The Irtiqa CEO Majlis, organised by NAMA Women Advancement in collaboration with the Pearl Initiative, convened on Sunday at The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah, uniting senior leaders from major UAE and international corporations to strengthen the agenda for gender equality and inclusive leadership across industries.
Building on the achievements of its previous editions, the 2025 Irtiqa CEO Majlis gathered a select group of chief executives and C-suite figures from sectors including energy, aviation, transport, manufacturing, and technology. The discussions centred on practical ways to embed gender-equitable values into company governance frameworks and workplace culture.
Mariam Al Hammadi, Director-General of NAMA Women Advancement, reaffirmed the organisation’s ongoing mission to promote women’s participation at all decision-making levels. She stated that “diversity is the engine of productivity, and equity and equal opportunity are powerful economic tools that build innovative and sustainable institutions.”
Al Hammadi emphasised that the Majlis demonstrates how strong governance and women’s empowerment are closely linked, urging businesses to mirror the diversity of their markets and invest in nurturing the next generation of women leaders.
Speaking at the event, Ralph Choueiri, Executive Director of the Pearl Initiative, said that gender equity in the workplace remains essential to long-term growth. He highlighted that the Majlis “provides a crucial platform for business leaders to exchange insights, strengthen accountability, and transform commitments into measurable impact.”
The roundtable, themed “From Commitment to Impact: The CEO Dialogue on Inclusive Leadership,” examined how inclusive governance supports innovation and strengthens organisational resilience. Moderated by Noha Hefny, a global expert in women’s economic empowerment, the dialogue featured case studies, discussions on barriers to equality, and approaches to integrating gender inclusion into corporate objectives, key performance indicators, and company culture.
Executives from several leading firms, including SAP, TAQA Transmission, Arada, Emirates Global Aluminium, TENEO, Air Arabia, Google, PwC, and Petrofac—took part in the session, sharing experiences and insights on driving gender balance in leadership roles.
The session concluded with calls for continued CEO engagement and accountability, reaffirming Irtiqa’s position as a leading national platform driving gender-inclusive transformation in the business landscape.
Irtiqa, NAMA’s flagship programme, continues to promote workplace gender equality by providing organisations with the tools, strategies, and expertise necessary to implement lasting and equitable change.
