Dubai School of Government (DSG) will be the knowledge sponsor for the first 'Arab Women Leadership Forum 2009' to be held in Dubai.

The forum is being held under the patronage of vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Organised by Dubai Women’s Establishment (DWE), the event will be held at Monarch Hotel in Dubai from January 13 to 14.

DWE president and wife of minister for presidential affairs Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Shaikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will lead the forum which is set to witness an elite group of renowned leaders from across the Arab world presenting a blueprint for the role of women in the future.

“The inaugural Arab women leadership forum, titled ‘Women and Leadership: Global Trends and Local Innovations’ is an opportunity to leverage the capabilities of the Arab and Emirati women and explore fresh avenues to further develop skill sets and ensure progress,” said marketing manager of DWE Lamia Khan.

“Dubai School of Government has worked relentlessly with us as knowledge partner and the forum has been enriched by their recommendations on the selection of talented speakers. Their advice has given an essential academic dimension to the event.”

The two-day event will see the elite group of women leaders from around the region deliberating on ’Women and Leadership Research – The State of the Art’; ‘Leadership Development – Universal Models and Culturally Specific Applications‘; ‘Leadership and Organizational Change: Fostering Women’s Leadership in Organisations‘, and ’Approaches to Closing Leadership Gender Gaps‘.

“The collaboration with DWE is part of our core strategic priority, especially with our continuous concern about studying gender issues in the Arab world from an academic perspective.

“We aim to place adequate emphasis on the strategic areas of DWE, which include research, organisational policies and national policies towards working women in the UAE, and leadership in general through a comprehensive programme at the forum,” said director of gender and public policy programme and research fellow at the Dubai School of Government Dr May Al Dabbagh.

The event in Dubai includes both theoretical and practical sessions as well as a series of panel discussions and workshops.

It will be an opportunity for Arab women to interact with leading personalities who have achieved success in working for the advancement of women in diverse fields.

The forum reflects the regional and international role of Dubai Women’s Establishment which announced its five-year strategic plan earlier this year.

The plan seeks to focus on enhancement and development of Arab women’s skills in different fields, while highlighting their vital role in the society.-TradeArabia News Service