Guest Articles

In the UAE, we are fortunate to witness this progress taking place around us. Women are entering fields once considered difficult to access, reaching positions of influence and producing ideas with the potential to shape the future. Each achievement deserves recognition in its own right. Its wider significance, however, lies in the door it opens for the next young woman with similar ambitions.

The legal profession offers several inspiring examples. In 2008, Kholood Ahmad Juan Al Dhaheri became the first Emirati woman to be sworn in as a judge. Alia Al Kaabi broke new ground as the UAE’s first female public prosecutor and later headed the Family Prosecution in Abu Dhabi. Ebtessam Al Badwawi became the first Emirati woman appointed as a judge in Dubai Courts.

Another important milestone followed in 2021, when  HE Justice Maha Al Mheiri  became the first female Emirati common-law judge in the UAE. Her professional journey is particularly meaningful because she progressed through the institution. She began at the DIFC Courts as a case progression officer before serving as a judicial officer, Small Claims Tribunal judge and, ultimately, a judge of the Court of First Instance.

These women did more than earn distinguished appointments. They expanded the realm of possibility for others. Once a young woman can see someone like her on the bench, leading a prosecution office or deciding complex commercial disputes, such a career no longer feels distant or unattainable.

The effects are visible across the profession. Dubai’s Legal Affairs Department reported 179 registered Emirati female advocates in 2016. By the second quarter of 2019, it reported 270 female advocates and legal consultants. Behind those figures are women building careers, advising organisations, contributing to the rule of law and establishing new expectations for those who follow.

The same pioneering spirit can be seen in innovation. In intellectual property practice, one of the most rewarding moments is seeing an idea that may have begun in a laboratory, university or personal notebook recognised as something capable of creating wider value.

United Trademark & Patent Services has the privilege of representing a distinguished Emirati inventor whose invention concerns biomaterials derived from sustainable sources. Her work reflects the growing presence of Emirati women in highly specialised fields of bioscience and technology, as well as the sophistication of the ideas now emerging from the UAE.

Supporting work at the intersection of biomaterials, sustainability and technology is a source of particular pride for the firm. It also serves as a valuable reminder that innovation is not merely an abstract national objective. It begins with an individual who identifies a problem, asks a different question and has the determination to pursue an answer.

Intellectual property professionals have a responsibility to ensure that these creators receive proper recognition and are positioned to pursue research partnerships, investment and commercial opportunities. Protecting an invention is therefore not simply a legal or administrative exercise. It is part of building an environment in which promising ideas can move forward with confidence.

Other Emirati innovators reinforce this message. Engineer Reem Al Marzouqi developed a system that allows a person without arms to control a vehicle using their feet. Her invention received patent protection in the United States and Japan, demonstrating how an idea originating in the UAE can address a genuine human need and gain international recognition.

Fatima Al Kaabi, recognised as the UAE’s youngest inventor at the 2015 UAE Pioneers Awards, began with projects involving robotics and assistive technologies before moving into culturally aware artificial intelligence. Her journey shows why young people must be encouraged to recognise the value and potential of their ideas.

The commercial momentum is already substantial. According to the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Emirati women held more than 135,000 commercial licences by the end of 2024, representing an increase of 23 per cent. Yet the World Intellectual Property Organization reported that women represented 14.1 per cent of inventors in the relevant UAE patent data for 2022–2024.

Although these figures measure different activities, they highlight an important opportunity. The UAE’s strong culture of female entrepreneurship can be accompanied by greater awareness of how intellectual property can protect innovation, support investment and create commercial value.

Achieving this will require more than celebrating success stories. It will require mentorship, specialist advice, funding, research facilities and stronger connections between inventors, universities and industry. It also requires women’s achievements to be discussed openly, so younger generations can imagine themselves following, and eventually surpassing, the pioneers of today.

The Emirati women who first entered courtrooms and prosecution offices changed the legal landscape. Those now working in bioscience, artificial intelligence, engineering and other advanced fields are extending that legacy. They are not simply participating in the UAE’s future; they are helping to create it.

As we celebrate Emirati Women’s Day, we honour not only the remarkable achievements of Emirati women, but also the possibilities they create for those who follow. The responsibility now rests with institutions, businesses and professionals across the country to recognise their contributions, support their ambitions and ensure that the doors they open remain wide enough for the next generation to walk through.

Author: Maria Farrukh Khan at United Trademark & Patent Services (UTMPS).  United Trademark & Patent Services is an international law firm specialising in intellectual property rights protection in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia since 1949.

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