Her Highness:

• Arab women have always stood as leaders, sources of inspiration, and unwavering partners in peace and war, defending their homeland with strength and dedication. They are the builders of society and the shapers of future generations.
• Distinguished by their courage, Arab women have excelled in even the most challenging professions while upholding their values, morals, and unwavering adherence to their principles and traditions.
• Arab women do not require a modern narrative to advocate for their rights or redefine freedom and balance on their behalf. Equality is already ingrained in their way of life—they work, build, and thrive with purpose and distinction.
• In our society, women’s voices are heard and resonate deeply within the hearts of our leadership, which has opened every door and created boundless opportunities for them to soar in spaces of creativity and excellence.
• Emirati women have left an indelible mark across diverse sectors, proving time and again their capability to achieve leadership and excellence in every field they pursue.
• I salute the Palestinian woman for her steadfastness and determination, embodying the true essence of sacrifice and generosity.

Her Highness paid tribute to influential Emirati women, including her grandmother, the late Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan, who was a trailblazer and decision-maker.

Her Highness also shared personal anecdotes, reflecting on moments that brought together Sheikha Latifa and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, highlighting her grandmother’s profound influence and legacy.

Her Highness honoured Sheikha Hessa bint Al Murr, who was not only a trusted advisor and confidant to her husband, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum but also a woman of remarkable expertise and knowledge in business administration and political affairs.

 

 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 26, 2024 – Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Member of the Dubai Council, and Member of The Executive Council of Dubai, attended the third edition of the Global Women’s Forum Dubai today. The event, organised by the Dubai Women Establishment under the theme ‘The Power of Influence’, is taking place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

During the forum, Her Highness delivered an inspiring keynote speech celebrating the achievements of Arab women, tracing their journey from the dawn of history to the present day. Her address highlighted the profound contributions of Arab women across various fields and their influential role in shaping the prosperity of societies. Her Highness stressed the importance of changing outdated stereotypes and preconceived judgments that some hold about Arab women, reaffirming their enduring impact and leadership in driving progress and development.

In her speech, Her Highness highlighted the multifaceted roles Arab women have played throughout history, emphasising their leadership, resilience, and ability to inspire. She described how Arab women have always been integral partners in both peace and war — defending their homeland, treating the wounded, and excelling in commerce as trailblazing businesswomen. At home, they nurtured future generations and contributed to the building of nations, balancing their professional and familial responsibilities with extraordinary grace.

Her Highness underscored the courage of Arab women who have excelled in challenging fields such as education, health, the judiciary, diplomacy, and military service. Despite these demands, they have remained firmly rooted in their values and traditions, adhering to principles that reflect their strength and dignity. Their determination has made history, paving the way for women to become pioneers across various domains.

Drawing on the historical role of women in the Arab world, Her Highness pointed out their significant contributions since the beginning of Islam. Women entered the field of medicine, earning recognition for their expertise in treating the wounded during battles and developing drugs and remedies. They established the first field hospital in history and expanded their ambitions further, achieving milestones such as piloting aeroplanes in 1933, advancing as atomic scientists in the 1940s, becoming ministers in the 1950s, and ultimately breaking barriers as astronauts in 2021 on their continuing path of achievement.

Her Highness called for correcting outdated stereotypes about Arab women, emphasising the importance of telling and celebrating their inspiring stories. She highlighted that Arab women are enduring symbols of strength, creativity, and generosity who do not require modern narratives to advocate for their rights or redefine freedom and balance on their behalf. For Arab women, equality is not a demand but a lived reality — they thrive in a society that values their contributions, where their voices are heard, and their potential is embraced by the leadership that has opened every door to creativity and excellence.

She also expressed heartfelt appreciation to every Emirati woman who has left a lasting mark across various sectors. She reflected on the legacy of her grandmother, the late Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a true pioneer and decision-maker. Her Highness recounted cherished moments shared by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with his mother, renowned for her herbal treatment expertise. People would travel great distances to seek her remedies, reflecting her deep knowledge and compassion.

Her Highness also paid tribute to Sheikha Hessa bint Al Murr, a trailblazing figure who served as a trusted confidante and advisor to her husband, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum. Renowned for her extensive expertise in business management and political affairs, Sheikha Hessa was a visionary leader and a prominent businesswoman who actively shaped Dubai’s economic and political landscape. Her council in the Al Maktoum House became a vital space where women sought her guidance, and her dedication to philanthropy and charitable work further cemented her legacy as a compassionate and influential figure.

She also emphasised that what she highlighted represents only a fraction of the immense contributions and achievements of Arab women, whose inspiring efforts continue to deserve the highest recognition. In particular, Her Highness paid tribute to Palestinian women, saluting their steadfastness and determination, which embody the true essence of sacrifice and generosity.

Her Highness concluded her speech by emphasising the importance of uniting efforts to shape a promising future that supports women’s achievements globally, free from stereotypes and prejudices. She called for leveraging the immense influence of women in ways that create meaningful impact across all sectors.

The Global Women’s Forum serves as an international platform, convening leaders, senior government officials, private sector executives, academics, and entrepreneurs to spotlight the pivotal contributions of women in various development pathways. This forum highlights women’s achievements’ profound economic and social impact while showcasing global best practices that empower and support women.

This year’s edition features more than 60 dynamic sessions led by 100 influential speakers from diverse sectors, focusing on three core themes: ‘Future Economies, Future Societies,’ ‘Joint Efforts, Shared Responsibilities,’ and ‘Impactful Technology, Impactful Innovations.’ The forum highlights inspiring global female leaders and reinforces the role of women as drivers of progress.

The Global Women’s Forum 2024 brings together leading national and international partners from the public and private sectors, including Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Cultural Partner), Emirates Airlines (Official Carrier), ADNOC (Energy for Life Partner), Emirates Global Aluminium (Economy Platform Partner), E& (Technology Partner), Cartier Women’s Initiative (Supporting Partner), and Mediclinic (Official Health Partner). Media partners include Dubai Media Incorporated, Abu Dhabi Media Company, Arabian Radio Network (ARN), Sky News Arabia, The National, Al Khaleej Newspaper, Forbes Middle East, and more.

Since its debut in 2016, hosted by the Dubai Women Establishment, the Global Women’s Forum has become a defining event in the Middle East and North Africa region. With remarkable success in 2020, it continues to serve as a beacon of progress and empowerment, showcasing Dubai’s commitment to championing women’s contributions on the global stage.

-ENDS- 

 

About Dubai Women Establishment

Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) was formed as a statutory body of Dubai Government in 2006 under law no. (24) by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. DWE aims to enhance the professional and leadership capabilities of women, increase their participation in the comprehensive development journey, and strengthen their role in shaping the economic and social future of Dubai, by proposing and developing relevant and impactful policies. DWE is headed by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of DWE and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. DWE’s strategic plan for 2023-2027 includes three pillars: creating an enabling environment for women in the labour market, developing women leaders, and enhancing the quality of life for women in society, through which DWE seeks to achieve its vision of “Dubai as a pioneering model for women-friendly cities.” The new strategic plan focuses on contributing to the strengthening of supporting legislation and policies, consolidating partnerships and allowing women to influence locally and globally.

About Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024

The Global Women’s Forum Dubai (GWFD) provides a platform to explore new strategies for enhancing gender balance and raising women’s participation in the economy and society worldwide. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, GWFD reflects the UAE’s leadership in advancing gender equality and its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality. Since its inception eight years ago, the forum has become a leading international gathering for fostering dialogue and collaboration to address challenges and opportunities for women worldwide. With a rich agenda featuring diverse discussions, transformative workshops, and impactful speakers, GWFD brings together thought leaders, policymakers, and innovators to inspire progress toward building a more inclusive and sustainable future. The 2024 edition of GWFD, themed The Power of Influence, takes place on November 26-27 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, gathering over 6,000 participants, 250 speakers and 25 prominent figures and ministers from across the globe. The 130 panel discussions at the forum centre on three pillars: Future Economies and Societies, Collective Engagements and Actions, and Impactful Technologies and Innovations.