Mrs. Maryam Alnaqbi is the wife of His Excellency Mr. Abdalla Hamdan Alnaqbi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to The Netherlands. She welcomes us in her residence and is ready for her first question.
Tell us a bit about your background. Education, career or perhaps something else?
“I studied history and education at the University of the UAE in Al Ain and graduated in 2000. It was my dream to become a teacher and with my history skills I could teach the students. After I graduated I joined the Ministry of Education. I found a job as a teacher in Abu Dhabi, which was 250 km from Khorfakkan, my hometown. But as this was the chance to pursue my dream, I accepted and found myself teaching history to students from 2001 till 2012, with the exception of a couple of years, when my husband was also posted in The Netherlands as a diplomat and we lived in Scheveningen at the time.” During that time Ambassador Alnaqbi was Member of the OPCW Network of Legal Affairs.
“In 2012 my husband informed me that he would be Ambassador of the UAE in The Netherlands, and as I also was a mother we decided to be together as a family. I left my job to join my husband with our children. Our children are 11, 9 and 4 years old. I am lucky that we found a school right away and we are very satisfied with life here.”
Dutch tourism to the Middle East is on the rise. If Dutch tourists travel to your country, what would you advise them to see or do?
“ The UAE is the best country in the region for tourists to visit. We have a variety of activities, which can be enjoyed in the spring and in wintertime. For instance, during winter time tourists can visit the Global Village in Dubai, a large tourism project which attracts 6 million visitors every year. Tourists can also experience the thrill of a tour through the desert or spend time at sea or in the mountains.
There is also the possibility to visit parks, the old market, called ‘the soukh,’ or shop at the malls, where all the international brands can be found in one place. For those who love art, we have museums and many art galleries in places like Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai and Ras Al-Khaimah.”
How long are you in The Netherlands and what are your experiences so far?
We arrived in September 2012, so we are here for two years now and I enjoy it very much. After I left my job, I thought I would be able to relax, but I found myself working more and more.
An Ambassador’s spouse plays a big role in supporting him, such as accompanying him to receptions or organizing events. It is part of the Ambassador’s work to attend receptions, visit events or go to certain places. I am happy with the ASA, the Ambassador’s spouses Association, and I am proud to be a member of this active group. They organize a lot of activities.
In our weekends we like visiting different places. Not only in The Netherlands, but also places like Brussels and Paris. We also we go to museums and parks and we like Kijkduin. The Netherlands is a wonderful place. It is a small country, but with a rich history. And such kind people!
