Expo City Dubai To Mark International Women's Day With Empowering Celebrations

This International Women's Day, Expo City Dubai will honour the resilience, achievements, and strength of women worldwide with a special event at the Women's Pavilion on March 8.

If you are looking to head there, the day promises a variety of empowering workshops, insightful panel discussions, and ample networking opportunities. Moreover, attendees will have the chance to explore the new co-working space within the Women's Pavilion. The event, which is open to all without charge, requires prior registration.

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Empowering Activities and Sessions

The day kicks off with health screenings and support for early childhood development, provided by experts from Kings College London, available from 09:00 to 12:00. Following this, at 10:30 am, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and CEO of Expo City Dubai Authority, will make the opening remarks, setting the stage for the day's events by discussing the role of the Women's Pavilion in empowering women and girls globally.

An intimate conversation, held for the first time in Arabic at the Pavilion, will feature notable figures in early childhood development. This panel includes Sana Suhail from the Early Childhood Authority; Dr. Mona Badran, founder of Fun First Kids Club; and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Haneen Jarrar. Sajeda Shawa, Head of the UAE office for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), will moderate the session.

Innovative Discussions on Investing in Women

The Women's World Majlis at Expo City Dubai will delve into this year's official International Women's Day theme, "Investing in Women". The English session will feature a diverse panel of experts discussing the multifaceted ways to invest in women, covering economic, social, and cultural perspectives. Panelists include Isobel Abulhoul of the Emirates Literature Foundation, Amnah Ajmal from Mastercard, Shada El Borno of Standard Chartered Bank, Jihane Bachir representing L'Oréal Middle East, and Zaur Shiraliyev from Chalhoub Group, with Rania AlKhatib moderating the session. This discussion aims to highlight the essential role of women's full participation and potential in society.

Sustainability in Focus

The day will also feature a session titled "Igniting Inspiration: Women Leading Change in Sustainable Built Environments", focusing on the pivotal role of women in sustainability efforts within built environments. The agenda includes a Women Network Introduction Presentation and the launch of the 3rd cohort of the Women Network Mentorship Program by Lana AbuQulbain, a Technical Engineer at EmiratesGBC. Following this, a fireside chat will take place with Farah Yassine from PwC Middle East and Alida Saleh from JLL, discussing actionable changes to foster innovation and collective efforts for a more resilient and environmentally conscious future.

The event at the Women's Pavilion in Expo City Dubai offers a unique opportunity to celebrate International Women's Day by engaging with leaders, innovators, and advocates dedicated to advancing women's roles across various sectors. With its comprehensive program, the event aims to inspire and empower women to continue making significant contributions to their communities and the broader society.