Gulf Businesswomen Forum discusses economic empowerment of women

The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry participated in the 7th Gulf Businesswomen Forum held in Doha, Qatar.

The Forum was organised by the Federation of Gulf Chambers in cooperation with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the support of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Oman’s delegation was headed by Areej Mohsen Al Zaabiya, Member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and Chairperson of the Businesswomen’s Committee, accompanied by a group of Omani business leaders.

The Businesswomen Forum embodies the shared Gulf vision for the economic empowerment of women and the enhancement of their role in entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Sheikh Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and President of the Federation of Gulf Chambers, said that holding the Forum reflects the shared vision and spirit of cooperation and integration among the GCC countries. It also reaffirms the deep belief in the vital role of Gulf women as active partners in the economic and social development of the GCC states.

In his speech, Sheikh Faisal said that the Forum, held under the theme “Entrepreneurship and Investment Sustainability”, comes at a pivotal stage as Gulf countries are witnessing qualitative transformations towards diversifying income sources, enhancing the knowledge economy, and promoting innovation and sustainability. These are all fully aligned with the objectives of the GCC countries’ national visions.

He announced the launch of the “Gulf Businesswomen Platform” alongside the Forum, in support of women’s empowerment and to strengthen their presence in Gulf economic sectors. He noted that Gulf women have proven over the past years their remarkable ability to lead and innovate across various economic fields adding that they have achieved notable successes in productive and service sectors to become inspiring models of entrepreneurship at both Gulf and Arab levels.

He said that the Forum represents an important opportunity to enhance networking, establish strategic partnerships, and exchange experiences between outstanding businesswomen, Empowering Gulf women, he added,  is not merely a developmental choice but an urgent necessity to accelerate the transition towards a competitive and sustainable economy.

Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Secretary-General of the Federation of GCC Chambers, said that the Forum continues the Federation’s efforts to build an integrated Gulf business environment that encourages entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic cooperation among businesswomen in the GCC states.

He explained in his speech that the Gulf Businesswomen Platform is one of the Federation’s pioneering initiatives aimed at connecting businesswomen across the GCC within an interactive, unified system. This promotes the exchange of expertise, expands the base of women’s investments, and creates new partnership opportunities based on green economy and sustainability principles, he added

Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani, Member of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Chamber and Chairperson of the Qatari Businesswomen Forum, said that the Forum seeks to strengthen ties among businesswomen in GCC countries and encourage greater cooperation, partnerships, and joint initiatives. She added that these contribute to women’s economic empowerment and support the development process in the GCC states. She noted that the Forum features success stories of Gulf businesswomen who established their own projects, offering all participants the opportunity to learn from these experiences.

The Forum discussed topics reflecting the positive transformation in the mindset of Gulf women entrepreneurs—from traditional models to more innovative and sustainable projects. It also featured panel discussions on key issues including:  “Gulf Businesswomen and Sustainable Investment,” which explored the current landscape and future prospects of women’s investment in the GCC; “Gulf Women Entrepreneurs: From Tradition to Innovation,” which focused on empowering women in the digital economy and promoting innovative business models; and a concluding session titled “Arbitration in Enhancing the Gulf Women’s Business Environment,” which addressed the role of arbitration in protecting the investments of Gulf businesswomen.