The second Emirati Women's Forum brought together 2,000 senior officials, experts, academics and industry professionals in Dubai on Thursday, marking another step in the UAE's push to expand women's participation in future-facing sectors.
Held at Madinat Jumeirah, the forum was opened by H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and organized by the Dubai Women Establishment. This year's edition was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and President of Dubai Women Establishment.
Why the forum matters this year
The gathering coincides with Emirati Women's Day, held under the theme 'We Emerge Stronger and Better,' a theme announced by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, known as the 'Mother of the Nation.' It also lands during the Dubai Women Establishment's 20th anniversary, giving the 2026 edition added weight as a marker of the organization's two decades of work.
Speaking on the direction ahead, Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized that the next stage will require women not only to benefit from opportunities but increasingly to create them and take broader leadership roles in national development.
Mona Ghanem Al Marri said the 'We Emerge Stronger and Better' theme captures a forward-looking approach in which previous achievements become a foundation for further progress.
Inside the sessions
The forum featured seven main sessions and six specialized workshops, with 18 leaders, government officials and industry professionals taking part as speakers. The 2,000 attendees represented government, semi-government and private-sector organizations from across the UAE, reflecting how broadly the conversation on women's advancement now stretches across the country's institutions.
Who backed the event
The forum drew support from a wide roster of Dubai institutions. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority served as strategic partner, while Dubai Culture took on the role of cultural partner. The Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Islamic Bank joined as key partners, and Dubai Media Incorporated served as media partner. DMCC and the Dubai Business Women Council rounded out the list as supporting partners.
For Dubai and the wider UAE, the scale of participation and the range of partner organizations signal that the conversation around women's role in future sectors is being treated as a mainstream institutional priority rather than a standalone event. With the Dubai Women Establishment marking its 20th anniversary alongside this year's forum, the milestone doubles as a checkpoint on how far that agenda has moved and where it is expected to go next.
Reported by Economy Middle East