21-05-2025
Bahrain Showcases Female Leadership at Fortune's Most Powerful Women International Summit in Saudi Arabia
Bahrain made a strong statement on global economic leadership and gender empowerment as an all-female delegation, led by Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), participated in the inaugural Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit held in Saudi Arabia.
Hosted under the theme "New Era for Business: Partnering for Global Prosperity," the two-day summit marked Fortune's first-ever international event in the Middle East. It brought together influential female leaders from across the region and the world to explore emerging trends in the global business landscape and foster collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The Bahraini delegation also included prominent figures: Rana Ebrahim Faqihi, CEO of the National Bureau of Revenue; Sara Ahmed Buhejji, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA); and Hala Ali Yateem, Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB).
Minister Alkhulaif featured in a fireside chat titled 'MPW Spotlight: Bahrain's Path to Economic Transformation,' where she outlined the Kingdom's progress in economic diversification, sustainability, and innovation. She emphasized Bahrain's strategic initiatives to attract investment, build a resilient business ecosystem, and cultivate a future-ready workforce.
In another session, Hala Yateem took part in a panel discussion, 'Driving Growth and Innovation in a Changing World,' where she discussed the dynamic challenges in financial services and the necessity of agility in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Bahrain's presence at this invitation-only summit underscored its commitment to empowering women as leaders and changemakers in the economic sphere. The Kingdom continues to lead in closing the gender skills gap, ranking among the world's top five countries where girls outperform boys in educational outcomes, according to data from the World Economic Forum and the World Bank.
