First Emirati to represent UAE in upcoming Miss Universe 2025

Twenty-six-year-old Mariam Mohamed has been crowned as the first Emirati to represent the UAE at the upcoming Miss Universe 2025.

A fashion student in Dubai, Mohamed was selected from hundreds of applicants in the UAE to take part in the upcoming global competition to be held on November 21 in Pak Kret, Thailand.

Initially graduating from the University of Sydney in 2021 with a Bachelor of Economics, Mohamed continued her passion as a current fashion design student at ESMOD Dubai. 

Focused on reflecting her heritage, her hobbies include falconry and camel riding, two essential animals portrayed in the UAE culture. 

Mariam hopes to inspire the next generation of Emirati women as she enters the pageant, aiming to showcase the essence of the UAE on a global stage.

Mohamed also joins Nadine Ayoub, a Dubai resident, who will representing Palestine for the first time at Miss Universe. 

The UAE was represented last year by Kosovo-born Emilia Dobreva, who is a long-time Dubai resident.

All nationalities are generally welcomed to register and represent the UAE if they had been living in the country for over three years. 

Over 130 countries will be participating in the 74th edition of the annual Miss Universe 2025 pageant, with an estimated global audience of over 500 million people.