Haifa Al Kaylani, President & Founder of the Arab International Women’s Forum, hosted a special reception at the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Riyadh on 01 March 2023 in the lead up to International Women’s Day next week and in celebration of AIWF’s 22nd anniversary. The Reception, which was generously supported by PepsiCo, welcomed Saudi Arabian members and friends, all senior women leaders across government, business and academia, as well as senior representatives of our Global Benefactor Partner PepsiCo and our Corporate Partners Pfizer and PwC, who are all active in the Kingdom and doing such incredible work to support women leaders across their sectors.
In her welcome remarks, Haifa said: “We are all most proud to be witnessing first hand all the amazing developments taking place in the Kingdom at an unprecedented pace on multiple fronts – economic, social, and cultural – with women taking a leading role every step of the way.” The Reception, AIWF’s first event in Saudi Arabia and our first in-person event since the pandemic, brought together outstanding women leaders, all powering such meaningful progress not only for women in the Kingdom but inspiring and motivating women’s economic inclusion across the region.
“The world is watching with great admiration,” said Haifa, “the remarkable progress for women in the Kingdom and the region overall, which is truly open for business and ready for growth. The Kingdom is truly leading the way in the region as we near the 2030 target by prioritising women and young people and addressing vital future of work challenges through education reform and the empowerment of the region’s most precious natural resource, and indeed one half of our population – our women.”
AIWF was delighted to have this opportunity for a fruitful exchange on women’s empowerment in the Kingdom and beyond as well as giving Haifa, on behalf of the AIWF Board, the opportunity to update all guests on AIWF’s journey and programme as we enter our 22nd year since our founding in London in 2001. AIWF looks forward to further events in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to accelerating our work with our Riyadh-based partners to champion opportunities for women’s economic inclusion through entrepreneurship, education and employability.
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