Empowerment of women remains one of the UAE’s strategic priorities

Staff Reporter, Gulf Today

As part of the UAE’s celebrations of Emirati Women’s Day 2025, held under the theme ‘Hand in Hand, We Celebrate 50 Years,’ the Ministry of Economy and Tourism took part in the ‘Women’s Economy Dialogue’ in Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China.

Badreya Al Maidoor, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, affirmed that the empowerment of women remains one of the UAE’s strategic priorities, in line with the wise leadership’s vision to support Emirati women and enhance their role in shaping the nation’s economic future. She emphasized that since its founding, the UAE has adopted a pioneering approach to positioning women as active partners in the country’s development journey, through supportive policies, legislation, and initiatives across both the public and private sectors - making women’s participation in national development a key driver of the UAE’s regional and global competitiveness.

She said: “We take pride in the remarkable achievements of Emirati women across all sectors. Through this dialogue, we aim to expand cooperation with women entrepreneurs in China by fostering economic partnerships built on diversity and innovation, while sharing success stories that inspire the next generation of women leaders in both countries.”

The event was aimed at strengthening the global presence of Emirati women, highlighting their remarkable achievements, and fostering international partnerships between successful women leaders in the economic sector in both the UAE and China. These efforts align with the UAE wise leadership’s vision to support and empower women and to reinforce their role in shaping the future.

The UAE delegation participating in the event - organised by the Consulate General of the UAE in Guangzhou - was led by Badreya Al Maidoor and included Mariam Alshamsi, Consul General of the UAE in Guangzhou; Emirati entrepreneur Maryam Al Mansoori, General Manager of Rebound; as well as representatives from Sky River and Esaal.

The event featured a series of panel discussions highlighting women’s roles in vital sectors such as sustainable finance, investment, fintech, green building, and the localization of foreign companies in the UAE. Women leaders from both countries shared their professional experiences and the opportunities that empowered them.

The event marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s ongoing efforts to reinforce the pioneering role of Emirati women in sustainable development, in line with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision and several other national goals.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism announced that it will host the UAE Africa TourismInvestment Summit on October 27, 2025, in Dubai, as part of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS World 2025) - one of the leading global platforms for the hospitality, tourism, and investment sectors. The Summit aims to enhance economic and tourism partnerships between the UAE and African nations, boosting mutual investments across key priority sectors, particularly tourism, hospitality, and related services.

As part of the initiative, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Bench - the organizers of FHS World - in the presence ofAbdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism. The MoU was signed by Badreya Al Maidoor, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the Ministry, and Daria Smith, Portfolio Director at The Bench. The two parties will collaborate on organizing the event and coordinating its promotional efforts, in line with the Summit’s objective of highlighting investment opportunities in tourism-related activities and projects across the African continent.

The event will bring together over 250 high-level participants, including senior government officials, decision-makers, and investors from 53 African countries, including tourism ministers and representatives of investment promotion agencies from across the continent. This reinforces the UAE’s role as a reliable investment partner for Africa and opens new avenues for strategic collaboration in vital sectors that contribute to building a more integrated and sustainable economic future.

Badreya Al Maidoor said: “The UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit will serve as a

strategic platform for exchanging insights and expertise between the UAE and African nations, supporting sustainable development efforts through the establishment of projects and partnerships that serve mutual interests. This aligns with the objectives of ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision, which aims to position the country as a leading global hub for the new economy, driven by international partnerships and future-focused sectors.”

Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO of The Bench said: “We are honoured to partner with the UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism to launch the UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit as part of FHS World 2025. This collaboration reflects our shared ambition to accelerate investment and development across Africa’s hospitality sector. The UAE has long served as a bridge between global capital and emerging markets, and this new platform will strengthen the connections between African nations and the international investment community.”