{"record":{"aliases":[],"appointmentIds":["united-arab-emirates-aa2374599a46ea"],"appointmentsDataset":"https://chanceries.org/diplomats.json","archivalSources":[],"canonicalUrl":"https://chanceries.org/diplopedia/people/saqr-ghobash-e76b2daa51/","countrySlug":"united-arab-emirates","entityId":"https://chanceries.org/diplopedia/people/saqr-ghobash-e76b2daa51/#person","eventIds":[],"expandedParagraphs":["Saqr Ghobash's public career began in the Ministry of Interior. He directed administrative and financial affairs, headed the Abu Dhabi Police College, and became the ministry's undersecretary before moving to the Ministry of Information and Culture. He earned a management degree at United Arab Emirates University in 1986.","Ghobash served as ambassador in Washington from March 2006 until 2008, when he returned to the government as minister of labour. His career then centred on employment and the regulation of a labour market heavily dependent on workers from abroad. A decree he issued in September 2015 required a worker's signed job offer before preliminary employment approval and restricted changes between the offer and registered contract.","In November 2019, the Federal National Council elected him its speaker. His other public responsibilities included leadership of the National Qualifications Authority and the Arab Labour Organization."],"id":"united-arab-emirates:saqr ghobash","identifiers":{},"legacyPersonIds":[],"legacyUrl":"https://chanceries.org/diplomat-e76b2daa51bc91ba937f.html","name":"Saqr Ghobash","notes":[],"paragraphSources":[["bio"],["succession","bio","decree"],["bio"]],"profileUrl":"diplomat-e76b2daa51bc91ba937f.html","relatedEvents":[],"relatedPeople":[],"relationships":[],"researchStatus":"reviewed","reviewedOn":"2026-10-28","revision":"bef508e2f1f262c5","sources":[{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":"2019-11-14","id":"bio","locator":"Arabic biography","publisher":"Al Bayan","title":"Who is Saqr Ghobash, speaker of the Federal National Council?","type":"contemporary-report","url":"https://www.albayan.ae/across-the-uae/news-and-reports/2019-11-14-1.3701053"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":"2008-07-30","id":"succession","locator":"Names Ghobash's March 2006 start and Al Otaiba succession","publisher":"Emirates News Agency","title":"New UAE ambassador presents credentials","type":"primary-record","url":"https://www.wam.ae/en/article/hsyitoi4-new-uae-ambassador-presents-his-credentials"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":"2015-09-27","id":"decree","locator":"Articles 1–4; signature of Saqr Ghobash","publisher":"Gulf News, reproducing UAE Ministry of Labour","title":"Ministerial decree 764 of 2015 on standard employment contracts","type":"primary-record","url":"https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/full-text-decree-on-uae-ministry-of-labour-approved-standard-employment-contracts-1.1591529"},{"accessedOn":"","date":"13 January 2009","id":"mission-82de994bf19c68eed07a","locator":"Al Otaiba credentials and Saqr Ghobash succession dates.","publisher":"","title":"UAE Embassy: Ambassador Al Otaiba emphasizes mutual interests","type":"Mission record","url":"https://www.uae-embassy.org/news/ambassador-al-otaiba-emphasizes-mutual-interests"},{"accessedOn":"","date":"28 July 2008","id":"mission-9c6570b7f95edbb8da6e","locator":"Full indexed roster retrieved; the direct archival endpoint reports technical difficulties. Appointment and credential dates kept distinct; no inferred departure dates.","publisher":"","title":"US Department of State: Diplomatic Representation for United Arab Emirates","type":"Mission record","url":"https://2009-2017.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/94543.htm"},{"accessedOn":"","date":"Checked 22 October 2026","id":"mission-f24a21cf0773357ededd","locator":"Embassy established in 1974; bilateral nuclear cooperation and background events.","publisher":"","title":"UAE Embassy: bilateral historical timeline","type":"Mission record","url":"https://www.uae-embassy.org/reliable-allies-54-years"},{"accessedOn":"","date":"","id":"mission-c410e0433d051a78fd3d","locator":"","publisher":"","title":"Saqr Ghobash — mission record (2006–2008)","type":"Mission record","url":"https://www.uaeu.ac.ae/en/alumni/"}],"topics":["labour policy","Federal National Council","public administration"]},"schemaVersion":1}