Haifa Al Kaylani OBE, 28 October 2025 – It was a great honour to be at the Al Ain University Abu Dhabi campus to participate at the outstanding Women Leadership Forum “She Leads, We Collaborate”, hosted by the Al Ain University College of Business and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre. This very special occasion marked the signing of an MoU between the Arab International Women’s Forum and Al Ain University, to advance women’s opportunities for entrepreneurship and economic inclusion in the UAE and the broader MENA region.
Our MoU partnership with Al Ain University marks a significant step forward in our shared commitment to empowering and advancing young female entrepreneurial talent in the UAE and across the wider MENA region. Together, AIWF and Al Ain University aim to create a dynamic platform that nurtures innovation, leadership, and opportunity for the next generation of women leaders.
I extend my sincere appreciation to Professor Ghaleb Awad El Refae, President of Al Ain University, Professor Amer (Mohammad Jaser) Qasem, Vice President of AAU Abu Dhabi Campus, and Dr Iffat Sabir, Deputy Dean of the College of Business, for facilitating this valued partnership between AIWF and Al Ain University. I also share my heartfelt congratulations to Al Ain University on its remarkable recent achievement of being ranked among the top 500 global institutions in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
In my keynote before the MoU signing, I reflected on the tremendous progress women have made across the Arab world, in education, business, and leadership, and the continuing journey towards full economic empowerment. Today, women in the MENA region are driving innovation and entrepreneurship, leading family businesses, founding tech startups, and advancing sustainability across every sector. Here in the UAE, the progress has been nothing short of remarkable. Emirati women are role models globally, representing 66% of the public sector workforce, 30% in leadership roles, and 50% of the Federal National Council, a true reflection of the UAE’s vision for gender equality and inclusion.
At AIWF, our mission for nearly 25 years has been to empower women and young leaders through education, entrepreneurship and economic inclusion and to build bridges of partnership and understanding between the Arab world and the global community. We have worked with governments, the private sector, civil society actors and importantly with universities and young people themselves to promote progress and create valuable new links and opportunities for young women leaders.
At this very special MoU signing and keynote event, it was a pleasure to meet Her Excellency Dr Amal Abdullah Al Haddabi, Chairperson of the UAE-Jordanian Businesswomen Council, and the distinguished faculty, students, and guests of Al Ain University. As we head into our 25th anniversary in 2026, the Board and Partners of AIWF look forward to deepening our collaboration with one of the UAE’s foremost institutes of learning and research, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, and championing women’s leadership as a powerful engine of sustainable growth and social progress.
