Leadership

Shaping the future through knowledge and culture.

Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi

A Global Leader for a Sustainable and Innovative Future

Guided by a deep-rooted belief in the power of heritage to inspire future progress, Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi has become a globally recognized leader in business, culture, and innovation. Her profound impact on shaping sustainable economic growth in Sharjah was recognized by Forbes Middle East, which named her one of the 20 most influential Arab Women in Government.

As Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), she has actively driven the emirate’s transformation into a leading destination for sustainable tourism and investment. Under her leadership, Shurooq has delivered more than AED 7 billion in strategic projects, generating over 5,000 new jobs and positioning Sharjah as a model of growth rooted in sustainability and cultural authenticity.

Her Highness also champions innovation and entrepreneurship as cornerstones of Sharjah’s knowledge economy. At the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK), she has built a dynamic hub where academia, industry, and government collaborate to pioneer advances in sustainability, healthcare, mobility, and advanced manufacturing through flagship initiatives such as the Sharjah Open Innovation Lab (SoiLAB) and the Sharjah Advanced Industry Accelerator (SAIA). As Chairperson of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), she has cultivated one of the region’s most vibrant startup ecosystems, supporting more than 180 ventures, a significant number of which are women-led, with mentorship and access to capital.

Through Invest in Sharjah, the emirate’s international investment promotion arm, Her Highness has expanded Sharjah’s global reach and appeal. Her efforts have attracted nearly AED 100 billion in foreign investment, forging global partnerships across advanced industries, agri-tech, and healthcare, and positioning Sharjah as a desirable hub for international investors and sustainable growth.

She has also played a central role in strengthening Sharjah’s global investment presence through "Invest in Sharjah", helping attract nearly AED 100 billion in foreign investment across sectors including technology, agriculture, and healthcare.

Across all her roles, Sheikha Bodour leads with a philosophy of inclusivity and people-centric vision. Whether creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs, advancing sustainability, or fostering cultural dialogue, her leadership continues to support Sharjah’s growth as a global model of purposeful, future-ready development.

Marwa Obaid Al Aqroubi

(Executive Director)

Marwa Obaid Al Aqroubi is a leading cultural advocate in the United Arab Emirates, renowned for her pioneering work in children’s literature and her commitment to fostering a lifelong love of reading among younger generations.

She currently serves as the Executive Director of House of Wisdom in Sharjah, President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) – the national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) – and is a board member of the Sharjah Book Authority.

For over a decade, Al Aqroubi has played a transformative role in shaping the landscape of children’s and young adult literature across the Arab world. Her leadership of the landmark “Sharjah World Book Capital 2019” project, awarded by UNESCO, positioned the emirate as a global beacon for cultural and literary excellence.

She has spearheaded numerous large-scale community and cultural initiatives aimed at nurturing a love of books and broadening access to knowledge locally and globally. These include “Read. Dream. Create.”, a campaign designed to instill a passion for reading and innovation among children; and “Kan Yama Kan”, a humanitarian initiative providing high-quality books to children with limited access to education and entertainment worldwide.

Al Aqroubi also oversees the Arab Children's Literature Award (formerly known as the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature), one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the Arab world, launched in 2009 to honor excellence in Arabic children’s and YA literature.

As a cultural curator, she has contributed to several high-profile cultural exhibitions, including: “Fairy Tales Come True: Worlds from the Imagination of Hans Christian Andersen”, “Rumi: 750 Years of Absence, Eight Centuries of Presence”, “Chapters of Islamic Art”, and “A Window to the Soul: Gibran Khalil Gibran”, among others.

In recognition of her international contributions to children’s literature, Al Aqroubi was selected in 2017 to serve on the jury panel for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Award in Italy. She was also appointed as a member of the IBBY Executive Committee, underscoring the global literary community’s respect for her expertise and leadership.

Alongside her institutional roles, Al Aqroubi is also an accomplished children's author. She has published several works that aim to foster awareness and strengthen cultural identity among young readers through imaginative storytelling and accessible language.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Zayed University, UAE, and a Master’s degree in Conservation Management of Cultural Heritage from the University of Sharjah, striking a unique balance between technological expertise and a deep-rooted passion for heritage and culture.

Al Aqroubi continues to advocate for reading as a way of life, supporting cultural and creative initiatives that enrich local communities and promote the presence of literature in everyday life across the UAE.

Leadership

Shaping the future through knowledge and culture.