Nabeela Al Mulla published eBook, softcover, and hardcover editions of her memoir entitled Breaking New Ground on the Global Stage: Memoirs of Kuwait’s First Woman Ambassador with Modern Memoirs in 2025. This Assisted Memoir took eleven months from the day we started the project to the day her first books arrived on her doorstep. We asked Al Mulla to reflect on what the publication process was like for her, and what it has meant to share her book with others.
Nabeela Al Mulla started her four-decade diplomatic career in the 1970s, when she began serving in the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry. This work included time at the United Nations in the turbulent Gulf War era. Al Mulla went on to make history with a series of ground-breaking appointments:
In 1993, she became Kuwait’s first woman ambassador with her posting in Zimbabwe. This was followed by other postings in Southern Africa during Nelson Mandela’s transformative presidency in post-apartheid South Africa.
From 2002–2003, she served as the first woman from the Middle East and South Asia region to chair the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency. This was during the launch of the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In 2004, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait, she became the first Arab woman ambassador to the UN.
Al Mulla’s impassioned dedication to global cooperation continued as she went on to lend her expertise to NATO, the IAEA, and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, among other organizations.
1. If you could travel back in time to give advice to your younger self, what concept or practice would you tell her is essential to becoming effective and successful in diplomatic service?
Nabeela Al Mulla: I would tell my younger self: never stop learning, and never stop challenging yourself. The world of diplomacy is constantly evolving—what you think you know today may be reshaped by tomorrow’s events. I would also remind myself that the path you imagine at the start of your career is not always the one you will follow. And that’s okay. Sometimes the unexpected opportunities, the unplanned detours, end up being the most rewarding. True success, in diplomacy and indeed in life, comes from adaptability, openness to change, and the courage to keep growing—no matter where life takes you.
2. You have been dedicated to arms control and disarmament since your student days. Of what achievement in your career are you most proud for its contribution to peace and security in the Middle East?
Nabeela Al Mulla: I am most proud of the work we did at the International Atomic Energy Agency, particularly during my time chairing the Board of Governors. That period—amid growing global tensions over nuclear proliferation—demanded delicate balance: advocating for Middle Eastern security concerns, supporting international frameworks, and ensuring Kuwait’s voice was part of the global disarmament dialogue. Knowing that I could contribute to strengthening the non-proliferation regime, even modestly, is a point of gratification.
“I hope readers, especially young people, take away the understanding that history is shaped by those who persevere despite doubts and setbacks.”
3. You became an ambassador in 1993, yet women in Kuwait did not win the right to vote until 2005. How did you reconcile this disparity in empowerment?
Nabeela Al Mulla: I was proud to break barriers and represent my country at the highest diplomatic levels, but I always understood that Kuwait, like any young nation, was still finding its footing. More importantly, what matters is that women participate meaningfully in national decision-making—bringing their voices, expertise, and perspectives to the table. It was never just about formal milestones; it was about ensuring that women contribute to shaping the country’s future. Progress takes time, but I believed deeply that my own work could help demonstrate that Kuwaiti women were already making valuable contributions to our nation’s success on the world stage.
4. Why was it important to you to record your life journey? What insights do you hope readers will gain by reading your memoir?
Nabeela Al Mulla: Writing this memoir was, above all, an act of reflection—and a token to the next generation. I wanted to offer an honest account of the triumphs, but also the challenges and lessons learned along the way. I hope readers, especially young people, take away the understanding that history is shaped by those who persevere despite doubts and setbacks. I also wanted to document Kuwait’s diplomatic story, as seen through my personal lens, so it is not lost to time.
5. What surprised you most about the process of writing your memoir? What did you learn about yourself along the way?
Nabeela Al Mulla: What surprised me most was how reflective the process became. I had initially approached it as a way to document key events and milestones, but I soon realized it was also an opportunity to take stock of the broader journey—to look back thoughtfully on the choices, challenges, and shifts over time. Writing the memoir reminded me that even a long career is made up of many small moments, and that leadership often means navigating change with consistency and a sense of purpose. It reaffirmed for me the importance of perspective and measured judgment, both in public life and in private reflection.