Washington, D.C. – The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted an exclusive breakfast panel and discussion featuring a delegation of female leaders visiting from the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C. The event brought together a diverse and intimate group of senior business executives representing companies operating in both nations that have made significant progress in female empowerment in the workplace.
U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny Sebright kicked off the breakfast by introducing the panel of delegates, each holding senior positions in government and the private sector. In his opening remarks, Sebright applauded the U.A.E.’s formidable leadership in the G.C.C. region on the issues of gender equality and female empowerment, while highlighting the grassroots efforts of Emirati women who continuously push for greater transparency and equality in the workforce.
Members of the visiting Emirati women’s delegation discuss their personal and professional experiences in advancing women’s rights and empowerment in the broader U.A.E. before an audience of senior business executives.
Following Sebright’s introduction, each delegate addressed the audience, drawing from unique professional and personal experiences. In their remarks, the delegates emphasized both the opportunities and the challenges facing Emirati women in the public and private sector and how U.S. companies can partner with organizations in the U.A.E. to promote shared interests of women’s progress and advancement. Specifically, the delegation discussed the difficulty of guiding Emirati graduates into the private sector as opposed to the lucrative and established public sector careers that typically attract young professionals. Also mentioned in depth was the need for an influx of skilled researchers and how the U.A.E. and the U.S. might work together on joint research projects, funded by private companies.
“We are very fortunate to be from the U.A.E., not only as women, but as citizens,” said Her Excellency Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, leader of the delegation and First Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC). “Our friendship with the U.S. holds many different aspects and [the purpose of] our being here today is to bridge any gaps and to strengthen the friendship.”
The delegates went further in laying out future plans of the Emirati government to push gender equality across the workplace and the broader society, highlighting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MoFA) plans to create a human rights council workshop for the G.C.C. region this year and hopes to include private sector companies to participate.
Following the formal program, guests in attendance were given the opportunity to share their own personal experience and advice advocating for a multi-faceted approach to foster a global business environment rooted in strong female engagement, visibility, and performance.
The U.A.E. visiting women’s delegation has been in Washington, D.C. all week meeting with officials and representatives from Capitol Hill, the State Department, prominent think-tanks, as well as private sector companies that operate in the U.A.E. Later today, they will embark to New York City to meet with officials from the United Nations’ Women’s Executive Board, followed by senior officials from prominent New York City businesses and organizations.
Members of the delegation included: H.E. Dr. Amal Abdullah Juma Al Qubaisi, Deputy Speaker, U.A.E. Federal National Council; H.E. Dr. Mona Al Bahar, Director of the Social Development Program, Emirates Foundation; H.E. Afra Rasheed Eid Al Basti, Executive Director, Dubai Foundation for Women and Children; Asma Abdulla Al Fahim, Vice President, European International College of Hotel Management and Tourism; Afra Al Hameli, Policy and Planning Department, U.A.E. Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Safaa Al Mohdar, Director of Internal Medicine, Zayed Military Hospital; Amna Al Muhairy, Deputy Director of Human Rights, U.A.E. Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Shaima Hussein Gargash, Second Secretary of Human Rights, U.A.E. Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Lamia Khan, Director of Corporate Communication, Dubai Women’s Establishment; and Aysha Taryam, Editor-in-Chief, The Gulf Today Newspaper.
