Organized by Dubai Women Establishment. It kicks off today in London

20 Emirati women participate in the "Women on Global Boards" program

The Women in Global Boardrooms programme, organized by Dubai Women Establishment until the fifth of June, kicks off today in London, with the participation of 20 female employees representing elite leaders in various entities in the government, semi-government and private sectors.

Organised under the patronage of the wife of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the UAE Gender Balance Council and Chairperson of Dubai Women Establishment, the programme is part of Dubai Women Establishment's efforts to upgrade women's career and leadership skills to enhance their role in shaping the future of Dubai and the UAE in general.

The program mainly aims to introduce the tasks and responsibilities of board members in various institutions, especially the world, in addition to providing Emirati women leaders participating in the program with high-level leadership and management skills.

Creating the future

Naima Ahli, Director of Corporate Support and Acting CEO of Dubai Women Establishment, said: "Under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Foundation is always keen to improve the performance of Emirati leaders and work to prepare a promising generation of women, and refine them with the necessary tools to deal with strategic challenges, contribute to shaping the future, and provide the main enablers that qualify them to play an important role in local and international institutions, and achieve unprecedented results and achievements in the field of leadership."

She added that the Women in Global Boardrooms Program, which is implemented in cooperation with the Institute of Directors in London, which is one of the world's most prestigious institutions in the field of governance, achieves the objectives and axes focused on the strategic plan 2023-2027 of Dubai Women Establishment, related to the development of women leaders, creating an enabling environment for women in the labor market, and improving the quality of life and stability of women. based on the availability of supportive legislation and policies, and keenness to establish constructive partnerships and provide opportunities for Emirati women to influence locally and globally.

Big strides

For her part, Sultana Saif, Director of the Women's Development Department at Dubai Women Establishment, said: "The program targets women leaders in the first ranks in the government, semi-government and private sectors by providing training material that has been carefully designed by leaders with distinguished global experiences, and depends on the application of the concept of peer learning and benefiting from effective management methods."

She added: "The keenness of the state and its various institutions to refine the capabilities of Emirati women confirms the interest in their prominent and pivotal role in advancing the social and economic future of the UAE," noting that the state has made great strides in enhancing the representation of women in decision-making positions, and took the lead at the regional level in 2012 in issuing laws and legislation binding on government institutions on the need for women to be represented on boards of directors, in addition to the decision issued by the Securities and Commodities Authority in 2021 on the need for women to be represented on boards Managing companies listed on the financial markets, within the framework of ensuring the empowerment of Emirati women and encouraging them to play a greater role on the boards of directors of companies.

The program includes seven key areas that are essential for current and future managers and senior governance professionals: corporate governance, director strategy, effective board, risk management, finance for non-financial managers, director role, and board role.

Entities

Women in Global Boardrooms program members come from a number of government, semi-government and private sector entities, including: Prime Minister's Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Financial Audit Authority, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), Dubai Future Foundation, Government of Dubai Media Office, Dubai Media Incorporated, Dubai Women Establishment, Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment, Group Emirates, Department of Government Support – Abu Dhabi, ADNOC, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Emirates Global Aluminium, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).

• 7 main themes of the program, including the strategy of managers and an effective board of directors.