Business & Money | Wednesday 28 March, 2018 9:37 am |

For the first time ever, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the “Arab Women Forum” as part of the fourth edition of the “Top CEO Conference and Awards,” which is set to return to the country for the second time on April 10-11 at King Abdullah Economic City. The new forum aims to enhance and support the growing contribution of Arab women to the region’s economy and society and will serve as an elite gathering of top female executives, decision-makers, professionals and experts on women empowerment and business leadership.

Julien Hawari, co-CEO of Mediaquest, commented: “By launching the ‘Arab Women Forum,’ we aim to create a platform for open and candid discussions on the evolving role of women in the business world, the societal attitudes towards their inclusion and success and their challenges and opportunities at work, in society and in politics. With the proportion of women in C-level positions still far from where it should be, the ultimate goal of the forum is to identify ways to improve parity and help women claim the senior positions that they deserve.”

Faisal Abbas, editor-in-chief of Arab News, said: “Given the raft of reforms under way in Saudi Arabia, there could not be a more appropriate and meaningful time to host such an event. Arab News has been taking a leading role in both reporting on the changes underway in the Kingdom and pointing out the clear need for women to play key roles in Saudi society, and the many challenges ahead. This conference aims to take this conversation forward — for the benefit of both Saudi Arabia’s female workforce and the wider society as a whole.”

The forum will feature a series of keynote speeches and panel discussions focusing on business topics including “The Economic Revolution,” which will discuss the economic benefits of heightening the inclusion of women in business; “Boardroom,” which will explore what can be done to optimize the number of women in management circles; and “Entrepreneurs,” which aims to empower women to kick-start their own businesses. Other business topics will include “Tech Discrimination,” a look at gender discrimination in the tech industry and how women can be better included in regional tech projects and “The Community-Based New Economy,” where participants will consider what technologies can be used to boost the involvement of women in society and business.

The forum will also explore the societal challenges that women face in business, with sessions dedicated to “Arab Women’s Image,” “Transforming Laws,” “Achieving Quality,” “Political Representation” and “The Broken Transition: From University to Corporate.” Attendees will also hear from businesswomen who have achieved a successful work-life balance in a session dedicated to “Balance,” as well as breakthrough business moments in a session called “The Turning Point.”

The Arab Women Forum will be held at Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia on April 10.