The ACS Community Leadership Award honors an individual, corporation or group that embodies the ACS Core Values: Curiosity, Courage, Compassion and Integrity. The award is presented annually at the ACS Gala
2025 HONOREE
H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi
A visionary leader and tireless advocate, empowering women and
shaping the future of the UAE with unwavering dedication
The American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) is proud to announce HE Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi as the 2025 ACS Community Leadership Honoree in recognition of her pioneering work in championing the role of women in shaping the UAE’s future. As the UAE’s first female minister and the world’s first Minister of Tolerance, HE Sheikha Lubna has consistently demonstrated bold vision and exemplary leadership. Her contributions have helped shape national economic policy, advance global trade, and promote humanitarian and educational initiatives on a global scale.
In the UAE Year of Community, we are honored to celebrate her extraordinary achievements, and to recognize her enduring impact on the UAE, particularly her transformative efforts in empowering women to lead with strength, purpose, and vision. Just as Her Excellency has elevated the role of women to help shape a nation, by her trailblazing example, we are Together Shaping Dreams, united in our shared commitment to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders, dreamers, and innovators.
The 2025 ACS Community Leadership Award will be presented to Her Excellency at the ACS Gala on May 10, 2025.
More About our Honoree
Sheikha Lubna holds the distinction of being the first Emirati woman to assume a ministerial post (2004), an achievement that put the UAE on the international map of female empowerment.
Leading to success four key ministries: world’s first Minister of State for Tolerance (2016-2017), Minister of Economy (2004-2008), Minister of Foreign Trade (2008-2013) and Minister of International Cooperation and Development (2013-2016), Sheikha Lubna was appointed President of Zayed University (2014-2018) for her drive, commitment and determination to achieve the educational priorities set by the UAE Government to attain the hallmark of excellency and position Zayed University amongst the premier renowned international universities.
Sheikha Lubna represents the face of women’s empowerment, ranking 36th Most Powerful Women on World's 100 Most Powerful Women List by Forbes 2017. In 2017, Sheikha Lubna ranked 36th Most Powerful Woman on The World's 100 Most Powerful Women List by Forbes Magazine, and topped the List of Arab women competing under same List.
An inspirational and influential female leader, Her Excellency continues to earn highest global accolades for her distinctive accomplishments, including presidential medals.
Previous Honorees
2024 The Dalio Family
Philanthropists and Champions of Digital Empowerment & Leadership ACS Partner
2023 HE Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak
ACS '93 Alumnus (First Graduating Class), Current ACS Parent and CEO of Mubadala
2020 HE Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan
Cabinet Minister, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence
2019 HE Saif Ghobash (posthumously)
First UAE Foreign Minister and Former ACS Parent & Board Trustee
2018 Catherine Miles-Flynn, Kimberley Dittrich, Anne Russell
ACS Service Learning Directors
2017 Reem Al Fahim
ACS ‘99 Alumna & Founder of Sedra Foundation
2016 Sallama Al Sayegh
Former ACS Parent & Trustee