A message from Haifa Al Kaylani, President & Founder of the Arab International Women’s Forum

From its inception in London in 2001 AIWF’s mission has been to build bridges and critical business, cultural and development links between the Arab world and the international community with women at the heart and centre of our mission. The AIWF provided a unique platform for women from the Arab world to connect with their counterparts globally to build bridges of knowledge and understanding and build business. It was an honour to serve as Chair for over 20 years and now, 25 years later, to continue to serve as President & Founder. On behalf of the Board of AIWF, I take this opportunity to reflect on AIWF’s remarkable journey from a vision of cross-cultural dialogue into a powerful global advocate for women’s economic empowerment, inclusion and leadership in the MENA region and globally.

AIWF is a unique institution that has shown its impact through a distinguished track record of shaping policy dialogue, strengthening women’s leadership, and driving inclusive economic growth across the MENA region and beyond, and I am immensely proud of the milestones we have achieved and the many lives we have touched. As its Founder, I am humbled by the truly inspirational and tireless contributions of our Board Members (both our Founder and current Board), the corporate and institutional partners who have supported us throughout our rich and impactful journey, and for the enduring partnerships and friendships that have sustained our mission.

Over the past two and a half decades, I have had the pleasure and the privilege to engage with partners, leaders and members worldwide and at the highest levels, particularly across the MENA region and the UK, where AIWF pioneered groundbreaking advocacy work as one of the first women’s development organisations to champion and promote Arab women’s entrepreneurship and education, enhanced influence in public life and corporate governance, and more recently, a visible and meaningful role in shaping sustainability efforts, the digital economy and the future of work. AIWF has always worked in close collaboration with governments, policy makers, the private sector, civil society, academics and most importantly with women and young people themselves in the Arab world and internationally, always to strengthen the resilience and build vital capacities of women in every sector and sphere.

Reflecting on our history and role in women’s advocacy over the past 25 years, I am heartened by the remarkable contributions of women to their national economies which have paved the way for the next generation of young women to lead and thrive in business, public life, STEM, sustainability and education. These generations of women leaders have made remarkable contributions to their national economies and have paved the way for future generations of young women to take their rightful place in leadership and public life. This growing legacy continues to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and dynamic future for the region.

At the heart of the Arab International Women’s Forum since its founding in London in 2001 is a clear belief: no society or economy can reach its full potential while half of its human capital remains underutilised. Gender equality is not only a social priority; it is a strategic economic imperative. Enabling women to participate fully across all sectors is essential to driving growth, strengthening resilience, and building more inclusive and competitive economies.

In this context, we are especially proud at AIWF to welcome as longstanding friends many of the Arab region’s most distinguished and prominent leaders in business, both women and men, who have steadfastly supported and championed the AIWF mission. As its Founder, I am deeply proud of the community that AIWF has built, and I am grateful for the lifelong friendships we have nurtured across borders, sectors and cultures. It has been a privilege to work alongside our dedicated Board, partners, and the next generation of leaders to strengthen our impact and sustainability in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global economic environment.

Specifically, it is AIWF’s unique core values of empowerment, inclusion, and cross-cultural dialogue that have made the Forum what it is today. Throughout our history, AIWF has been a vocal advocate for removing barriers to women’s economic participation by providing resources and a global platform for female entrepreneurs. We have focused on helping women navigate and succeed within the digital economy, which is a vital driver of growth in the MENA region and a key area of focus for AIWF in 2026. AIWF has worked extensively to increase the representation of women on corporate boards and in senior leadership roles.

Recognising the critical importance of sustainability, food security and water resilience in the MENA region, AIWF has launched numerous initiatives over the years specifically aimed at empowering women in STEM, as well as in sustainable agriculture, ensuring women are at the forefront of innovation and food security. And in all that we do, and particularly through the Young Arab Women Leaders (YAWL) initiative, AIWF has provided mentorship and networking opportunities for over 3000 young women leaders around the region, bringing established women leaders and rising stars together for mentorship, reverse mentorship and leadership development, helping young women transition into the MENA workforce and take on influential and highly visible roles in their national economies.

All of these initiatives have been made possible through the collaboration of AIWF’s distinguished Board and global partners, who have played a vital role in building these bridges of opportunity and economic cooperation that have opened up unprecedented opportunities for women in the region. I extend to them all my most sincere and heartfelt thanks for their invaluable contributions to AIWF’s success and to the remarkable progress made for and by women in the region.

As we look ahead to an exciting 25th anniversary year for AIWF and beyond , we look forward to welcoming all our friends, partners and members for a stellar programme of events and initiatives throughout 2026, celebrating AIWF’s achievements and our deep and longstanding relationships with women and young people in all Arab countries and internationally. I especially acknowledge the vital support and friendship of our partners PepsiCo, Pfizer, PwC, AstraZeneca and Arabia Insurance, whose continued support underpins and makes possible AIWF’s global advocacy on the empowerment, education and inclusion of women leaders. We invite you all to join us in this critical mission, and we pledge to redouble our commitments to firstly empowering the next generation of trailblazers and secondly, ensuring that the leadership of Arab women continues to transform the Arab region and the global economy and society and for the next 25 years and beyond.

Haifa Al Kaylani OBE
President & Founder, Arab International Women’s Forum