Ohood Al Roumi: UAE Minister Leading Government Development

Introduction

Ohood Al Roumi is a senior government minister from the United Arab Emirates. She is known for her work in government development, digital transformation, public-sector skills and future planning.

As of August 2026, she serves as the UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future. She is also Chairwoman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and Vice Chair of the World Governments Summit Organization.

Many people first heard about Ohood Al Roumi in 2016 when she became the UAE Minister of State for Happiness. The unusual position attracted worldwide attention and raised an important question: can governments design better services by focusing on people’s happiness and wellbeing?

Her current work goes beyond happiness policy. She now helps UAE government organisations prepare for artificial intelligence, new job requirements, digital services and future economic changes.

Ohood Al Roumi Quick Facts

Detail	Verified information
Full name	Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi
Common name	Ohood Al Roumi
Nationality	Emirati
Profession	Government minister and public-sector leader
Current position	UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future
Additional federal role	Chairwoman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources
International role	Vice Chair of the World Governments Summit Organization
Former ministerial role	Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing
Main work areas	Government development, AI, digital transformation and future skills
Bachelor’s degree	Economics
Master’s qualification	Executive Master of Business Administration

Official government profiles do not provide a reliable public date of birth or age for Ohood Al Roumi. These details should not be added without a trusted official source.

Who Is Ohood Al Roumi?

Ohood Al Roumi is an Emirati minister whose career has mainly focused on improving how government organisations work.

She is not known for political campaigning or elections. Her public career is connected with government administration, economic policy, leadership development and public-sector reform.

She has worked on programmes designed to make government services faster, simpler and more useful. She also supports training programmes that help government employees learn digital, data and artificial-intelligence skills.

Her career shows how the UAE is developing government institutions for a future shaped by technology and rapid economic change.

Education and Leadership Training

Ohood Al Roumi studied economics before moving into government policy and public administration.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of Business and Economics at United Arab Emirates University.

She later completed an Executive Master of Business Administration at the University of Sharjah.

An Executive MBA is designed for professionals who already have work experience. It normally covers leadership, strategy, management, finance and organisational decision-making.

Al Roumi is also a graduate of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development. The programme helps prepare Emirati professionals for major leadership responsibilities.

Her education gave her useful knowledge in economics, government planning, management and institutional development.

Early Career in Business Research

Before becoming a government minister, Ohood Al Roumi worked in business and economic research.

She served as Director of Business Research at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Dubai Chamber supports businesses, trade and economic development. Working there gave Al Roumi experience in studying companies, market conditions and the needs of the private sector.

This experience was important because government development is closely connected with business growth. Public policies, digital services and regulations can all affect how easily companies operate.

Her background in business research helped her understand both government and private-sector needs.

Economic Policy Role

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

In this position, she worked on important government strategies and economic development plans.

She also led or supported teams working on Dubai government strategy and federal government planning.

This part of her career moved her from business research into high-level public policy. It also prepared her for responsibilities involving national programmes, government performance and future economic development.

Work at the UAE Prime Minister’s Office

Al Roumi later served as Director-General of the UAE Prime Minister’s Office.

The Prime Minister’s Office supports major government strategies, performance systems, innovation projects and leadership programmes.

Her work included involvement in government development and the monitoring of national goals.

She also helped oversee programmes connected with:

• UAE government strategy
• Government innovation
• Public-service development
• Leadership training
• Government performance
• Institutional excellence
• Long-term national planning

Her time at the Prime Minister’s Office placed her at the centre of several important UAE government modernisation projects.

International Recognition

Ohood Al Roumi has received international recognition for her work in government leadership.

In 2012, she was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

The Young Global Leaders community includes people from government, business, education and civil society who have shown leadership in their fields.

In 2015, she joined the United Nations Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurship Council. Official profiles describe her as the first Arab member appointed to the council.

In 2017, Fortune included her in its World’s Greatest Leaders list. She was reported as the only Arab figure included that year.

These recognitions helped increase her international public profile before and after she became a government minister.

Becoming the UAE Minister of State for Happiness

Ohood Al Roumi became internationally known in February 2016 when she was appointed UAE Minister of State for Happiness.

The position was described by UAE government sources as the first ministerial role of its kind in the world.

Some people misunderstood the job because a government cannot force every person to feel happy. The purpose was to include happiness and wellbeing in the way policies, public services and government workplaces were designed.

The portfolio later became known as the Ministry of State for Happiness and Wellbeing.

Al Roumi supported programmes that encouraged government organisations to think about people’s daily experiences.

These initiatives included:

• Happiness and Positivity Councils
• Chief Happiness and Positivity Officers
• Customer Happiness Centres
• Workplace wellbeing programmes
• Public-service experience surveys
• The National Wellbeing Survey
• The National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031

The work helped make wellbeing a more visible part of government planning.

What Did the Minister of Happiness Do?

The Minister of Happiness did not simply promote positive messages.

The role involved reviewing how government organisations treated employees and members of the public.

For example, a government service can create stress when it requires too many forms, office visits or repeated documents. A better digital service can save time and make the experience easier.

The happiness and wellbeing portfolio encouraged government bodies to consider these human experiences.

It also promoted positive workplaces because employees often provide better services when they feel supported, respected and prepared for their work.

Minister of State for Government Development and the Future

In 2020, Ohood Al Roumi became the UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future.

The portfolio was created to advance government performance and prepare the country for future challenges and opportunities.

Her current work includes:

• Improving government productivity
• Preparing institutions for future changes
• Developing new public-service models
• Supporting digital transformation
• Training government employees
• Promoting continuous learning
• Studying future economic opportunities
• Supporting artificial-intelligence adoption

The position connects government development with long-term planning.

It also reflects the idea that governments must prepare before major changes happen rather than reacting after they appear.

Chairwoman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources

Ohood Al Roumi is Chairwoman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, commonly known as FAHR.

FAHR is responsible for federal government human-resource development.

Its work covers areas such as:

• Employee policies
• Government talent development
• Training and learning
• Workplace systems
• Human-resource technology
• Future job skills
• Employee experiences

Al Roumi’s FAHR role is important because digital transformation depends on people as well as technology.

A government may introduce advanced AI systems, but employees still need the right training to use them safely and effectively.

Her work therefore focuses on both technology and human development.

Ohood Al Roumi and Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence has become a major part of Ohood Al Roumi’s government work.

She has discussed how AI is changing jobs, labour markets and human-resource systems.

Her approach supports government systems that are more flexible, human-centred and prepared for future changes.

In September 2025, FAHR launched an HR AI Agent. The system was designed to improve how federal employees receive human-resource information and complete workplace procedures.

The AI agent was introduced to support more than 100 HR services and procedures.

It aims to provide answers and services that are:

• Faster
• Simpler
• More personal
• Available digitally
• Easier for employees to understand

The project also supports the UAE Government’s goal of reducing unnecessary digital bureaucracy.

Partnership With MBZUAI

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

Ohood Al Roumi signed the agreement in her role as Minister of State for Government Development and the Future and FAHR chairwoman.

The partnership aims to train federal employees in advanced forms of artificial intelligence, including agentic AI.

Agentic AI refers to systems that can complete several connected tasks, make decisions within defined limits and assist users through complex processes.

The programme aims to help 80,000 federal employees develop relevant AI knowledge and skills.

This does not mean that every employee will become a software engineer. It means workers in different roles can learn how AI may affect their jobs and how to use it responsibly.

Jahiz Future Skills Platform

Ohood Al Roumi has also supported Jahiz, a digital learning platform for federal government employees.

The platform was launched to prepare government workers for future job requirements.

Its main learning areas include:

• Digital skills
• Data skills
• Artificial intelligence
• New-economy skills
• Advanced government methods
• Sustainability skills

Employees can complete digital courses and receive training badges.

By May 2024, Jahiz had recorded more than one million learning hours. More than 53,000 users had received over 800,000 training badges.

These figures show the size of the programme at that time. Current totals may be higher.

Jahiz supports the idea that learning should continue throughout a person’s career.

Government Digital Transformation

Ohood Al Roumi also chairs the Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation.

The committee helps coordinate digital projects across the UAE federal government.

Digital transformation means more than placing paper forms on a website. It can involve redesigning an entire service so people can complete it more easily.

A connected digital government can reduce:

• Repeated documents
• Unnecessary office visits
• Long waiting times
• Duplicate databases
• Confusing procedures

It can also help government organisations share information safely and provide more proactive services.

Al Roumi’s role connects digital infrastructure with government performance and employee readiness.

Future 100 and the New Economy

Ohood Al Roumi has supported the Future 100 initiative, which recognises companies working in new and future economic sectors.

The programme focuses on startups and growing companies in areas such as:

• Financial technology
• Artificial intelligence
• Sustainability
• Cybersecurity
• E-commerce
• Health technology
• Renewable energy
• Space technology
• Education technology
• Agricultural technology

The initiative shows how government development can support private businesses.

Future-ready government policies can create a better environment for new companies, entrepreneurs and investors.

Readers interested in other Emirati leaders can also read about Shamma Al Mazrui and her work in UAE government and community development.

World Governments Summit Role

Ohood Al Roumi serves as Vice Chair of the World Governments Summit Organization.

The summit brings together government leaders, experts, companies and international organisations.

Its discussions cover major subjects such as:

• Artificial intelligence
• Economic development
• Climate challenges
• Future employment
• Public administration
• Government innovation
• Digital services

Through this role, Al Roumi takes part in international discussions about how governments can become more prepared, productive and useful to society.

She also helps present UAE government projects to international audiences.

Supporting Young Government Leaders

Ohood Al Roumi’s work also includes developing younger government professionals.

She has supported programmes that help young Emiratis build leadership, problem-solving and future-planning skills.

One example is the 71 Challenge for Young Government Leaders.

Participants work on government projects connected with important national subjects. These include education, technology, entrepreneurship, media, sport, productivity and the digital economy.

Such programmes give young professionals practical experience rather than only classroom learning.

They can study real public-sector challenges and develop solutions with support from experienced government leaders.

Ohood Al Roumi’s Leadership Impact

Ohood Al Roumi’s main influence comes from changing how government organisations think about the future.

Her earlier happiness portfolio focused on human wellbeing and better public experiences.

Her current portfolio focuses on future skills, digital systems, AI and institutional readiness.

These areas may appear different, but they are connected.

Government services should use advanced technology while still remaining simple and human-centred.

Employees should learn new digital skills without losing the importance of judgment, responsibility and public service.

Al Roumi’s work places people and technology within the same government-development strategy.

Is Ohood Al Roumi Still the Minister of Happiness?

Ohood Al Roumi is no longer serving under the title Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing.

She held the happiness portfolio from 2016.

In 2020, she became the UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future.

As of August 2026, this is her current verified ministerial role.

People still search for “UAE happiness minister” because the position received wide international attention. However, her present responsibilities are mainly connected with government reform, digital development, AI and future skills.

Why Is Ohood Al Roumi Famous?

Ohood Al Roumi is famous for three main reasons.

First, she became the world’s first minister appointed to a portfolio specifically focused on happiness and wellbeing.

Second, she has held senior positions connected with the UAE Prime Minister’s Office and major government-development programmes.

Third, she currently helps lead the UAE’s work in public-sector artificial intelligence, digital transformation and employee training.

Her career is especially relevant to people researching the future of government and the changing relationship between technology and public services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ohood Al Roumi?

Ohood Al Roumi is an Emirati government minister and public-sector development leader.

What is Ohood Al Roumi’s current position?

As of August 2026, she is the UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future.

Is Ohood Al Roumi still the Minister of Happiness?

No. She moved from the happiness and wellbeing portfolio to the Government Development and the Future portfolio in 2020.

What is Ohood Al Roumi known for?

She is known for government reform, the former UAE happiness portfolio, digital transformation, future skills and artificial intelligence in public services.

What did Ohood Al Roumi study?

She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and an Executive Master of Business Administration.

What is Jahiz?

Jahiz is a digital training platform that helps UAE federal employees learn future skills, including AI, data and digital skills.

What does Ohood Al Roumi do at FAHR?

As FAHR chairwoman, she helps guide federal employee policies, talent development, training and human-resource transformation.

How is Ohood Al Roumi connected with AI?

She supports AI-powered government HR services, federal employee training and the responsible use of advanced technology in government work.

Conclusion

Ohood Al Roumi is a senior Emirati minister helping shape the future of government in the United Arab Emirates.

She first became widely recognised as the UAE Minister of State for Happiness. That role placed wellbeing, better services and positive workplace experiences within government planning.

Today, her responsibilities are broader.

As Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, she works on government performance, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and future skills.

Her work at FAHR also focuses on preparing federal employees for changing job requirements.

Through initiatives such as Jahiz, the HR AI Agent and the partnership with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, she is supporting a government workforce that can use new technology while continuing to serve people effectively.