Shaikha Haya was one of the first two women in Bahrain to practice law when she was admitted as a lawyer in Bahrain in 1979. Prior to setting up her practice, she was the vice chairwoman of the International Bar Association from 1997 to 1999.

She was the former counsel at the Bahrain Ministry of State for Legal Affairs as well as a senior attorney at another major Bahraini law firm. She has been admitted to the Court of Cassation and the Constitutional Court of Bahrain and is a member of the Bahrain Bar Association.

Shaikha Haya obtained a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Kuwait in 1974. She has also obtained a Diploma in Civil Rights Private Law from the University of Alexandria, Egypt, in 1986 and a Diploma in Comparative Law from the University of Ain Shams, Egypt, in 1988.

Shaikha Haya has had an illustrious diplomatic career. From 2000 to 2004 she was Bahrain’s Ambassador to France and its non-resident Ambassador to Belgium, Switzerland and Spain, becoming the first Bahraini woman Ambassador. She is also Bahrain’s permanent delegate to UNESCO, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. She has been the President of the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly which closed in September 2007.

She is the third woman to hold the position.

Shaikha Haya has been recognized among top ranked and leading lawyers in Bahrain in IFLR1000, Chambers & Partners and Legal500.

Shaikha Haya is fluent in Arabic, French and English.