Ambassador
H.E. Maria Belovas is the Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the United Arab Emirates since August 2024. She is also accredited to Kuwait and Qatar, and designated to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Ambassador Belovas is also appointed Estonia’s permanent representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
With over 15 years of experience in international relations and diplomacy, Ambassador Belovas has spent more than half of her career in leadership positions. Her expertise encompasses strategic communication, nation branding, partnership management, and public diplomacy, making her a key figure in Estonia’s global engagement efforts.
Before her current appointment, Ambassador Belovas served as Estonia’s Consul General in San Francisco, where she focused on tech diplomacy and the promotion of trade and investment. Her tenure on the U.S. west coast followed five impactful years in Washington, D.C., where she led the European Union Delegation’s communication and branding initiatives as the head of Press and Public Diplomacy and Spokesperson.
Ambassador Belovas’s diplomatic career includes postings at Estonian embassies in Lisbon and Washington. Additionally, she has held the position of Director General for Communication at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she played a pivotal role in shaping Estonia’s international narrative.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Tartu University and a Master of Science degree (with distinction) in Behavioral and Organizational Psychology from London Metropolitan University.
Ambassador Belovas is fluent in Estonian and English, proficient in Swedish, and has adequate command of Russian and Spanish. She also possesses basic knowledge of French, Portuguese, Italian, Latin, German, and Arabic.