Shamsa Saleh: “We look forward to achieving further cooperation with the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society along with different global entities within the next few years to support and strengthen women’s’ role and participation.”

Dubai, UAE, December 4, 2016:  A delegation from Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) participated in the 12th annual Women’s Forum Global Meeting. The assembly organised by the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society took place in Deauville, France from 30th November – 2nd December. 

The 12th edition of the annual forum is built on the theme of “Is the sharing economy a sharing world?” and is considered one of the most prominent global forums which highlight women’s position and their effective role in the development and economic process of countries. DWE’s participation comes as part of their belief in strengthening the role of Emirati and Arab women in the forum following the successful Global Women’s Forum Dubai (GWFD) earlier this year, in addition to DWE’s interest in discussing future and joint cooperation mechanisms with the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society and the possibility of organising additional forums specialised in supporting and enhancing women’s roles and participation.

The delegation included Lamia Abdulaziz Khan, Director of Dubai Ladies Club, AlMaha Al Bastaki, Projects Manager at DWE and Aisha Saeed Harib, a member of the Dubai Youth Council, who was invited to represent the UAE from the “Rising Talents” platform. Harib was chosen during GWFD to join the “Rising Talents” initiative which includes more than 160 females from 50 different countries. The “Rising Talents” programme highlights young females who demonstrate an active and inspirational role within the economy and society. 

Commenting on DWE’s participation, HE Shamsa Saleh, CEO of Dubai Women Establishment, said: “Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and President of Dubai Women Establishment, is keen to increase the DWE’s participation in international forums, especially those which empower women and highlight their role and position in global societies. This is where our participation in the 12th annual Women’s Forum Global Meeting stems from, the delegation discussed ways to further collaborate with the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society in the future, with the possibility of organising additional forums which support women following the great success or organising GWFD during the year, which was held in the Middle East for the first time.” 

Main topics
Throughout the three days, the forum discussed the implications of the sharing economy on international policies, workforce, innovation, ethics, entrepreneurship, urbanism, international business, climate change and other international issues. The forum also discussed whether we are using the trends to make sure we live in a sharing world, or to increase inequalities and the required mechanisms to raise global revenues for the sharing economy from USD15 billion to USD335 billion by 2025.

The forum discussed three pillars around this theme:

1. The sharing economy and the sharing world: A critical exploration of the sharing economy, what’s sharing and not about it, why it has quickly became so popular and how does it work, how is it transforming work and destabilizing industries and sectors, and how are traditional businesses reconfiguring themselves in response. 
2. The collaborative cutting edge: Debates on collaborative policies and on developments and trends of consequence for political, social and environmental collaboration. The forum included sessions on global warming and refugees, science and technology in the sharing space (agriculture, energy, health), and new collaborative urban designs. 
3. Leading for new economic opportunities for women: The session discussed the latest on efforts to advance equal opportunities for all in our economies and societies, and how we can better collaborate for further progress for women and girls. This pillar also featured the CEO Champions, engagement with Gen Y women and men leaders, the opportunity to discuss with members of the Women’s Forum delegations from Canada and the Philippines, and sessions bringing to the Global Meeting speakers and insights from the regional Forums in Dubai, Mexico and Mauritius.

The 12th annual Women’s Forum Global Meeting was attended by a number of leading men and women from different global government, academic and cultural sectors along with multiple pioneers, innovators and those interested in human rights and the empowerment of women, economy, education, science and technology. 

HE Shamsa Saleh added: “The Dubai Women Establishment delegation met with the representatives of the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society along with a number of international delegations during the visit. The delegation discussed the expertise acquired from organising the Global Women’s Forum Dubai and its celebrated success in addition to the UAE’s achievements in supporting women and strengthening their roles in various fields; where we, at Dubai Women Establishment look forward to achieving further cooperation with the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society along with different global entities within the next few years to support and strengthen women’s role and participation.”

During a side meeting at the 12th annual Women’s Forum Global Meeting, the DWE delegation also met with a number of international delegations.  The DWE representatives held a bilateral meeting with the Saudi delegation, where they discussed mutual cooperation and joint efforts to strengthen the role of Arab women and change the prevailing stereotypes about them.