Haifa Al Kaylani recently shared her insights on the expanding role of Emirati women leaders in sustainable development, emphasizing their contributions within the UAE, across the region, and globally. She highlighted how women, youth, technology, and entrepreneurship are key drivers of sustainable progress as the world advances toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In her remarks, Al Kaylani outlined the UAE’s policies on sustainability and the leadership role Emirati women play in driving sustainable development. She emphasized how the UAE is setting a regional and global benchmark for integrating and empowering women across all sectors, particularly in sustainability, inspired by the vision and support of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, The Mother of the Nation.
The UAE’s commitment to sustainability and social well-being has fostered a generation of Emirati women who are taking the lead in climate governance and sustainable development. The nation’s progressive policies have enabled Emirati women to assume influential roles as ministers, international diplomats, and advocates, as well as leaders in civil society.
One of the key initiatives supporting women in sustainability is WiSER (Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy), a global platform led by Masdar. WiSER champions women as leaders of sustainable change and is a strategic institutional partner of the Arab International Women’s Forum (AIWF). AIWF has been actively represented at the WiSER Annual Forum and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), collaborating with WiSER to empower women’s leadership in climate action and sustainable development.
Both organizations firmly advocate for the full engagement of women at all levels of policy, practice, and decision-making, recognizing their role as key agents of change in shaping solutions to global sustainability challenges. This vision was reinforced in AIWF’s May 2023 joint conference with WiSER at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London, held in the lead-up to COP28. The conference produced nearly 40 action-oriented recommendations aimed at strengthening the global community of women in climate, sustainability, and STEM.
Building on these outcomes, AIWF and WiSER are set to convene another conference in June 2024 during London Climate Action Week, to assess progress and explore further strategies in light of the key developments from COP28.
ADSM continues to champion thought leadership on sustainability and women’s empowerment, aligning with global efforts to drive impactful change in these critical areas.
