ABOUT
- Genetics Expert. Healthcare Influencer. Leadership Mentor
- Founder & Chairperson of UAE Genetic Diseases Association (UAEGDA)
- Vice Chairman Dubai Cares
One of the most well respected advisor public and private sector organisations, on sustainable healthcare, community empowerment and youth development.
She serves as a Chairperson/senior advisor in over 15 international, regional and local committees for Women in STEM, Youth leadership and preventive healthcare initiatives.
A leading healthcare influencer, she pioneered study of genes and advocates public education and awareness of genetic disorders across the ME region.
- Recognised as the most powerful scientist in the UAE since 2014.
- Recognised among top 20 Arab scientists with the biggest contribution to humanity by British Scientific Community 2016.
- Among the ’50 most influential Arab women’ listed by Arabian Business for six consecutive years
- Among the ‘100 smartest people in the UAE’.
- Among the “top 100 most influential Arabs in the world” recognised by Arabian Business for four consecutive years since 2013
Dr Matar is a strong advocate of empowering community in healthcare, and has a very strong background and expertise in sustainable development, strategic planning and leadership, public policy and advocacy.
She is the first woman Director General of Community Development Authority (CDA), which undertakes to formulate social policies and deliver social services that are in line with and contribute to the achievement of the social development objectives of Dubai Strategic Plan 2007 – 2015, launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on February 3rd, 2007. In 2005, Dr. Matar was the leader of the executive team that set up social development strategies for Dubai Strategic Plan.
As a strategic advisor, she is helping leading organisations across South East Asia and GCC to build an enabling environment where talent, science and innovation flourishes.
IN 2004 she had conceptualized a national body on genetic disorder, awareness and prevention and is the Founder & Chairperson of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association. The UAE Genetic Disease Association achieved extraordinary results such as screening of 37,281 Emirati families and more than 13,000 expat families
Her commitment to women leadership, STEM and scientific innovation, makes her a globally acclaimed speaker and influencer, regularly speaks, champions and supports the cause of women empowerment, participation and recognition in corporate and educational sectors. Dr Matar mentors over 100 professional women and 500 young professional graduates on annual basis and speaks in more than 35 specialist conferences in the field of healthcare across the region every year.