Dubai: Over 2,000 speakers, including heads of state, will attend the Global Women’s Forum to be held in Madinat Jumeirah on February 23-24, it was announced on Tuesday.
Held in the Mena region for the first time, the forum will bring together experts and officials from around the world representing business, government, academia, art and culture — all under the theme ‘Let’s Innovate’.
The forum will include keynote speeches by Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile, Queen Rania of Jordan, and Shaikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“The event will serve as a crucial platform for the Arab world as a whole, to showcase the capabilities and achievements of the strong, talented and innovative women we have here in this region, and to serve as a catalyst for real change,” said Shamsa Saleh, CEO of Dubai Women’s Establishment (DWE) at a press conference today.
According to DWE, the women labour participation rate in the UAE stands at 47 per cent, with the country being the first Arab nation to require a representation of women on boards of directors by law in the public and private sector.
Saleh also emphasised the need to discuss the changing perceptions and misleading stereotypes surrounding Arab women, and the improvement of the gender balance.
Exploring what innovation really means in today’s technology-focused era, the forum will aim to strengthen the influence of women globally, inspiring future generations to actively participate in nation building.
“There is a greater need for more women to participate in creative sectors, be corporate leaders, engage in conversations around innovation, and be a part of the discovery process that leads to breakthroughs and inventions,” said Huda Bu Humaid, senior vice-president of Group Marketing and Communication at Dubai Holding, during the press conference.
Building on the theme of innovation, the event will focus on five key pillars — achieving, creating, giving, energising, and sustaining, and will feature five main plenary sessions.
This year, the event will also host the Discovery Exhibition, which will feature a variety of hubs, including the Social Impact Hub by telecommunication company du, and the Energy Hub by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) — the main partners of the event.
Among the speakers at the Global Women’s Forum:
- Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile
- Queen Rania of Jordan
- Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius
- Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund
- Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of International Cooperation and Development
- Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State
- Emma Bonino, Former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO, Dewa
- Hissa Abdullah Ahmad Al Otaiba, Ambassador to Spain
