Visionary Emirati Businesswomen Councils Launched Across Friendly Nations, Guided by the 'Mother of the Emirates'

The UAE General Women's Union has launched business councils for Emirati women entrepreneurs in friendly countries, starting with China. This initiative aims to build a global network of women leaders and strengthen the UAE's economic partnerships through women-led businesses and investments.

Under the direction of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, known as the "Mother of the Emirates," these councils will operate through joint leadership between the UAE and partner countries. The UAE Embassy in each country will coordinate with local government and economic bodies to make this work.

The councils focus on several key areas. They'll create institutional cooperation channels between official, economic, and academic bodies in both countries. They'll also identify priority areas for collaboration and develop joint action plans. Virtual and physical platforms will connect businesswomen with supporting institutions.

The first council launched in China through a two-week training program called "Emirati Businesswomen: Exploring China's Business Environment." The program runs through November and covers four major Chinese cities: Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Yiwu.

Emirati businesswomen will get hands-on experience with China's economic environment, focusing on e-commerce, digital transformation, innovation, and small-to-medium enterprise management. They'll visit global companies like Alibaba, ByteDance, JD.com, and Amazon, plus participate in workshops with Chinese academic and economic institutions.

This matters because China represents the world's second-largest economy and a major trading partner for the UAE. The program gives Emirati women direct access to Chinese business networks and digital commerce expertise, which could open new export markets and investment opportunities.

Noura Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the General Women's Union, said these councils create sustainable institutional platforms for Emirati women on the international stage. The councils are designed to bridge Emirati businesswomen with their counterparts in different countries, facilitating experience exchange and joint project development.

The initiative aligns with the UAE's broader economic diversification strategy. As the country reduces its dependence on oil revenues, supporting women entrepreneurs becomes crucial for developing new sectors like technology, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.

Amna Al Hammadi, Deputy UAE Ambassador to China, emphasized how this initiative translates the leadership's vision into concrete action. The councils represent a strategic step toward enhancing Emirati women's economic and developmental role regionally and internationally.

The General Women's Union plans to expand this council network globally. Each council will organize joint conferences, exhibitions, and forums to promote women's projects and share economic expertise. They'll also prepare joint analytical studies on women's economic empowerment indicators and business development progress.

For investors and businesses, this creates new channels for UAE-China trade and investment. Women-led businesses often focus on consumer goods, services, and technology sectors that align well with both countries' economic priorities. The councils could facilitate partnerships in areas like sustainable fashion, health technology, and educational services.