His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, attended the opening of the third edition of the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024, which commenced Tuesday in Dubai, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, attended the opening of the event which has brought together more than 6,000 participants including prominent international figures, ministers, senior officials, and representatives from international institutions and the private sector, all dedicated to advancing women's empowerment and promoting gender balance.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum welcomed the forum’s participants, highlighting the forum's significance as a platform to advance dialogue on empowering women, and ensuring equitable opportunities.
His Highness commended international initiatives supporting women's empowerment and reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to advancing gender balance globally, guided by the visionary leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
His Highness also highlighted the significant local and international contributions of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, 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 (FDF).
Expressing pride in the UAE's progress in the areas of women’s empowerment and gender balance, His Highness emphasised the nation’s unwavering belief in the potential of women and its commitment to providing support that empowers them to excel across all vital sectors. He reaffirmed their role as equal partners in shaping the future, driven by talent and meaningful contributions.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Emine Erdogan, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye; Asifa Bhutto Zardari, First Lady of Pakistan; and Louise Araneta Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines.
The opening session of the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024 was also attended by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council; H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council; along with ministers, senior officials, representatives of international organisations and institutions, department heads, and dignitaries.
On the occasion of the launch of the third edition of the Global Women’s Forum Dubai, H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of the Dubai Women Establishment, and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, expressed her gratitude for the support of the UAE’s leadership, acknowledging that the global dialogue at the forum would not have been possible without their encouragement. She emphasised the UAE's leadership role across all sectors and its strong position in advancing gender balance.
H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed also emphasised that the forum was driven by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who believed in women’s potential to take on pivotal roles and responsibilities in advancing sustainable, inclusive development.
Sheikha Manal highlighted the UAE's efforts to forge impactful international partnerships, with the forum serving as a key platform for success. She further reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to working closely with global partners to turn agreements into concrete outcomes, empowering women to shape their communities' future and contribute to the nation’s growth.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also attended a keynote address by Emine Erdogan, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye; in which she said that empowering women across the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and AI is imperative to support and reinforce gender equality in a world changing at an unprecedented pace thanks to advanced technology.
“As we move rapidly towards an uncertain future, we need a common road map more than ever. At this point, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations for 2030 serve as a guide. The basis of the goals lies in the following principle: Leaving No One Behind,” she said.
However, women who make up half of the world’s population, were still left behind with their share in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at around 30 percent, and in the case of Artificial Intelligence (AI), at only 26 percent. Men and women are like the right and left feet of a body and one cannot progress without the other, the First Lady said, adding that “technologies in which women are not involved in the design and production processes cannot lead us to a better future.”
In this context she said that the comprehensive work of the Dubai Women Establishment is exemplary for the whole world.
“Emirati women are following in the footsteps of a visionary leader who paved the way for them years ago. Sheikha Fatima was one of the pioneers of her time, an exemplary figure who has proven how women can transform the world, starting from their own societies,” she said.
Calling the UAE as one of the most important cultural intersections in the world, she said the institutions founded by its visionary leaders, and the impact of the work they carried out have changed the lives of countless women today and become a source of courage and hope.
“Each of us has different traditions, beliefs, ideologies. Our countries have different agendas. Despite all these distinctions, we are aware of this fact, as humanity, we are all on the same ship, heading towards a common future,” she added.
