Arab Women Ambassadors Shaping Diplomacy in Canada

In Ottawa, diplomacy is not built only through official statements and closed-door meetings. It is also shaped by figures who can represent their countries with depth, build trust with Canadian institutions and present a broader image of the Arab world. Within this landscape, three Arab women ambassadors stand out for their experience, poise and ability to turn diplomatic office into a space for dialogue and influence.

Souriya Otmani, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Canada, Amal Yahya Almoalimi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Canada, and Sabah Nizar Al Rafie, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, offer different models of Arab women’s leadership in one of the world’s important diplomatic capitals. Each arrived in Ottawa with a long professional path, a distinct public profile and a vision of diplomacy that reaches beyond protocol. Canada’s order of precedence lists Otmani as accredited since June 2018, Almoalimi since November 2023 and Al Rafie since February 2024.

Morocco’s Ambassador Souriya Otmani holds a special place in this diplomatic landscape. She is not only her country’s representative in Canada, but also Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, a senior protocol role that reflects both longevity and standing within Ottawa’s diplomatic community. Otmani brings more than 35 years of diplomatic experience, having served in Vienna and Stockholm before becoming ambassador in Prague and consul general in Montreal. She has represented Morocco in more than 40 countries and participated in several sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.

Her career extends beyond formal diplomacy into cultural diplomacy, sustainable development, women’s integration and the fight against organized crime. Her distinctions include the International Culture Prize and the Trophée de la Femme africaine dynamique. In Ottawa, she has also been honoured for the role of Moroccan diplomacy in strengthening the partnership between Morocco and Canada, including being named Canada’s Ambassador of the Year for the North African region for a second time.

Saudi Ambassador Amal Yahya Almoalimi represents another important model of Arab women’s leadership. Her path to diplomacy was built through education, national dialogue, social development and human rights. She is one of the leading Saudi women in modern diplomacy and became the Kingdom’s second female ambassador after Princess Reema bint Bandar. She later presented her credentials in Ottawa as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia to Canada.

Almoalimi brings more than 26 years of experience in education, dialogue, social development, human rights and diplomacy. She has been selected among the 50 most influential women by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University and has trained more than 5,000 participants from different sectors in dialogue and conflict resolution. Her background also includes work with institutions and committees connected to human rights, family affairs and women’s participation.

In Ottawa, Almoalimi’s presence is not limited to formal representation. She has become a diplomatic voice presenting a broader Saudi image, one that connects national identity, social transformation and dialogue with Canadian institutions. Her recognition in Ottawa with the Ambassador of the Year Award for the Middle East region fits within that wider record of public diplomacy and bridge-building.

Jordan’s Ambassador Sabah Nizar Al Rafie is a newer name in Canada’s diplomatic scene, but not a newcomer to diplomacy. She was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Canada and presented her credentials in February 2024, after a career in diplomacy, international cooperation and public service that began in 1999.

Al Rafie has served in major diplomatic postings in Vienna, London and Jeddah, and represented Jordan at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and United Nations agencies in Vienna. In Amman, she held senior positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, including spokesperson and director of the Media and Information Department, as well as director of the Administrative Development Unit. She also served in the Office of Queen Rania Al Abdullah at the Royal Hashemite Court. Her academic background combines a master’s degree in diplomatic studies from the University of Malta with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Jordan.

The value of these stories is not only that they are stories of women. It is the nature of the presence these ambassadors bring. Arab women ambassadors in Canada are no longer simply protocol figures on the margins of politics. They are active participants in building relationships, explaining national transformations and opening channels with government, universities, institutions, communities and media.

In a multicultural country like Canada, these models carry a broader message for Arab women in the diaspora. Leadership is not always loud. Sometimes it is found in the ability to represent one’s country with confidence, build quiet bridges and work patiently in the spaces where real influence is made.