Dubai ruler, Turkish First Lady among attendees at Global Women’s Forum opening ceremony

Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended the opening ceremony of the Global Women’s Forum 2024. Other notable dignitaries included First Ladies Emine Erdoğan of Türkiye, Asifa Bhutto Zardari of Pakistan, and Louise Araneta Marcos of the Philippines.

Focused on advancing women's empowerment and promoting gender balance globally, the Forum brings together over 6,000 participants from around the world, including international leaders, ministers, and prominent private sector figures.

During his address, Sheikh Mohammed affirmed the Forum’s role in advancing dialogue on women's empowerment and equitable opportunities. He commended global initiatives supporting gender balance and reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to these efforts, guided by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's leadership.

He also highlighted the contributions of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the 'Mother of the Nation',and expressed pride in the UAE’s progress in empowering women.

The UAE now ranks seventh globally and first regionally in the Gender Equality Index 2024— a significant milestone attributed to leadership driven policies and the establishment of the UAE Gender Balance Council.

Türkiye First Lady addresses women’s role in STEM

Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan delivers an address at the opening ceremony of the Global Women’s Forum 2024 in Dubai.WAM

Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan was also a key speaker, emphasizing the importance of encouraging women to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and artificial intelligence (AI). Despite making up half of the world’s population, women remain underrepresented, accounting for just 30% in STEM and only 26% in AI roles.

“Technologies in which women are not involved in the design and production processes cannot lead us to a better future,” said Erdogan.

She also addressed broader humanitarian concerns, such as global hunger, displacement, and the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Erdogan highlighted that over a billion people suffer from hunger annually, while 1.3 billion tons of food go to waste. She also emphasized the plight of over 100 million displaced people, with most seeking refuge in low-income countries. Calling for urgent international action, Erdogan urged the global community to respond more decisively to these escalating challenges.