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international

We will not say goodbye but au revoir

Interview with
lubna Qassim

former Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the

United Arab Emirates to the United Nations Office and other international
organizations in Geneva

She has just left Geneva however, we will not say look forward to hearing about the opportunities
goodbye but au revoir. Even before her arrival that await her in the UAE. So, Ms Lubna, please
in Geneva as deputy ambassador of the United keep in touch! And remember, you’ll always have
Arab Emirates diplomatic mission, she had a long friends here to cheer you on. She did have time for
list of achievements. She had been the Executive an interview before her departure, so the floor is
Vice-President and Group General Counsel at yours, Ms Lubna.
Emirates NBD. She was awarded the prestigious
GCC Inspiring Leader award in 2019. She is an Ms. Qassim, during your tenure as the UAE’s
international speaker on governance, women’s Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé
leadership and youth, and is passionate about d’Affaires at the UAE Mission in Geneva from
helping the UAE to achieve global success and 2019 to 2024, how would you characterize your
recognition. When she came to Geneva, she role? Additionally, how have you observed the
was the first Arab woman in a senior position, landscape of multilateral diplomacy evolve over
and her good work has opened doors for many the past five years?
young Arab women. Her warmth and kindness, It has been an honor to represent UAE’s
as well as her unique perspective, brightened her interests in various UN bodies and international
colleagues’ days. Although she will be missed, we organizations based in Geneva, including

w w w. d i va i n t e r n at i o n a l . c h