Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrouei (born 22 February 1993) is an Emirati politician who is currently serves as the minister of community development of the United Arab Emirates. She previously served as the minister of state for youth affairs.
Shamma Al Mazrui | |
---|---|
شما بنت سهيل المزروعي | |
Minister of Community Development | |
Assumed office 6 March 2023 | |
President | Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
Prime Minister | Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
Preceded by | Hessa Essa Buhumaid |
Minister of State for Youth Affairs | |
In office 15 February 2016 – 6 March 2023 | |
President | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
Prime Minister | Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
Succeeded by | Sultan Al Neyadi (2024) |
Personal details | |
Born | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 22 February 1993
Spouse | Mubarak bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei[1] |
Children | 1 |
Alma mater | New York University, Abu Dhabi (BA) University of Oxford (MPP) |
Al Mazrui was born on 22 February 1993[2] in Abu Dhabi.[3] Shamma is the daughter of Suhail Faris Ghanim Ateish Al Mazrui,[4] businessman, who was also the chairman of Dubai Investments board of directors for over 20 years. Shamma's brother Faris Sohail Faris Al Mazrui[5] is the head of Mubadala's Ventures and Growth;[6][7] while her twin brother Ahmed Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, is a businessperson.[8]
Al Mazrui is an alumna of The International School of Choueifat, Abu Dhabi, Class of 2010.[9]
Al Mazrui has a Bachelor of Arts in economics with a concentration in finance[10] from New York University Abu Dhabi. She obtained her Masters of Public Policy from the Blavatnik School of Government[11] at the University of Oxford in 2015. She was the UAE's first Rhodes scholar.[12][13][14]
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.[14] She interned as a research analyst at the UAE Embassy in Washington D.C.;[15] as a Ministry policy analyst in the Prime Minister's Office,[16] and as an education policy researcher at Tamkeen (Abu Dhabi's Strategic Affairs Authority).[17]
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.[14][18][19][20] She presides over the National Youth Council,[13][21] which brings together young professionals from a variety of backgrounds to represent the affairs of youth to the government. Al Mazrui is the vice chair of the Arab Youth Center.[22][23][24]
On January 12, 2023, she was appointed as the UAE's COP28 Youth Climate Champion;[25] she also served on the COP28 Advisory Committee,[26] and the COP28 Higher Committee.[27] On February 7, 2023, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced a cabinet reshuffle where Shamma was appointed as the Minister of Community Development.[28] Additionally, Shamma is the secretary general of the Education and Human Resources Council;[29][30] and the president of the National Center for Education Quality.[31][32] In July 2023, Shamma was appointed as the chair of the Zayed University Board of Trustees.[33][34] Shamma is also a member of the UAE's International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council.[35]
Al Mazrui was appointed as chair of the Special Olympics UAE Board in 2017.[36] She is also the vice chair of the Community and Legacy Committee of the UAE Special Olympics World Games (2019).[37]