The UAE is a nation where vision meets action: Sanaa Ouahmane

The UAE’s leadership has played a crucial role in championing gender parity

Last updated:
2 MIN READ
Sanaa Ouahmane, CEO of AWR Mobility Services & AWR Trading, speaking at The Future Women Leaders Forum
Sanaa Ouahmane, CEO of AWR Mobility Services & AWR Trading, speaking at The Future Women Leaders Forum
Virendra Saklani/ Gulf News

“The UAE has not just set the standard for gender balance but reshaped what’s possible,” said Sanaa Ouahmane, CEO of AWR Mobility Services & AWR Trading. She was addressing Gulf News and BeingShe’s The Future Women Leaders Forum 2025 on International Women’s Day today. “The UAE is a nation where vision meets action, proving time and time again that when you invest in women, you accelerate the success of an entire country.”

Speaking to an audience of business leaders, policymakers, and change-makers and high-achievers at InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Ouahmane underscored the nation’s pioneering role in gender equality and the policies that have made it a model for the world.

The UAE’s leadership, she noted, has played a crucial role in championing gender parity, citing the contributions of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, and the continued efforts of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, The Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, as well as initiatives like the UAE Gender Balance Council under Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“In just a few decades, the UAE has achieved what many thought impossible. It ranks first in the Arab world for gender equality, among several other achievements,” she said. “But this success did not happen by chance; it was the result of a clear vision, key policies, and leaders who believed in the potential of women.”

Ouahmane, who oversees six companies and leads more than 500 professionals in the mobility and automotive sector, reflected on her own journey. Raised in Morocco and educated in France, she navigated a male-dominated industry to emerge as a leader. “When I started my career, women were the minority in leadership; not because we lacked ability, but because we lacked opportunity,” she recalled.

Faced with the unspoken rule that leadership roles were reserved for men, she made a defining choice. “I either change my career path to avoid the cultural resistance or confront that mindset from within. I chose the latter.”

Today, she stands as a testament to the power of resilience and vision, using her platform to mentor and uplift other women. She credited AW Rostamani Group for fostering an environment where women can thrive. “Empowering women is a business imperative that fuels long-term success,” she said.

“Across the world, women are redefining industries, leading innovation, and inspiring change, and though the journey globally is far from over, in the UAE I believe we’re ahead in the race.”

As she closed her speech, Ouahmane urged women to embrace their potential and drive change. “Having worked across multiple countries across Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf, I can positively say that the UAE is the one place that truly allows you to reach your full potential with its infrastructure, policies, and vision. We must lead, push boundaries, and pave the way for the next generation of women leaders. This is our time. This is our movement. Let’s lead it. Let’s own it. And let’s drive the future together,” she says.

Sign up for the Daily Briefing

Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox

Up Next