On 1 July 2026, Ms Asma Abdi Mohamed Shah joined the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as the Sub-Regional Representative for the Arabian Gulf. Based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, she will lead WOAH’s Sub-Regional Representation for the Arabian Gulf, working closely with Members including the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, to advance the Organisation’s mandate, strengthen Veterinary Services and promote strategic priorities in animal health, animal welfare, veterinary public health and the One Health approach. She will also collaborate closely with WOAH’s Regional Representation for the Middle East, the Organisation’s Headquarters and regional and international partners.
Ms Asma Abdi Mohamed Shah brings more than two decades of distinguished experience in animal health, laboratory systems, biosecurity and food safety to this role. She formerly served as Director of the Biosecurity Affairs Division at the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority and led the WOAH Collaborating Centres for Camel Diseases and Quality Management Systems. An internationally recognised expert, she has served as a WOAH International Expert on the PVS Pathway since 2023 and spearheads the “Cohesive Laboratory Capabilities” initiative to advance diagnostic capacity, modernised informatics and sustainable One Health networks across the region.
Throughout her accomplished career, Ms Abdi has made significant contributions to scientific research, particularly regarding camel health, transboundary animal diseases, and epidemiology. As a frequent author and speaker at international technical forums, she actively contributes to regional initiatives, including serving on the Regional Advisory Group for the Middle East FMD and PPR Roadmap. Her appointment marks a vital step in advancing innovation, cross-sector collaboration and knowledge sharing to support national veterinary services throughout the region.
Proficient in Arabic and English as working languages, Ms Asma Abdi Mohamed Shah can be contacted at the following address: [email protected] or [email protected].
