Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri is the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment. She leads the nation’s comprehensive efforts to accelerate climate action, safeguard ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen food security by developing and implementing impactful strategies, policies, and initiatives.

A member of the COP28 UAE Higher Committee, Her Excellency oversees the national preparations for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be hosted by the nation in Dubai this year.

Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri draws on her wealth of experience as Minister of State for Food Security (appointed in October 2017) and as Minister of State for Food and Water Security (appointed in June 2020). In these roles, she led the monitoring of national food stocks and water supply, directed investments in food technology innovation and built international partnerships. She also led infrastructure development to achieve the country’s food security objectives in line with the goals of the UAE Centennial 2071.

Her Excellency also lends her significant expertise and leadership to several national and international organizations. She represents the UAE at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Center for Bio-saline Agriculture (ICBA).

She is a member of the Board of Directors of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), and the Board of Trustees of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation) KIADPAI(. She is also a member of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) Board of Trustees as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and serves on the International Advisory Board of EAT, a science-based global platform for food system transformation.

Her Excellency also Chairs the Emirates Climate Change Council, the Emirates Food Security Council, the Circular Economy Council, and the Emirates Council for Environmental and Municipal Action.

Prior to her ministerial appointment, Her Excellency headed the Biodiversity, Fisheries, Coastal & Marine Sustainability, and Marine Research Departments as Assistant Undersecretary for Water Resources and Nature Conservation Affairs at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE). She has also served on the Board of Trustees for the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Food Systems Innovation.

Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri has a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University in Germany (RWTH).