President Higgins received Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi at Áras an Uachtaráin.
Dr. Al Qubaisi, who represents Abu Dhabi in the Federal National Council, is the first female leader of a national parliament in the Gulf region.
Appointed in November 2015, Ms. Al Qubaisin was the first woman elected to the United Arab Emirates national assembly, and the first female leader of the Emirates' national parliament.
She met with President Higgins before, in March 2017.