Ohood Al Roumi: Career, Education and UAE Government Roles

Introduction

Ohood Al Roumi is an Emirati government official.

Her full name is Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi.

Currently, she serves as the UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future. The UAE created this ministerial portfolio in 2020 as part of a federal government restructuring.

Her public career goes back years.

She has worked in economic research, government policy, public administration and federal workforce development. Many people first heard her name after her 2016 appointment as the UAE’s Minister of State for Happiness.

But that was one chapter.

Her current work covers government development, federal talent, future skills and government technology programmes.

Quick Facts About Ohood Al Roumi

Fact	Verified Information
Full Name	Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi
Nationality	Emirati
Country	United Arab Emirates
Current Position	Minister of State for Government Development and the Future
Portfolio Created	2020
Previous Ministerial Role	Minister of State for Happiness
Current FAHR Role	Chairwoman
World Governments Summit Role	Vice-Chair
University	United Arab Emirates University
Bachelor’s Degree	Economics
Postgraduate Degree	Executive MBA
EMBA University	University of Sharjah
WEF Recognition	Young Global Leader, 2012
UN Foundation Role	Global Entrepreneurship Council member, 2015
Government Summit Work	Led executive team for its 2013 launch

Her current UAE government profile confirms her ministerial post, FAHR chairmanship and World Governments Summit position.

Who Is Ohood Al Roumi?

Ohood Al Roumi is closely linked with UAE government reform and long-term planning.

Her career did not start there.

She first built experience around business research and economic policy. That work later moved into federal government strategy.

Then came bigger responsibilities.

She became Director General of the UAE Prime Minister’s Office and worked across major government programmes. Her career later moved into Cabinet-level roles.

Basically, her work has stayed government-focused.

Her current portfolio deals with preparing public institutions and employees for coming changes in skills, services and technology.

Ohood Al Roumi’s Education

Her academic record is publicly documented.

Ohood Al Roumi earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the College of Business and Economics at United Arab Emirates University.

Al Roumi later earned an Executive Master’s Degree in Business Administration (EMBA) from the University of Sharjah.

Ohood also completed the Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development.

Those qualifications match her career path.

Economics came first. Management followed.

Her later government positions brought both areas together through public policy, planning and administration.

Early Career in Business Research

Before her senior federal roles, Al Roumi worked at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

She served as Director of Business Research.

That placed her close to economic information, business conditions and research used around policymaking.

She later moved into government policy work.

Director of Economic Policy

A major career step followed.

Al Roumi became Director of Economic Policy at the Executive Office of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Her official profile says she worked with teams developing government strategies.

These included the Dubai Economic Development Plan and federal government strategy work.

This period put her directly inside high-level government planning.

And her responsibilities kept growing.

Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office

Al Roumi later served as Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs.

She stayed in that position until 2020.

Her official profile connects this period with several major programmes, including UAE Vision 2021, federal government strategy, government services, performance management and government leadership programmes.

Her responsibilities covered programmes such as:

• UAE Vision 2021
• Government Performance Management System “Ada’a”
• Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation
• Sheikh Khalifa Government Excellence Program
• UAE Government Leaders Program
• Government service development programmes

It was a wide brief.

And it lasted years.

Role in the Government Summit

Another major assignment arrived in 2013.

Al Roumi headed the executive team behind the launch of the first Government Summit.

That event later grew into the World Governments Summit, which brings together government leaders, policymakers and specialists from different countries.

She remains connected to it today.

The World Governments Summit currently lists her as its Vice-Chair.

Minister of State for Happiness

February 2016 brought global attention.

Al Roumi was appointed Minister of State for Happiness when the UAE announced its 12th Cabinet.

The post was new.

The official Cabinet announcement listed her among the ministers appointed in that government structure.

Her work covered government policies and programmes connected with happiness, positivity and wellbeing.

In March 2016, she presented the National Programme for Happiness and Positivity for government review.

Later initiatives included government training and customer-happiness programmes.

For example, in July 2016 she announced a programme to train 60 Chief Happiness and Positivity Officers from federal and local government entities.

Her current government profile refers to this stage under the wider Happiness and Wellbeing portfolio.

It lists work linked with the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, National Wellbeing Index, Workplace Wellbeing Program and National Wellbeing Survey.

Move to Government Development and the Future

Her ministerial role changed in 2020.

On 5 July 2020, the UAE announced a new federal government structure.

The happiness and quality-of-life portfolio moved under the Ministry of Community Development.

Al Roumi was appointed Minister of State for Government Development and the Future.

She still holds that position.

The UAE’s current government directory lists her under the same ministerial title.

What Does Her Current Role Cover?

Her current job has several parts.

Government workforce development is one.

Future planning is another.

Her office works on improving government systems, preparing employees for new skills and helping federal institutions respond to coming changes.

Her official profile says she leads work connected with federal digital-government coordination as well.

That includes coordination between projects, government systems and federal entities.

Chairwoman of FAHR

Al Roumi serves as Chairwoman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, commonly called FAHR.

FAHR handles federal-government human-resources policies and workforce development.

The authority’s current leadership page confirms her chairmanship.

This role places her around issues such as employee skills, government jobs, workplace systems and AI training.

That work remains active.

Work With Artificial Intelligence

AI now appears often in her public work.

In May 2026, the UAE Government announced a knowledge partnership with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

The agreement aims to build Agentic AI expertise across the federal government workforce.

Al Roumi signed the agreement for the government side in her role as minister and FAHR chairwoman.

She also took part in the World Governments Summit 2026 discussions about how AI could change government jobs and workforce models.

So, yes, her portfolio keeps changing.

The basic theme stays familiar: prepare government workers before new systems become standard.

Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation

Al Roumi chairs the UAE’s Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation.

The UAE Cabinet approved the committee in August 2022.

Its work includes federal digital policies, government systems, digital projects and better coordination between government entities.

This is one of her main current posts.

Her government profile still lists her as chairwoman.

UAE Centennial 2071

Long-term planning appears throughout her career.

Her official profile says she worked on UAE Centennial 2071, the country’s long-range government vision covering five decades.

She also served as Secretary General of the Preparation for the Next 50 Committee.

That committee worked with national teams on plans for the UAE’s coming decades.

It fits her current portfolio.

Much of her work asks one question: what will government need next?

Future Possibilities Index

Al Roumi also oversees the Future Possibilities Index through her government portfolio.

The project looks at how countries may respond to future economic opportunities and emerging fields.

Her official government profile lists this work among her international responsibilities.

Jahiz and Future Skills

Employee training is another focus.

The UAE launched Jahiz as a digital learning platform for federal government employees.

The programme covers areas such as digital skills, data, artificial intelligence, new-economy skills and future work skills.

Al Roumi has presented the programme as part of the government’s effort to prepare employees for changing job requirements.

That makes sense within FAHR too.

Skills sit right beside policy.

International Recognition

Her work has received international attention.

In 2012, the World Economic Forum included Al Roumi among its Young Global Leaders.

In 2015, she joined the UN Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurship Council. Her UAE government profile describes her as the council’s first Arab member.

In 2017, Fortune included her in its World’s Greatest Leaders feature.

Her government profile also records recognition through the World Economic Forum’s 50 Agile initiative in 2021.

These are documented recognitions.

No guesswork needed.

Current Boards and Other Roles

Her current government profile lists several other positions.

She is connected with:

• Emirates Competitiveness Council
• Frontline Heroes Office
• Dubai Future Foundation
• Arab Government Excellence Award
• World Governments Summit Organization
• Federal Authority for Government Human Resources

Her exact current ministerial and committee roles are confirmed through UAE government sources.

Ohood Al Roumi Career Timeline

Early career: Director of Business Research at Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Later: Director of Economic Policy at Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Executive Office.

Until 2020: Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office.

2012: Named among the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders.

2013: Headed the executive team launching the first Government Summit.

2015: Joined the UN Foundation Global Entrepreneurship Council.

2016: Appointed UAE Minister of State for Happiness.

2020: Appointed Minister of State for Government Development and the Future.

2022: Became chair of the Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation.

2026: Continues serving as Minister of State for Government Development and the Future and Chairwoman of FAHR.

What Is Ohood Al Roumi Doing Now?

As of September 2026, Al Roumi remains active in UAE federal government work.

Her current ministerial portfolio focuses on government development and future readiness.

She chairs FAHR.

She chairs the Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation.

She serves as Vice-Chair of the World Governments Summit Organization.

Her recent public work includes AI skills for government employees, federal workforce development and discussions about future government jobs.

Final Thought

Ohood Al Roumi’s career has moved through several layers of UAE government work.

Research came first.

Economic policy followed.

Then came the Prime Minister’s Office, a Cabinet post and her current government-development role.

The titles changed.

The work stayed connected.

Much of it centres on how government operates, how employees learn new skills and how federal institutions prepare for what comes next.

That is the clearest way to understand her public career.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ohood Al Roumi?

Ohood Al Roumi is an Emirati government official. She currently serves as UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future.

What is Ohood Al Roumi’s current job?

She is Minister of State for Government Development and the Future. She also chairs FAHR.

Was Ohood Al Roumi Minister of Happiness?

Yes. She was appointed Minister of State for Happiness in 2016.

What did Ohood Al Roumi study?

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from United Arab Emirates University and an Executive MBA from the University of Sharjah.

Does Ohood Al Roumi work with the World Governments Summit?

Yes. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of the World Governments Summit Organization.

What is Ohood Al Roumi’s role at FAHR?

She is Chairwoman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources.

When did she get her current ministerial role?

She was appointed Minister of State for Government Development and the Future in July 2020.

What government areas does she work on?

Her portfolio covers government development, future readiness, federal talent, skills and government technology programmes.

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