dhabi. She obtained her Masters of Public Policy from the Blavatnik School of Government{{Cite web|url=https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/news/uae-minister-government-must-connect-youth|title=UAE minister: Government must connect to youth|website=www.bsg.ox.ac.uk|date=24 February 2017 }} at the University of Oxford in 2015. She was the UAE's first Rhodes scholar.{{cite web|url=http://sailemagazine.com/2016/02/what-i-know-for-sure-about-shamma-al-mazrui-our-youth-minister/|work=Sail Magazine|title=What I Know For Sure About Shamma Al Mazrui, Our Minister of State for Youth Affairs and President of the Youth Council|first=Iman|last=Ben Chaibah|date=10 February 2016|accessdate=6 December 2016}}
Career
Al Mazrui worked in private equity in an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, and as a public policy analyst at the UAE Mission to the United Nations. She interned as a research analyst at the UAE Embassy in Washington D.C.;{{cite web|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/government/shaikh-mohammed-to-announce-new-cabinet-today|title=Meet your new ministers in UAE Cabinet|work=Khaleej Times|date=11 February 2016|accessdate=6 December 2016}} as a Ministry policy analyst in the prime minister's office,{{cite web | url=https://www.ablf.com/network/shamma-bint-suhail-faris-al-mazrui | title=H.E. Shamma Bint Suhail Faris al Mazrui | Alumni | ABLF Network }} and as an education policy researcher at Tamkeen (Abu Dhabi's Strategic Affairs Authority).{{cite web | url=https://rewiredsummit.org/speaker2/shamma-bint-suhail-bin-faris-al-mazrui/ | title=Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris al Mazrui }}
Al Mazrui was appointed by Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as minister of state for youth affairs in February 2016 at age 22, making her the youngest member of the UAE cabinet.{{cite web|url=http://newsweekme.com/uae-meet-the-worlds-youngest-minister/|title=UAE: Meet the World's Youngest Minister|work=Newsweek|first=Lelia|last=Hatoum|date=27 April 2016|access-date=6 December 2016}}{{cite news|language=fr
|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2016/02/11/les-emirats-arabes-unis-nomment-une-ministre-du-bonheur_4863712_3218.html|title=Les Emirats arabes unis nomment une femme " ministre du bonheur "|work=Le Monde|date=11 February 2016|accessdate=6 December 2016}}{{cite web |date=10 February 2016 |title=UAE names women ministers for happiness, tolerance |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/uae-names-women-ministers-for-happiness-tolerance/ |accessdate=6 December 2016 |work=The Times of Israel}}{{cite web |last=MacKenzie |first=Sheena |date=15 February 2016 |title=Happy days? United Arab Emirates appoints first minister of happiness |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/15/middleeast/united-arab-emirates-minister-of-happiness/ |access-date=6 December 2016 |publisher=CNN}} She presided over the National Youth Council,{{cite web|url=http://www.aitonline.tv/post-meet_the_22_yr_old_uae_minister_of_youth__shamma_al_mazrui|title=Meet the 22-yr old UAE Minister of Youth, Shamma Al Mazrui|publisher=Africa Independent Television|date=February 2016|accessdate=6 December 2016|archive-date=7 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307025359/http://www.aitonline.tv/post-meet_the_22_yr_old_uae_minister_of_youth__shamma_al_mazrui|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395292372897.html|title=Shamma Al Mazrouei chairs 1st meeting of Emirates Youth Council|work=WAM Emirates News Agency|date=4 March 2016|accessdate=6 December 2016}} which brings together young professionals from a variety of backgrounds to represent the affairs of youth to the government. Al Mazrui was the vice chair of the Arab Youth Center (2016-2024).{{Cite web | title=MSN | url=https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/theyab-bin-mohamed-bin-zayed-appoints-sultan-al-neyadi-as-vice-president-of-arab-youth-centre/ar-BB1pdLwC | access-date=2025-07-02 | website=www.msn.com}}{{cite web|url=http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/middle-east/369899/uae-appoints-22-year-old-shamma-al-mazrui-as-minister|title=UAE appoints 22-year-old Shamma Al Mazrui as minister|work=The Peninsula Qatar|date=10 February 2016|accessdate=6 December 2016|archive-date=15 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715060248/http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/middle-east/369899/uae-appoints-22-year-old-shamma-al-mazrui-as-minister|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/uae-a-model-for-dynamism-at-a-time-of-global-uncertainty|title=UAE a model for dynamism at a time of global uncertainty|first=Ayesha|last=Almazroui|work=The National|date=10 February 2016|access-date=6 December 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/editorial/harnessing-the-power-of-youth|title=Harnessing the power of youth|work=The National|date=11 June 2016|accessdate=6 December 2016}}
Al Mazrui was appointed as chair of the Special Olympics UAE board in 2017.{{Cite web |title=Special Olympics |url=https://staging.specialolympics.org/Stories/GENERAL/Special_Olympics_UAE_to_become_an_independent_association.aspx}} She is also the vice chair of the Community and Legacy Committee of the UAE Special Olympics World Games (2019).{{Cite web|title=Gulf Today|url=https://www.gulftoday.ae/
|access-date=2021-11-15|website=www.gulftoday.ae}}
On January 12, 2023, she was appointed as the UAE's COP28 Youth Climate Champion;{{cite web | url=https://www.uae-embassy.org/news/following-presidential-directive-mansour-bin-zayed-appoints-cop28-uae-president-designate | title=Following presidential directive, Mansour bin Zayed appoints COP28 UAE President-Designate | UAE Embassy in Washington, DC | date=24 June 2024 }} she also served on the COP28 Advisory Committee,{{Cite web |title=Advisory Committee - COP28 UAE |url=https://www.cop28.com/en/advisory-committee |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=www.cop28.com |language=en}} and the COP28 Higher Committee.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-23 |title=Mansour bin Zayed announces reformation of COP28 Higher Committee |url=https://wam.ae/en/details/1395303060068 |website=wam.ae}}
On February 7, 2023, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced a cabinet reshuffle where Shamma was appointed as the Minister of Community Development.{{cite web | url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2023/02/07/sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid-announces-uae-cabinet-reshuffle/ | title=Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid announces Cabinet reshuffle | date=7 February 2023 }}
Additionally, Shamma was the secretary general of the Education and Human Resources Council until August 12, 2024;{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C-kJ2oVyDAk/ | title=Instagram }}{{cite web | url=https://www.mofaic.gov.ae/en/mediahub/news/2023/2/1/01-02-2023-uae-minister | title=H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed chairs meeting of Education and Human Resources Council }}{{cite web | url=http://wam.ae/en/details/1395303074266 | title=Abdullah bin Zayed directs enhancing national identity, cultural values, Arabic Language in educational institutions | work=wam | date=13 August 2022 }} and the former president of the National Center for Education Quality; she remains a board member of both the National Center for Education Quality and the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council.{{Cite web | title=ÙÙاÙØ© Ø£Ùباء اÙإ٠ارات | url=https://www.wam.ae/article/b58dvuu-abdullah-bin-zayed-chairs-meeting-education-human | access-date=2025-07-02 | website=www.wam.ae}}{{cite web | url=https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2024/07/14/sheikh-hamdan-appointed-deputy-prime-of-uae-new-cabinet-announced | title=Sheikh Hamdan appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE | date=14 July 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2022/November/23-11/Closing-Session-of-the-UAE-Government-Annual-Meetings | title=Mohamed bin Zayed and Mohammed bin Rashid attend the Closing Session of the UAE Government Annual Meetings }}{{cite web | url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/1315/united-arab-emirates-announces-diverse-leadership-team-unfccc-climate-change-conference-cop28-focused-raising-global-climate-ambition-202301110058441 | title=Business Wire | date=17 April 2012 }} In July 2023, Shamma was appointed as the chair of the Zayed University Board of Trustees.{{Cite web |last=Wam |title=Sheikh Mohammed approves restructuring of Zayed University's Board of Trustees |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/sheikh-mohammed-approves-restructuring-of-zayed-universitys-board-of-trustees |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Khaleej Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Zayed University's Board of Trustees Holds Inaugural Meeting, Engages with Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni |url=https://www.zu.ac.ae/main/en/news/2023/September/bot-meet-sept.aspx |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=www.zu.ac.ae |language=en}}
Shamma is also a member of the UAE's International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council.{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Jessica |title=UAE President issues law to establish International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/2024/01/05/uae-president-issues-law-to-establish-international-humanitarian-and-philanthropic-council/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=The National |language=en}} Additionally, Shamma is a board member of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, which was formed by a Federal Decree in November 2024, in affiliation with the UAE Presidential Court.{{Cite web | title=ÙÙاÙØ© Ø£Ùباء اÙإ٠ارات | url=https://www.wam.ae/en/article/b63cf5l-uae-president-issues-decree-forming-board-trustees | access-date=2025-07-02 | website=www.wam.ae}} Erth Zayed Philanthropies is an independent and legal venture responsible for supporting various institutions and groups in assisting with humanitarian causes.
Awards and honours
- Rhodes Scholarship 2014
- Leadership and Innovation Delegate to the Academy of Achievement's 51st International Achievement Summit (2014){{cite news | url= https://achievement.org/our-history/alumni/| work=American Academy of Achievement | title= Academy of Achievement Delegate Alumni }}{{cite news | url= https://achievement.org/summit/2014/| work=American Academy of Achievement | title= 2014 International Achievement Summit}}
- Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Distinction Award (2015)
- Coutts Future Leader Award (2015){{cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/20160210/picture-profiles-the-new-members-of-the-uae-cabinet|title=Picture profiles: the new members of the UAE Cabinet|date=10 February 2016|accessdate=6 December 2016|work=The National}}
- New York University Abu Dhabi's inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award, 2016 {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bzR9boBnmk |title=H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui Receives Inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award |date=2016-05-25 |last=NYU Abu Dhabi |access-date=2024-07-12 |via=YouTube}}
- 2019: Youth Council Initiative awarded the Special Honors Shield for Most Distinguished Initiative.{{Cite web |title=UAE Vice President Honors Winners of 'Mohammed Bin Rashid Government Excellence Award' |url=https://www.skgep.gov.ae/en/media/news/uae-vice-president-honors-winners |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=SKGEP |language=en}} Presented by ruler of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid.
- First Class Order of Zayed II for her role as COP28 Youth Climate Champion.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-28 |title=UAE President awards Mohammed bin Rashid and Mansour bin Zayed Order of Zayed in recognition of successful organisation of COP28 |url=https://www.wam.ae/en/article/b1w4bf6-uae-president-awards-mohammed-bin-rashid-and |website=www.wam.ae}} Presented by Mohammed bin Zayed and Mohammed bin Rashid.
- ABLF Award Recipient, 2022,{{cite web | url=https://www.ablf.com/awards/rising-star-award#winners-1 | title=About the ABLF Awards | Asian Business Leadership Forum Series }} Rising Star.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.uaecabinet.ae/en/details/cabinet-members/her-excellency-shamma-bint-suhail-faris-al-mazrui UAE Cabinet profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mazrui, Shamma}}
Category:Women government ministers of the United Arab Emirates
Category:Community development ministers of the United Arab Emirates
Category:New York University Abu Dhabi alumni
Category:Alumni of London Business School