Emirati Pioneer Khadija Darwish Alqubaisi Honoured Among FAO’s 100 Women Heroes in Global Agricultural Initiative
The distinguished farmer has been selected for the Food and Agriculture Organisation's prestigious recognition programme, celebrating her pioneering work in smart and sustainable agriculture and her dedication to empowering women farmers across the Emirates.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has bestowed considerable honour upon Emirati farmer Khadija Darwish Alqubaisi through her selection for the prestigious “FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development” initiative, launched to commemorate the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026. This distinction recognises her substantial contributions to intelligent and sustainable agricultural practices, her unwavering commitment to advancing women’s participation within the agricultural sector, and her dedication to imparting agricultural knowledge to students and emerging generations.
Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, offered remarks celebrating this international recognition as a testament to Emirati women’s capacity for agricultural leadership and the development of productive enterprises that harness resources with thoughtful stewardship. She emphasised that the nation’s strategic vision positions women’s empowerment and investment in their capabilities as fundamental pillars of economic development and national food security, drawing upon the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation.
Alqubaisi stands as a distinguished pioneer in the realm of smart and sustainable agriculture throughout the Emirates. She owns Nad Al Dhab farm in Al Ain and holds the distinction of being a graduate from the first farmer field school established in the UAE and the broader Arabian Gulf region. Her sustained commitment to promoting contemporary agricultural methodologies has catalysed meaningful participation by women throughout the sector. Her achievements garnered recognition when she secured first place in the Distinguished Female Farmer category at the fourth edition of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award in 2026.
Through the establishment of the Khadija Initiative, she has devoted herself to developing smart and sustainable farming operations and has actively engaged school students in agricultural awareness programmes, deepening their comprehension of farming’s intrinsic importance to society. Her prominent participation in agricultural exhibitions has consistently inspired women and young people to explore enriching employment and entrepreneurial opportunities within agriculture and rural development.
This recognition arrives amid the nation’s comprehensive endeavours to expand women’s involvement in agriculture. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has launched the “Empowering Women Farmers” initiative under the distinguished patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. This programme was unveiled at the First Emirati Women Farmers Forum during the second edition of the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition in Al Ain during April 2026, convening more than 200 Emirati women farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs to discuss development opportunities and exchange practical solutions.
The FAO’s initiative recognises 100 women from across the agrifood value chain for their contributions to food security, improved livelihoods in rural communities and the protection of natural resources. The selection process followed receipt of more than 600 nominations from 131 countries, which underwent rigorous evaluation considering geographical balance and the diversity of contributions. The selected women are to be honoured at a ceremony at FAO headquarters in Rome on 15 October 2026 during the World Food Forum.
Source: WAM