Kuwait chairs the General Assembly of the Arab Businesswomen Council

Sheikha Hessa, in her opening address at the meeting, stated that Arab women represent a genuine economic force capable of creating opportunities, leading institutions, and contributing to shaping the future of their homelands, emphasizing that women’s empowerment constitutes an investment in the future of the Arab nation.

She added that the university has played a significant role in hosting and supporting the Council’s mission throughout its various stages of development, until it became one of the Arab entities focused on empowering women, enhancing their economic presence, encouraging entrepreneurship, and investing in youth.

The Council’s Chairperson highlighted the university’s achievements over the past years in supporting the Council and shaping its trajectory, describing these efforts as “a foundation for building a larger and stronger future.” She extended her gratitude to the university’s former secretaries-general, foremost among them the late Dr. Awat Abd al-Majid, as well as Amr Moussa, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and Dr. Nabil Fahmy.

She expressed her appreciation for her late father, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, former Emir of the State of Kuwait, affirming that he was a pillar and motivation for her to persist in her dream of establishing an entity that unites Arab businesswomen under a single Arab umbrella and network, through which relationships, energies, and expertise can integrate.

For her part, Dr. Hala El-Said, the Economic Advisor to the Egyptian President, stated that the coming phase requires a transition in the role of Arab women from mere participation in economic activity to having a real influence on its trajectories and shaping its future, amid the region’s rapidly escalating political and geopolitical challenges.

She added that women have become a key partner in shaping the future and supporting the economy, noting that the challenge lies in transforming the individual successes of Arab businesswomen into an economic force that supports joint Arab action by building broader links and partnerships.

Dr. El-Said emphasized that cooperation between businesswomen and Arab institutions “is not a luxury, but a necessity for success,” calling for genuine partnerships that connect companies, investors, and opportunity holders across Arab countries. She stressed the need for Arab capital to become “a bridge linking our homelands,” thereby contributing to the development of projects and partnerships that transcend local market boundaries and leverage the substantial potential of the Arab market.