• A leading healthcare influencer, Her Excellency Dr Maryam Matar had pioneered study of genes and advocates public education and awareness of genetic disorders across the ME region. A true game changer in the field of genetic research and biotechnology in the Arab world, she is single handedly responsible for putting UAE on the global map of genetic research and innovation. As the pioneer genetic scientist, she played a lead role in bringing new legislations for pre-marital screening, preventive genetic testing, and relevant mandatory legislations at the government level in the UAE.

A representative of scientific community of the Arab world promoting knowledge exchange

• Represent the Arab women scientists and leaders and work towards increased participation of women leaders in global scientific community
• She is serving on the board and committees of organizations and academic institutions such as wherein shares her scientific experience in strategic planning, public policy, and advocacy as well as community empowerment campaigns.

• Represents the Arab scientific community as Co-chair and committee member of the Global Commission to End the Diagnostic Odyssey for Children with a Rare Disease.
• Member of the Panel of Experts in WHO Collective Global Network for Rare Diseases (WHO CGN4RD)
• Steering Committee Co-Lead for the NNEdPro Middle East Regional Network.
• Among two chosen Arab Women members of Selection Committee of Zayed Sustainability Award.
• Ambassador of Science Regional magazine & Women in STEM by Springer Nature.
• Advisory Committee Member of different Universities in UAE and other organization.

Medical Doctor and Recognized among top 20 Arab Researcher with the biggest contribution to humanity.

Graduated from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Program for Leadership

Preparation / Second Batch

The first Emirati woman to hold the position of Senior Undersecretary of the

Ministry of Health in 2006

Among the “50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World” for the 7th consecutive year

The Feigen Baum Leadership Excellence Award in the Category of “Accomplished Leaders”.

Leader of the executive team “Dubai Plan 2007-2016” launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2007

The first Emirati woman to hold the position of general manager in the Dubai government at the Community Development Authority 2008 Vice President, Dubai Cares Foundation, since its establishment for 11 years.

The largest field surveys were worked in the Gulf countries (20072016) for more than 11,000 Emirati citizens, to define the scientific reality of the most common genetic diseases in the region and find ways of treatment and prevention.

Founded two public benefit societies, the Emirates Down Syndrome Association and the Emirates Genetic Diseases Association.

• Published research and studies with a group of the most important international scientists and the best medical fields in the world.
• She received many honors and annually since she graduated from the College of Medicine in 2000, starting with the Distinguished Employee Award in the Dubai Health Authority 2003 and the last of which is the Arab Women’s Leader Award in Health Innovation for the Arab Doctors Union in November 2019.
• The Arab Excellence Award from the Arab League in Egypt on January 29, 2020, AD.
• Advisory Board Member at Emirates Scholar Research Center since December 2022.
• Member at the Middle East NNEdPro Network with NNEdPro Global Centre for Nutrition and Health – Cambridge, UK since April 2022.
• Co-Chairperson, MENA Organization for Rare Diseases Annual Meeting in March 2023, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• Advisory Member at the University of Sharjah, College of Sciences, Department of Biotechnology in United Arab Emirates from April 12, 2023.