Sima Abd Rabo
Sima Abd Rabo | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976 Damascus, Syria |
| Occupation(s) | Activist, public policy and innovation advisor |
| Years active | 2000s–present |
| Known for | Syrian civil society activism, advisory role in UAE government |
Sima Abd Rabo (Arabic: سمة عبدربه; born 1976 in Damascus, Syria; also spelled Abd Rabbo or Abedrabboh) is a Syrian activist engaged in civil society and serves as a public policy and innovation advisor to the government of the United Arab Emirates, focusing on advancements in public administration.
Career
Abd Rabo pursued studies in Archaeology at the University of Damascus and furthered her education in literature and translation at Lumière University Lyon 2 in France. She has experience working as an interpreter and translator across Arabic, English, and French languages for international entities such as the United Nations and the European Union. Among her translation projects are prominent works like Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror authored by CIA analyst Michael Scheuer, as well as Dan Brown’s thriller The Da Vinci Code. In an interview conducted in 2008, she expressed concern over a significant decline in Arabic translation quality, criticizing the increasing use of regional dialects rather than Modern Standard Arabic. Since 2010, Abd Rabo has held an advisory position within the General Secretariat of the UAE’s Council of Ministers, affiliated with Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s office. After dedicating time to full-time political and civil society activism related to Syria, she resumed this advisory role in 2015.
Life as a political and civil society activist
With the emergence of the Arab Spring and subsequent Syrian conflict, Abd Rabo—then residing in the UAE—became active within Syrian opposition circles and partnered with international organizations to aid affected local populations. In 2013, she became part of the "Network of Democrats in the Arab World," which collaborates internationally with the International Republican Institute based in Washington D.C.
Utilizing her governmental connections and global network, Abd Rabo has been acknowledged as a key influencer shaping civil society agendas during the Arab Spring period, despite the UAE’s typically critical approach toward regional uprisings. She also helped establish the "Baghdad Policy Club," a forum comprising Middle Eastern specialists, and occasionally offers analysis on Syrian matters for Arabic-language media outlets.
A strong proponent of women’s participation, Abd Rabo has called for Syrian women’s involvement in ceasefire negotiations and oversight processes. In 2014, she co-authored an open letter denouncing Norwegian filmmaker Lars Klevberg for presenting fabricated footage of Syrian war-affected children as genuine—a film funded by the Norwegian Film Institute that attracted considerable controversy.
Originating from a reportedly influential Sunni family background, Abd Rabo is affiliated with the Council of the Syrian Charter, a civil society organization that brings together representatives from diverse Syrian communities. This Council facilitated negotiations leading to a confidential Code of Conduct aimed at fostering Syrian coexistence and appointed Abd Rabo as its spokesperson. Her role within this Council is documented in German government files concerning its activities on German soil.
In 2020, together with Muslim leaders promoting interfaith dialogue, she endorsed a declaration condemning xenophobia and antisemitism while affirming support for global Holocaust remembrance initiatives.