AHK Business Women Forum

The AHK Business Women Forum is an initiative created by women for women. It provides a platform for exchange, collaborations, and professional development. Regular events, workshops, and networking gatherings create opportunities to make valuable connections and grow together.

Objectives of the AHK Business Women Network:

Networking & Knowledge Exchange

Enhancing professional exchange among members through regular networking events, workshops, and seminars.
Advanced Training & Development

Providing continuing education opportunities to expand the professional and personal skills of members and increase their career prospects.
Inspiration & Empowerment

Inviting inspiring speakers and experts to serve as role models, motivating members to pursue their goals and realize their full potential.

The AHK Business Women Forum was established to create a platform that supports, promotes, and connects women in the business world. We position ourselves as the first point of contact for women who are new to the UAE, seeking exciting networking opportunities, considering a career change, or contemplating the leap into entrepreneurship.

We offer our members support in increasing their visibility in the economy. Additionally, our goal is to promote dialogue and enable women to access decision-making levels actively, thereby advancing equal opportunities and gender equality.

My favorite aspect about the AHK is without a doubt the Business Women Council! When I made the leap from consulting into starting my own business in the UAE, the AHK was a key support system - especially the helpful, committed team and the strong network I was able to build. As a Female Career Coach, I especially enjoy the inspiring events: Diverse formats for different audiences, always with great insights and room for exchange. Here you can meet fellow founders and entrepreneurs as well as women with corporate backgrounds from all over the world.

Kim Dede Female Career Expert, Coach & Consultant
The Dede Company

The Role of Women in the United Arab Emirates

A Look at Education, Equality, and Achievements

Since the establishment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971, the role of women in society has undergone a significant transformation, extending far beyond traditional concepts of motherhood. The founding fathers and rulers of the nation quickly recognized that the economic development of the UAE heavily relies on the participation of women, who make up half of the population. Access to quality education has become a fundamental requirement for progress.

Women in Leadership Positions and various professional fields

Today, 51 years after the founding, Emirati women play an indispensable role in the politics and economy of the UAE. They are represented in various key positions: as ministers, entrepreneurs, investors, military members, firefighters, pilots, and even astronauts. This transformation is the result of diverse initiatives, both public and private, that promote equal opportunities and support women in their personal and professional development.

A prominent example is the UAE Gender Balance Council, which has initiated measures since 2015 to promote gender equality in all areas of society. Key legislative developments include the law establishing equal pay for women and men in comparable positions and the introduction of gender quotas on corporate boards.

Education and Women's Representation in Higher Education

Approximately 70% of university graduates in the UAE are women, primarily studying at public and some private universities. Particularly noteworthy is the high female representation in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), where it exceeds the global average at about 56%, especially in engineering. In traditional sectors such as health and education, women occupy around 75% of the positions.