Alya Alhabtari

Biography

Alya Alhabtari is a senior at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), double majoring in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Social Research and Public Policy. Her experiences include public sector consulting at McKinsey & Company, investment banking at Standard Chartered Bank, and research focused on policy and governance across various regions. Alya has represented NYUAD in several international debate tournaments and has led and organized initiatives to promote debate and public speaking skills among youth in the UAE, including NYUAD’s first Women’s Debate and Public Speaking Conference and national debate competitions. She will pursue a Master of Public Policy at Oxford, with the goal of advancing foreign aid strategies that address gender-based challenges in Muslim-majority countries.