In a historic first, HH The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has appointed four new female members to the Advisory Council. He issued a decree renewing the membership of some of its other members.

The four new women members are Hessa Sultan Jaber Mohamed Al Jaber, Aisha Youssuf Omar Al Hamad Al Mannai, Hend Abdurrahman Mohamed Mubarak Al Muftah and Reem Mohamed Rashid Al Hammoudi Al Mansouri, reported Gulf Times.

The appointment of the four women to one of Qatar’s most important consultative bodies — the Shura Council — is a first-time occurrence in the country’s history.

The 45-member council is responsible for discussing draft laws approved by the cabinet, general government policy and the state’s draft budget, reported The Peninsula.

“Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued an Emiri decree renewing the membership of some Shura Council members and appointing 28 new members to include women for the first time in the history of the council,” said a statement on the Qatar News Agency.

“Women play an important role in national decision-making in all fields,” Qatar Tribune quoted Hend Abdurrahman, who works at the Doha Institute for Postgraduate Studies, as saying.

She added that this role covered government institutions and the ‘overall development process in the country.’

In 2015, two women had been voted on to the country’s only directly elected body — the Central Municipal Cuncil.

Previously, Jaber became only the third woman appointed to the Cabinet, when she was selected as communications minister in 2013. She was also appointed to Volkswagen's advisory board after Qatar's investment in the German carmaker.

Earlier this week, Qatar announced the appointment of its first foreign ministry spokeswoman, Lulwah Rashid al Khater.