Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated Tuesday the Fourth Arab Women Leadership Forum in Dubai.
In his opening speech, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid said that the UAE government gives high priority to the empowerment of women as one of the main pillars of society development.
He added the government is exerting strenuous efforts to help women achieve their ambitions in work and family life.
Sheikh Mohammad unveiled that the UAE is embarking on a series of legislative reforms to help women strike a balance between work and family life.
The two-day conference, a flagship annual event organised by Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), is themed "Towards Global Competitiveness".
Meanwhile, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) underscored the importance of the competitiveness in achieving progress and welfare for countries.
He added that the development of human resources is the main driver for progress and development.
The forum features a stellar line-up of regional and international decision-makers, CEOs, influencers and experts representing various industries and sectors.
It aims to identify factors that foster women's participation in the country's economic growth, outlining frameworks that encourage the UAE women to take on higher roles in the local workforce and enhancing the UAE's competitiveness on the global front.
It focuses on a wide-array of issues, with panel discussions shedding light on factors that can augment women's participation in the economic growth and development of the country.
The opening day topics include: 'Women In Economy - Participation Impact on Nation's Competitiveness', 'Beyond Numbers: Women's Political Contribution in GCC', 'Gender Perspectives in Legislations'.
On the second day, speakers will deliberate on: 'Competitiveness and Inclusion of Women's Participation in the Private Sector', 'Workplaces That Work: Conducive Policies On Female Retention', and 'Entrepreneurship: An Impact On Competitive Edge.'