Prime Highlights
- Sheikha Wafa called for greater investment in education, entrepreneurship and leadership development for women.
- Technology, fintech, healthcare and sustainability were identified as key growth sectors for women.
Key Facts
- Sheikha Wafa spoke following the Women’s Gateway to the Digital Economy Conference in Dubai.
- She said women will play a decisive role in the Gulf’s future economic growth.
Background
Women are playing an increasingly important role in shaping economies, leading businesses and driving innovation across the UAE and the wider Arab world, but continued investment in education, entrepreneurship and leadership development remains essential to unlocking their full potential, according to Sheikha Wafa bint Humaid Al Mualla.
Speaking after the Women’s Gateway to the Digital Economy Conference in Dubai, Sheikha Wafa said women are becoming central to the Gulf region’s economic transformation. However, she noted that structural barriers continue to limit full participation and advancement in leadership positions.
She called for stronger policy frameworks, labour regulations and institutional measures that support gender equality and create greater access to opportunities. Furthermore, she also pointed out the need for empowerment of women to be looked at as an economic necessity, especially due to the advantages that would accrue from investments in female education and leadership.
According to Sheikha Wafa, technology and the digital economy provide some of the greatest growth areas for women, partly because of the lower cost of entering those industries. Other sectors include healthcare, life sciences, education, fintech, and sustainability, in which women could play more prominent roles.
She called for improving digital literacy, entrepreneurship skills, and innovation-based education, among other means of enhancing female empowerment. Alternative financing models, including crowdfunding, Islamic microfinance and government-backed grants, could also help support female entrepreneurs, she added.
Reflecting on the UAE’s progress, Sheikha Wafa said the country has integrated women’s empowerment into its broader development strategy through policies that support leadership, workplace participation and gender balance.
She added that sustained investment in women’s capabilities will be critical to ensuring long-term competitiveness, innovation and economic growth across the Gulf region.
