UAE Gears Up for Global Women’s Forum 2024

Dubai, The Gulf Observer: Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council (UAE GBC) and Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, expressed her profound gratitude to the UAE leadership for its unwavering commitment to advancing women’s roles in the nation’s development and future-building initiatives.

Speaking ahead of the Global Women’s Forum – Dubai 2024, which will be held on 26–27 November at the Madinat Jumeirah under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Her Highness highlighted the UAE’s distinguished achievements in gender balance, as evidenced by its 1st regional and 7th global ranking in the 2024 Gender Equality Index by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“The UAE’s forward-thinking leadership has cemented the country’s position as a global leader in gender balance and women’s empowerment,” said Her Highness. “The Global Women’s Forum continues to fulfill its mission of galvanizing international efforts in women’s empowerment, advancing gender balance, and furthering the UAE’s excellence in this area.”

Forum Highlights Key Themes for Women’s Advancement
During a press conference hosted by the Government Dubai Media Office, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Chairperson of the Board and Managing Director of DWE, unveiled the Forum’s agenda, organized around three thematic pillars:

1. Future Economies, Future Societies – Exploring women’s critical contributions to economic growth and societal progress.
2. Collective Engagements, Collective Actions – Developing strategies to enhance women’s economic and social participation globally.
3. Impactful Technologies, Impactful Innovations – Emphasizing technology as a driver of future development.

The Forum will feature over 130 sessions, with contributions from 250 influential speakers, 25 global ministers, and representatives from international organizations, alongside youth leaders and entrepreneurs from 65 countries.

Global and Local Partners
The event is supported by global organizations, including the World Bank Group, OECD, UNDP, World Economic Forum, and Atlantic Council. Local sponsors and partners include Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Emirates Airlines, and ADNOC, among others.

Prominent Speakers and Sessions
The Forum will include keynote addresses from distinguished leaders, including:

• H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, discussing cultural diplomacy.
• H.H. Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, sharing her experiences in equestrianism.
• Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of Türkiye.
• Saida Mirziyoyeva, Assistant to the President of Uzbekistan.

Beyond dialogue, the Forum will showcase UAE-led initiatives promoting gender balance and women’s empowerment globally, cementing the nation’s reputation as a leader in this critical domain.