The first Arab Women's Leadership Forum will hold discussions on 'Women and Leadership: Global Trends and Local Innovations', announced Dubai Women Establishment, which is hosting the event.

The forum will be held on January 13 and 14 and will have focused sessions that will closely examine challenges hindering the advancement of Arab women and help develop a blueprint for their future role in the region.

Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment, and wife of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, will lead the forum that will be held in conjunction with the Dubai School of Government as knowledge partners.

Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of Dubai Women Establishment, said: "The agenda for the forum has been developed under the direct supervision of Sheikha Manal. The landmark event will be the first of its kind in terms of content and participation, offering a distinguished platform for a number of regional and global women leaders to convene and explore the Arab woman's multi-dimensional roles. Every panellist at the forum has been carefully selected for their experience and shared vision. Besides acclimatising the key participants with the achievements marked by women in the Arab World, the event will also draw up a roadmap to further enhance their participation in all spheres of the region's growth."

In drawing up the agenda, the Dubai Women Establishment organising committee has ensured the event includes both theoretical and practical sessions. Including a series of panel discussions and workshops, the forum 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.

Al Marri said: "The forum's programme looks into relevant local and international best practices from which women can benefit and use as a bridge for accomplishing further milestones."

Dr May Al Dabbagh, Director of Gender and Public Policy Programme and Research Fellow at the Dubai School of Government, will moderate the opening session on 'Women and Leadership Research: The State of the Art'. Panellists in this session will include Dr Barbara Gutek, Professor and Eller Chair in Women in Leadership, Department of Management and Organisations at the University of Arizona; Dr Rohini Pande, Professor of Public Policy at John F Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University; Dr Alice Eagly, Professor and Department Chair of Social Psychology from Northwestern University; and Dr Asya Al Lamky, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of Oman in Washington DC.

The second session, 'Leadership Development: Universal Models and Culturally Specific Applications', will be moderated by Stavros Yiannouka, Vice-Dean of Executive Education and Development at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Bringing key perspectives to the table during this session will be Dr Elisabet Engellau, Programme Director Insead Global Leadership Centre, and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Management at Insead; Dr Hannah Riley Bowles, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Centre for Public Leadership, John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and Dr Bettina Buchel, Director of Public Strategic Leadership for Women and Professor of Strategy and Organisation at the IMD Business School in Switzerland. During this segment, Adel Al Shared, Director of Nationals' Development at the Dubai Executive Council and Head of the Mohammad bin Rashid Leadership Programme, will present case studies showcasing Dubai's leadership achievements.

Najla Al Awadhi, Member of UAE Federal National Council and Deputy CEO of Dubai Media Inc, will moderate the third session on 'Leadership and Organisational Change: Fostering Women's Leadership in Organisations'.

The segment will see the participation of Ilene H Lang, President of Catalyst Inc; Dr Val Singh, Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre for Developing Women Business Leaders at the Cranfield School of Management in Cranfield University; and Dr Ng Yen Yen, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development in Malaysia.

The final session will examine 'Approaches to Closing the Leadership Gender Gap'. Dr Iris Bohnet, Faculty Chair of the Women and Public Policy Programme and Professor of Public Policy at the John F Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University, will moderate the session that will also bring together as panellists Dr Amira Sonbol, Professor of History at the School of Foreign Service at the Georgetown University's campus in Qatar; Saadia Zahidi, Director and Head of Women Leaders Programme at the World Economic Forum; and Amat Al Alim Al-Soswa, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of Regional Bureau for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme.

In her closing remarks on the first day, Maitha Al Shamsi, Managing Director of Dubai Women Establishment, will highlight the organisation's goals and ambitions.

The second day of the forum will include a series of workshops and break-out sessions. Led by Mona Al Marri and Sheikha Najla Al Qassimi, Ambassador and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to Sweden, the segments will primarily serve a motivational purpose, highlighting the organisation's five-year multipronged strategy.