Introduction
Saniya Habboub, the first Lebanese female to pursue a medical degree abroad and become a pioneer of gynecology in Lebanon. She is also a leading figure in women’s healthcare. She has left a legacy that extends far beyond Lebanon. Her achievements have not been confined to Lebanon. Her success was felt in the Arab world and the United Arab Emirates, where she influenced women to become medical professionals. She also connected her legacy with the process of the UAE to the equality of men and women in areas of healthcare and education. This story is going to look at her ordeals, her success, and her legacy, at home and in the UAE.
Dr. Saniya Habboub – Basic Information
| Detail | Information |
| Name | Dr. Saniya Habboub |
| Birth | 1901, Beirut, Lebanon |
| Education | Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (Graduated 1931) |
| Specialization | Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| Career | Opened clinic in Beirut, treated women & children, co-founded Lebanese Red Cross |
| Influence | Inspired Emirati women to study medicine during the UAE’s healthcare development |
| Honours | Lebanese Health Medal of Merit (1982), Street named in Beirut, Google Doodle (2022) |
| Legacy | First Lebanese woman doctor trained abroad, a role model for Arab women in medicine |
Early Life
Saniya Habboub, born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1901, at a time when education for women was very limited, and it was unthinkable that a woman could become a doctor. Adla al-Jazairy was her Turkish mother. Her father was an established leather merchant. Adla, who could neither read nor write herself, believed in the power of education. Her daughter’s education was a top priority.
Early Education in Beirut
Saniya entered the American Junior College for Women, Beirut, where she started her educational career. She was academically bright. She then joined courses in preparation at the American University of Beirut. When, however, it was time to study medicine, a big barrier stood in the way; AUB back then did not allow women to take its medical course.
Learning Across Borders: The Academic Struggle
She did not quit. She rather looked to the world. Travelling to the United States on a journey located in Beirut in the first half of the 20th century was a massive choice. Since this was the case, an Arab woman needed to come out of her culture on the one hand, money on the other, and the uncertainty of the incoming society.
Breaking Barriers in Medicine
In 1926, she was admitted to the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, one of the only colleges then devoted to the education of women as doctors. She was the only Arab in her school, and she had to deal with the pressure of acclimatizing to an academic life in medical school, coupled with being away from her home. Five years after intensive training, she received a gynecology degree and an obstetrics degree. This then became the first female Lebanese to obtain an overseas medical diploma. Not only was it a personal success, but her graduation gave a signal to the Arab society, telling them that they can produce high-quality science and medical research.
Building a medical career in Beirut
In the 1930s, when Dr. Habboub returned to Beirut, he faced new challenges. In the busy Bab Idriss district, she established her clinic where she treated women and children. Her reputation for compassion, professionalism, and expertise grew over time. Her practice flourished as women who had been initially reluctant began to trust her for their personal health needs.
She devoted her time, beyond private practice, to volunteer work in the community. She offered free medical care to women in need who would otherwise not be able to access it. She was one of the co-founders of the Lebanese Red Cross. Her social conscience extended to her leadership in the organization. She served as a board member of many organizations, including the Muslim Orphans’ Home and the Young Women’s Muslim Association.
She played a role that was both medical and symbolic. Her success and presence demonstrated to women that they could hold positions of power and authority in medicine.
Connect with the UAE
She never actually practiced in the UAE; however, her legacy has had a massive influence on development in the country. Being in need of doctors who would be able to serve Emiratis, the latter were frantic about the widespread development of the healthcare system in the UAE in the 1970s-80s. During the 1970s and 1980s, when the UAE was developing its system of health care, male patients urgently needed the services of female physicians to attend to the Emirati women.
A Role Model for Arab Women
She set a model that Arabic women could achieve success on the West Coast, make it back home, and become contributing members of the society, but not lose a touch of their culture. It mattered to the UAE that the balance between modernity and tradition is of priority.
Lasting Legacy in Healthcare
She is commonly mentioned when one talks about female education in the field of medicine in the Gulf. Even now, one can see traces of her legacy in the high percentage of Emirati female doctors. Her vision of Arab women working in positions of leadership in the fields of healthcare, research, and service is represented in the Dubai Health Authority itself, the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and the UAE University College of Medicine.
In this manner, the novel about Dr. Habboub does not exist within the scope of Beirut. It is now a constituent of the Arab story that is one of development and empowerment. The UAE has come to be an emblem of this.
Women’s Mentorship and Advocacy
She was fully conscious of her innovative position and the responsibility of such. She coached women who had an interest in higher education and medicine. She would talk, promote education-oriented programs, and share her experience to encourage girls not to accept limiting social expectations.
She was a role model to young female Arabs. Word of her revolutionary role in being the first woman doctor quickly traveled around the region and into neighboring Gulf states, which culturally did not allow women to practice medicine.
The Regional and Global Importance
The achievements of Dr. Habboub resonated around the globe. Dr. Habboub’s achievements were felt around the world.
- Culturally-sensitive healthcare is essential.
- Professionalism and compassion are required to serve communities.
- Encourage young women to consider a career in medicine.
She became an inspiration for many women, particularly in Gulf countries, such as the UAE, where there was a high demand for female doctors.
Her influence is twofold:
- She raised the status of professional women.
- Her efforts to make modern healthcare accessible to Arab women.
Recognition and Honours
| Year | Honours |
| 1982 | Lebanese Health Medal of Merit |
| Posthumous | She has a street named after her in Beirut |
| 2022 | Google Doodle honoring her memory |
The UAE context of a lasting legacy
Saniya Habboub is still a powerful influence in the UAE today. She embodies many of the UAE’s values:
- Women’s education is the foundation for progress
- The development of healthcare is a cornerstone for national well-being.
Equality of gender in leadership and professional roles.
In Dr. Habboub, the UAE has a vision of the future that is based on innovation and empowerment for women. Her life is a link between the early 20th-century struggles in Lebanon and the 21st-century achievements of Emirati women.
The conclusion:
Saniya Habboub, the first woman physician in Lebanon to be trained overseas, was also a pioneer for her region. She opened the doors to women in the Arab World, and particularly the UAE, who wanted to study or pursue careers in health care.
Her life is an example of courage, dedication, and resilience. She is a powerful symbol of hope, empowerment, and progress.
FAQs – Dr. Saniya Habboub
Q1 Who was Saniya Habboub, the doctor?
Saniya Habboub, (1901) She was the first Lebanese to have studied medicine overseas. She was a pioneering obstetrician and gynecologist, and is known for her medical practices in Beirut as well as her public health work and advocacy of women’s empowerment.
Q2 What are her main achievements?
- The Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1931.
- Opening a private clinic and providing free health care for women and children in Beirut.
- Co-founded Lebanese Red Cross.
- Young women who are interested in medical careers can be mentored.
Q3 What was her influence on women in the UAE
She inspired Emiratis to study medicine in the early days of UAE healthcare. Her story inspired Emirati women to pursue medicine during the early development of healthcare in the UAE.
Q4 What awards did she receive
- Lebanese Health Medal of Merit, 1982
- She was honored with a street in Beirut.
- Google Doodle in 2022
- She has established scholarships in her honor at her alma master.
Q5: What makes her a role model today?
Dr. Habboub is a symbol of courage, empowerment, and education. She broke down societal barriers and encouraged women to pursue careers in medicine. She continues to be an inspiration to female healthcare leaders across Lebanon, the UAE, and the Arab World.
Last modified: August 27, 2025
