Dubai Hosts Ramadan Riyada Majlis to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 11 March 2026

• A Ramadan Riyada Majlis was held in Dubai hosted by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism
• The meeting focused on the exchange of ideas and promoting women Entrepreneurs
• The goal of this event is to promote new business initiatives, which are in alignment with sustainable development

Hosted by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, the "Ramadan Riyada Majlis" featured female entrepreneurs, executives, and innovators from around the UAE.

This gathering was designed both to promote dialogue and inspire new economic initiatives that align themselves with Sustainable Development Goals.

Attendees at this event included H.E. Badreya Al Maidoor, Assistant Undersecretary of Support Services Sector with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism; H.H. Sheikha Dr. Alia Al Qassimi, Founder and Chair of AHQ Investments; and H.E. Arwa Al Falasi, Director for Partnerships and Communication at UAE Gender Balance Council, in addition to many women entrepreneurs across the UAE.

In her remarks at the event, H.E. Badreya pointed out how important it is for women entrepreneurs to lead the world's economies.

According to her, "Women have been proven to provide leadership to finance, business, and innovation globally. The UAE has achieved extraordinary progress in empowering female entrepreneurs and female-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs), through providing them with an enablement framework, as well as access to the expertise and resources they need to create and succeed long terms."

Both international and local partners work with the Ministry to create strategies that will affect the way women entrepreneurs expand their businesses and utilize available resources and skills.

In addition to the National SME Program, one of the projects that have resulted from these efforts is the Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World campaign, a project that offers women entrepreneurs in Abu Dhabi preferred opportunities to start their businesses in new sectors.

At the recent Majlis event on mental health and achieving work -life balance for women, participants found motivation for prioritizing their own well-being in order to create successful lives.

Sheikha Al Qassimi stated that women's health needs to be a primary focus for the United Arab Emirates, since all women go through hormonal changes and require preventative care, in order to provide the foundation needed for sustained economic development, resilient workforces, and whole country prosperity.

The final session discussed and acknowledged the contributions of Emirati women entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, and how these contributions continue to help develop the tourism economy of the UAE.