On Wednesday 27 July 2016, the AIWF was honored to welcome Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, U.A.E., Chairperson of Nama Women Advancement Establishment and Founder & Patron of Sharjah Business Women Council on her visit to London with a Luncheon at The Royal Automobile Club.
Mrs Haifa Al Kaylani, Founder Chairman of the Arab International Women’s Forum, acknowledged the high regard and esteem with which the AIWF and the wider Arab and global community, value Her Highness’ exceptional achievements in empowering and advancing women, girls, youth, families, entrepreneurs and entire communities not only in the UAE but across and beyond the Arab world.
The support that Her Highness provide for businesswomen and her vision to empower women entrepreneurs to achieve their goals inspired her to found the Sharjah Business Women Council in 2002. The AIWF is especially proud to have worked in full partnership with the SBWC since 2012 on a considerable number of successful events and initiatives targeting entrepreneurship and job creation issues in the MENA region, as well as the invaluable contributions that Arab women make in business and in public life.
The AIWF also acknowledged Her Highness’s role and exemplary leadership in founding the Nama Women Advancement Establishment, which aims to elevate women’s status in Sharjah and in the wider Arab world and promote their important role in the economic, professional and social sectors. Nama is mandated to launch, manage and supervise initiatives, programmes and projects to develop women’s skills, capacity and opportunities in the UAE and throughout the region, and it has forged strong partnerships with local and international bodies such as the UNDP to expand women’s economic opportunity and promote women’s inclusion and participation.
Additionally, in her opening remarks, Mrs Al Kaylani took the opportunity of the Luncheon to recognize Her Highness’s valuable achievements in founding several humanitarian and philanthropic initiatives including the Big Heart Foundation; the Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation; Friends of Cancer Patients; Friends of Kidney Patients; Friends of Diabetes Patients; Lebanon War Relief; and the Investing in the Future initiative to protect refugee children.
Moreover, Mrs Al Kaylani acknowledged Her Highness for being the International Ambassador for the World Cancer Declaration of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), and for receiving the numerous awards and accolades for her social, humanitarian and development work, including the First Arab Lady Award and the Golden Humanitarian Award, among many others.
The Luncheon was very well attended by close to thirty guests, including the AIWF Board Members, Global Partners, Diplomatic guests, heads of leading institutions and distinguishes members of the business community, and leading figures from the Arab, European and international community in London.
