On August 27th, I was honored to be invited by the UAE Ministry of Economy which hosted an event at the Bvlgari Hotel in Dubai to celebrate Emirati Women’s Day. The evening was graced by the presence of H.E. Alia bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, who alongside H.E. Badreya Al Maidoor, delivered the opening welcome speech.
The event featured a series of insightful sessions, beginning with a panel discussion titled “Women in AI: Inspiring Stories & Personal Journeys,” where prominent figures like Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei, Sara Al Maazmi, and Sara Ahmed, TDRA shared their experiences, moderated by Reem Al Musabbah.
Eng. Nooran Al Bannay, the first Emirati Barista, captivated the audience during her coffee workshop, “Coffee Architecture,” where she shared her journey from a full-time engineer to a successful coffee entrepreneur.
Another highlight was the interactive workshop, “The Entrepreneur’s DNA,” led by H.E. Noor Al Tamimi of Shelex Investment Fund, which focused on the qualities that drive entrepreneurial success.
The evening also showcased the power of women through inspiring success stories from entrepreneurs like Fatima Al Taheri of The Vegan Beauty Cosmetics, Latifa Bin Haidar of Baytukum, Khawla Hammad of Takalam, Fatima Al Moosa of Anaat, and Maitha Al Matrooshi of Bird Collaborative.
The event concluded with an open discussion on “Empowering SMEs: Seizing Opportunities & Overcoming Challenges,” led by H.E. Alia Al Mazrouei, highlighting the importance of supporting small and medium enterprises in the UAE. The night was a testament to the incredible achievements of Emirati women and a call to continue empowering the next generation of female leaders.
