UAE-Japan Women’s Friendship Committee Celebrates 10 Years Of Empowering Women In The Energy Sector

The UAE-Japan Friendship Committee for Women Career Development (FCW) has marked a decade of supporting women's empowerment in the energy sector. Under the guidance of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, known as the "Mother of the Nation," FCW held its 20th forum in Tokyo. This event, themed 'My Leadership Journey for a Sustainable Society and Energy Industry,’ celebrated female leadership and innovation.

Dr. Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State and FCW Chairwoman, attended the event alongside Haruhiko Ando, CEO of the Japan Cooperation Center for Petroleum and Sustainable Energy (JCCP), Fatema Al Nuaimi, CEO of ADNOC Gas, Marwan Alnaqbi, Head of Mission for the UAE in Tokyo, and other committee members. Dr. Al Shamsi conveyed greetings from H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak and reiterated her support for these forums.

Over 4,500 women from the UAE, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other GCC countries have benefited from FCW's initiatives over the past ten years. These efforts have been crucial in empowering women during the energy transformation journey. The committee's work has strengthened career paths while promoting inclusivity and innovation within the industry.

Haruhiko Ando highlighted that "The world's intelligence and capabilities should be shared equally between men and women. It can be said that FCW's stimulating and pioneering activities over the past 10 years have become a powerful driving force for promoting women's empowerment and have established advanced examples in the oil-related industry."

The FCW forums have played a significant role in enhancing UAE-Japan bilateral relations by advancing female participation in energy sectors. These gatherings provide a platform for exchanging experiences and insights among talented women from both nations. The collaboration aims to drive female progress and foster innovation across borders.

Fatema Al Nuaimi stated: "Over the past 10 years, the UAE-Japan Friendship Committee for Women Career Development has served as an important platform to drive female empowerment in the energy sector. This edition has provided actionable steps to enable female future leaders to better contribute to advancing the energy industry and ADNOC looks forward to building on these steps as we continue to empower our female talent to build successful careers."

This year’s participation included an exclusive presence at Expo 2025 in Osaka with a dedicated workshop at the UAE Pavilion. Guided by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak's leadership, FCW continues to bring together outstanding female talent from both countries to exchange experiences and insights.

ADNOC and JCCP have organised FCW forums since 2015 in both countries, underscoring women's contributions across energy industries. These forums highlight actionable steps for future female leaders to enhance their roles within this vital sector.

The ongoing commitment of FCW ensures that women continue to play an essential role in shaping sustainable societies through their contributions to energy industries worldwide.

With inputs from WAM