Under the patronage and in the presence of Qatar Chamber Chairman HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, the seventh edition of the GCC Businesswomen Forum kicked off in Doha on Wednesday, November 12, at the Mandarin Oriental, Msheireb.
Organised by the Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCCC) in cooperation with the Qatar Chamber, and supported by the GCC General Secretariat, the two-day forum is held under the theme “Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Investment.” QNB serves as the forum’s strategic partner.
The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Social Development and Family HE Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Federation of GCC Chambers President Sheikh Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas, Secretary-General of the Federation Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Abdul Rahman Al Mudaires, general manager of project management at the GCC General Secretariat and Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani, Qatar Chamber board member and chairperson of the Qatari Businesswomen Forum.
Also present were several Qatar Chamber board members, Gulf business leaders, prominent Qatari and regional businesswomen, and ambassadors’ spouses, along with a number of economic and media figures.
The ceremony began with a video highlighting the achievements of Gulf women in the business sector and the success of previous editions of the forum.
Delivering the host country’s address, Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani said Qatar’s hosting of the forum reflects the nation’s commitment to empowering women and enhancing their role in sustainable economic and social development. She emphasised that Gulf businesswomen are increasingly embracing sustainable investment models that integrate economic growth with social responsibility, in line with the national visions of GCC countries.
“Gulf women entrepreneurs have established a strong presence across economic sectors through innovation and leadership,” she said. “Their achievements demonstrate that women in the GCC are genuine partners in building national and regional economies.”
Al Ahmadani called for greater cooperation among GCC businesswomen’s councils and the creation of strategic partnerships to expand joint investments and cross-border ventures.
In his remarks, Sheikh Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas, president of the FGCCC, praised the pivotal role of Gulf women in driving economic diversification and innovation, noting their growing leadership across sectors such as banking, technology, real estate, and finance.
He affirmed the Federation’s commitment to promoting women’s economic empowerment by supporting SMEs and encouraging investment in emerging sectors like renewable energy, tourism, and creative industries.
Dina Abdul Rahman Al Mudaires highlighted the GCC’s long-standing efforts to achieve economic integration and empower women, citing statistics showing that women now represent over 40 percent of the government workforce, 38 percent in the private sector, and hold nearly half of senior public positions across GCC states.
A key highlight of the opening day was the launch of the “Gulf Businesswomen Platform”, a new digital initiative by the FGCCC aimed at connecting businesswomen across the Gulf through a unified, interactive system that encourages networking, collaboration, and sustainable investment opportunities.
The forum also featured the inspiring success stories of three distinguished Gulf businesswomen Hessa Al Sulaiti (Qatar), Badriya Al Mulla (UAE), and Lujaina Haidar (Oman), who shared their entrepreneurial journeys and achievements in various sectors.
The event concluded with a recognition ceremony in which Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani and Sheikh Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas honoured Qatar National Bank (QNB) as the forum’s strategic partner and Al Sharq newspaper as the media partner.
The second day of the forum will feature interactive sessions and panel discussions exploring entrepreneurship, sustainability, and success stories of leading Gulf businesswomen.
