Nourishing Nations: Sustainable Food Systems as the Foundation for Public Health & Quality of Life
10 September 2025
Forbes Middle East
01:15-01:30
Sharjah Expo Center
Forum day 1
SpeakerDr. Tarifa Alzaabi
Director General, ICBA
Speaker
BIO
Dr. Tarifa Ajeif Alzaabi has been Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) since August 2022, becoming the first Emirati to hold this role since its founding in 1999. She joined ICBA in 2019 as Deputy Director General, bringing over 20 years of leadership, management, and research experience in UAE higher education. She leads ICBA’s global initiatives in sustainable agriculture and food security, particularly in saline and drought-affected environments, with a focus on empowering youth and women. She has launched major programs such as ICBA YES: Youth Engagement Society, the Women’s Alliance for Climate Action (WACAA), and the Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture Fellowship Program (AWLA). Dr. Alzaabi has received prestigious awards, including the Mohammed bin Rashid SME Award – Businesswoman of the Year (2015), the Emirati Women Award for Professional Achievement (2020), and the 'Tabiat Himoyachisi' Medal from Uzbekistan (2025). She holds a Doctorate in Education from the British University in Dubai, an Executive MBA from the University of Sharjah, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration from the Higher Colleges of Technology, in addition to completing executive leadership and climate change programs in the UAE and at LSE.