Arab News Japan

OSAKA: The Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), in collaboration with the UAE National Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, organized the Emirati Women’s Forum, highlighting the UAE’s progressive model in women’s empowerment.

The event was held under the patronage of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of DWE and wife of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court.

The forum celebrated the UAE’s global leadership in gender balance and women’s empowerment, drawing high-level Emirati female leaders to share their experiences and achievements.

Key speakers included Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, the UAE’s first female minister; Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; Huda Al Hashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs; and Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Government Communications at DEWA. The session was moderated by Mariam Al Tayer from the Dubai Future Foundation.

In her remarks, Sheikha Manal emphasized that the UAE is now reaping the rewards of its forward-thinking leadership, which has positioned the nation among the top countries globally in gender equality indices.

“The UAE’s model of empowering women is now a benchmark internationally,” she said, crediting the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the continued support of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation.”

Sheikha Manal reaffirmed DWE’s commitment to supporting Emirati women’s presence on the global stage and highlighted the organization’s success over the past 20 years in setting high standards in leadership development, economic empowerment, and work-life balance for women.

She also praised the partnership with the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka as a model for effective government collaboration to showcase national achievements, particularly in the field of women’s empowerment.

She lauded the contributions of Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, calling her “an inspiring role model for Emirati women” who led four different ministries and helped elevate the UAE’s global standing.

In her keynote, Sheikha Lubna reflected on her historic appointment as the UAE’s first female minister in 2004, calling it “a defining milestone not just for me, but for the entire journey of Emirati women.”

She emphasized that the UAE leadership has long prioritized women’s inclusion in decision-making roles and praised Emirati women for their innovation, leadership, and dedication to national values.

Chairperson and Managing Director of DWE, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, expressed pride in the forum’s role at such a prominent global platform. “We are proud to share the inspiring journey of Emirati women, who have written remarkable success stories in building their nation,” she said. “Thanks to the UAE’s leadership, Emirati women continue to thrive across all sectors. At DWE, we are committed to expanding impactful global partnerships and taking our message to the world.”

The forum spotlighted four key pillars of the UAE’s women’s empowerment journey: gender balance, cultural identity, governance and policy participation, and leadership in clean energy and sustainability.

The Emirati Women’s Forum at Expo 2025 Osaka underscored the UAE’s sustained progress in empowering women and reaffirmed the country’s ambition to remain at the forefront of global efforts for gender equality and inclusive development.