
DWE hosts UAE Women's Dialogue in Japan
The dialogue was held under the patronage of Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court.
The dialogue opened with a welcoming speech by Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Chairperson and Managing Director of DWE, followed by an opening keynote from Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi.
The session also featured contributions from 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 Maryam Altayer from Dubai Future Foundation in the presence of Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President, part of TECOM Group PJSC, Board Member of DWE; Fahima Al Bastaki, Former CEO of the Business Development Division at Dubai Financial Market, Board Member of DWE, and Naeema Ahli, CEO of Dubai Women Establishment.
The dialogue highlighted the UAE's success in advancing women's empowerment, focusing on four key themes: gender balance, cultural identity, governance and policy, sustainability and green economy.
On this occasion, Sheikha affirmed that DWE's participation at Expo 2025 Osaka reinforces its unwavering commitment to promoting Emirati women's global presence and celebrating their achievements across various fields for over five decades. These milestones have been made possible by the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the continued support of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, 'Mother of the Nation.'
Sheikha Manal extended her most profound gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, for their enduring support of women's empowerment and their guidance in mobilising resources to ensure women's role in national development.
She stated that the UAE is now witnessing the tangible outcomes of its leadership's foresight and sustainable approach. Ranking among the top countries in global competitiveness indicators for gender balance and women's empowerment, the UAE has also become a global reference for best practices in this field.
WAM
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
an hour ago
- The National
UAE, Jordan and eight other Middle East countries with mandatory military service
In recent years, several Middle Eastern states have introduced or reintroduced military conscription, particularly in the Gulf, motivated by goals of national cohesion, identity, and addressing unemployment. This week, Jordan became the most recent nation to announce its intention to reintroduce mandatory military service 34 years after it was abolished in 1991. So, which countries have military conscription in the region, and what are the conditions for each? UAE: 9 – 24 months Introduced in 2014 under a 44-article law, Emirati men aged 18–30 must serve nine months if they hold a secondary education and 24 months if they do not. Women may volunteer. Kuwait: 12 months Kuwait reinstated conscription in 2017 after having it from 1961 to 2001. The government reintroduced mandatory military service to strengthen national identity and enhance military readiness. Qatar: 4 – 12 months In 2013, Qatar passed a law introducing mandatory military service, primarily to foster national identity and civic engagement among its citizens. The programme, implemented in 2015, aims to instil a sense of patriotism and belonging. In 2018, the programme was expanded to include women. Egypt: 12-36 months One of the most established conscription systems in the Mena region, in place since 1955. It also has one of the largest in the Arab world. All men between the ages of 18 and 30 are required to serve, with the duration depending on education level: 36 months for those without a high school diploma, 24 months for high school graduates, and 12 months for university graduates. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia: Minimum 12 months Mandatory conscription was reintroduced in Morocco in 2019 for men and women aged 19-25. In Tunisia, conscription is compulsory for men and women between 20-25 and in Algeria all citizens over the age of 19 must also serve a mandatory period of 12 months. The primary motivation for reinstatement across these three North African nations has officially been to encourage social cohesion and ameliorate unemployment. Turkey: 6-12 months Military conscription in Turkey has existed continuously since 1927, making it one of the longest-standing in the region. Today, the service is typically 6-12 months, but may be shortened with a substantial financial contribution, and deferments are permitted for some students and professionals. Although women in Turkey have never been required to serve, they can do so voluntarily. Iran: 18-24 months Military conscription in Iran has existed since 1924 and is mandatory for men. Service usually lasts 24 months, with exemptions for students, medical conditions, only sons, and families of "martyrs". Women are not drafted, but may volunteer. Proof of service is critical for many aspects of daily life, making it one of the most binding conscription systems in the region. Israel: 24-32 months Israel has the most comprehensive and long-standing conscription system, covering both men and women. Introduced with the establishment of the state in 1948, the system requires Jewish men and women, as well as Druze men, to serve in the Israeli army. Men typically serve 32 months (reduced from the previous 36), while women serve 24 months (though some combat roles require 32). After active duty, all conscripts enter the reserves and may be called up for years. Certain groups are exempt: Israeli Arabs (with the exception of Druze and some Bedouin volunteers) and most ultra-Orthodox Jews, although this exemption has been fiercely contested in Israeli politics recently. Iraq: Abolished 2003 Iraq had compulsory military service for about 70 years from the 1930s until 2003. Since the US-led invasion and the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq has had no conscription system. Its armed forces are volunteer-only, though the idea of reinstating a draft has occasionally resurfaced in Iraqi politics. Syria: Abolished 2024 Mandatory conscription was abolished as of December 2024, and service is now voluntary under the new transitional authorities. Previously, Syria had a long and often brutal history of compulsory conscription rules and service was often extended beyond the standard 12-21 months. During the country's civil war, many were forced to serve well beyond official terms, with some exceeding a decade. Jordan: Abolished in 1991 with plans to reinstate in 2026 Jordan had a long history of military conscription, with compulsory service from 1966 to 1991, during which time men aged 18-40 had to serve a minimum of two years. In light of recent events in the region, Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II announced on Sunday that the programme would strengthen national identity and young people's connection to their homeland. Lebanon: Abolished 2007 Conscription was abolished in 2007 after the end of the country's civil wars. Before that, men aged 18 and over served 12 months (reduced to six months in 2005 before abolition). The Lebanese army is now volunteer-only. Libya: Rules unclear Although military conscription in the country has a long history dating back to the 1950s, and was firmly in place during Muammar Qaddafi's 42-year rule, since Qaddafi's fall, Libya has had no unified or consistently enforced conscription system. Different authorities (the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, the eastern Libyan National Army, militias) have announced plans for national service at different times, but implementation has been weak or purely local. Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen These countries never implemented compulsory conscription; military services for Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen are voluntary. In the case of Saudi Arabia this is due to the large number of volunteer recruits, with the government reporting volunteer numbers that far exceed the capacity of its military training facilities.


Al Etihad
an hour ago
- Al Etihad
UAE serves as model in advancing women's leadership
20 Aug 2025 14:56 DUBAI (WAM) The UAE has developed a comprehensive framework for women's empowerment, adopting a systematic approach to address challenges, expand opportunities and prepare women for leadership across multiple sectors. These efforts have strengthened the country's competitiveness regionally and entities, such as the UAE Gender Balance Council and Dubai Women Establishment, have contributed significantly to developing Emirati women's leadership capacities and facilitating their advancement to senior posts in both the public and private sectors, in cooperation with leading international Mohammed Al Ghuwais Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said that the Council is intensifying efforts to increase women's participation in the private sector and raise their representation in leadership positions. This, she said, is being achieved through strategies and initiatives aimed at creating inclusive and balanced workplaces, in partnership with strategic stakeholders from both public and private highlighted that a number of national and international companies operating in the UAE have joined the 'SDG 5 Pledge to Accelerate Women's Leadership in the UAE Private Sector'. These companies have voluntarily committed to raising women's representation in middle and senior management roles to at least 30 per cent by 2025 for the first group, and by 2028 for the second group of companies that have recently joined the UAE Gender Balance Council Strategy 2026 aims to further reduce the gender gap across all sectors, enhance the UAE's ranking in global competitiveness reports on gender equality and achieve gender balance in decision-making positions, as well as promote the UAE's status as a benchmark for gender balance this context, the UAE ranked first regionally and 13th globally in the 2025 Gender Inequality Index published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).Naeema Ahli, CEO of Dubai Women Establishment, said that advancing Emirati women's leadership remains one of the organisation's key priorities. She noted that the Establishment continues to design and implement advanced training programmes to build leadership skills for women across sectors, while also preparing them for senior roles in international organisations through specialised programmes developed with global institutions and universities with expertise in executive and leadership education. She added that these programmes aim not only to provide women with modern leadership knowledge and skills, but also to strengthen their understanding of leadership dynamics in changing work environments and build their confidence in decision-making roles.


Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development supports 10 Emirati SMEs to participate in Grains Africa 2025
Nairobi, Kenya: The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) is supporting 10 Emirati SMEs to participate in Grains Africa 2025, a leading global event for advancing agriculture and food security, which will be held from August 21 to 23, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya. The small and medium enterprises (SMEs), supported by KFED are active in agriculture technology, food security, and sustainable agriculture. The participation aligns with KFED's efforts to drive the expansion of the national entrepreneurial ecosystem and catalyse development, particularly in key sectors. It further highlights KFED's strategic vision to promote innovation, empower SMEs and enhance the global competitive edge of Emirati enterprises, while advancing national goals such as Emiratisation across industries and supply chains, as well as export growth. Grains Africa 2025 serves as a gateway to promising agricultural markets, which are poised to reach a USD 1 Trillion by 2030. The event is being held alongside AgroFood‑Plastpack Exhibition 2025, convening exhibitors from 16 countries, further underscoring its role in fostering international collaborations aimed at addressing critical challenges in the food sector and positively shaping the future of the agriculture sector. Her Excellency Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, CEO of KFED, said: 'This participation highlights our commitment to supporting Emirati startups and entrepreneurs, while enhancing their global competitiveness, and is in line with Khalifa Fund's vision to establish a sustainable business ecosystem, which will support long-term growth and economic diversification'. The UAE companies backed by KFED will showcase their innovative solutions at the event, including smart agriculture technologies designed to enhance productivity, value-added food manufacturing ventures and climate-conscious sustainable agriculture solutions. Some of the key exhibitors are East Gate, a specialist in bakery equipment; iPack, high-quality sterile cardboard provider; Printing Talk, offering precision-printed packaging solutions for cafes and food companies; iPlast Industries, a pioneer in plastic pallets and innovative packaging solutions that cater to food and beverage manufacturers, particularly in filling lines; Samira Maatouk, a unique brand of premium Emirati coffee; Orion, supplying advanced packaging products like films, liners, sleeves and bags tailored for the food and beverages industry; and Popular Popcorn, a family business offering healthy and premium popcorn varieties. KFED's participation in Grains Africa 2025 will enable UAE companies to expand into African markets, while strengthening local public-private integration. It further underscores the success of the Fund's 'SME Export Enablement Programme,' launched in 2025, which aims to equip small and medium-sised enterprises with the tools and support necessary to enter international markets. Through expert advisory services, capacity building, and access to global trade platforms, the program enhances the global competitiveness of UAE-based businesses and helps them identify and seize export opportunities. KFED's supported SMEs participation in Grains Africa 2025 is part of the Fund's ongoing efforts to promote sustainable entrepreneurship and strengthen collaboration within one of the world's fastest-growing markets. It also aligns with its strategy to support sustainable development goals (SDGs) and consolidate the UAE's position as a globally leading destination for industrial and agricultural innovation. About Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development: The Khalifa Fund is an independent, non-profit organisation affiliated with Abu Dhabi Government. Its mission is to nurture the culture of entrepreneurship, promote innovation, and offer support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the UAE through a balanced ecosystem. Founded in 2007 in accordance with Law No. 14 of 2005 and its amendments, the Fund was established to align with the vision of the late Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. To learn more about the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, please visit: For further information, please contact: Orient Planet Group (OPG) Tel: +971 2 4418995 Email: media@ Website: