The Emirati Women’s Day Summit 2026 is taking place in Dubai today, August 28, bringing more than 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and business leaders to The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre.
Organised by Womenpreneur Middle East, the 11th Emirati Women’s Day Summit & Expo combines keynote addresses, business panels, an exhibition, a live brand pitch and the Womenpreneur Excellence Awards.
The programme begins at 10am and continues into the evening with entertainment and a gala dinner. Guest passes have been offered on a complimentary registration basis, subject to availability and confirmation from the organiser.
The summit arrives on Emirati Women’s Day, which the UAE observes annually on August 28. According to the UAE Government’s official portal, the date is connected to the establishment of the General Women’s Union in 1975 and recognises the achievements and contributions of Emirati women.
The summit joins a wider national conversation celebrating Emirati women who made history by breaking barriers and expanding representation in their respective fields.
Speakers and Panelists Announced for Today’s Summit
Womenpreneur Middle East has announced a broad line-up of founders, executives, specialists and industry figures for today’s event.
Among the confirmed speakers and panelists are:
- H.E. Aarefa Al Falahi
- Marwa Al Mamari, recognised as the UAE’s first aerospace engineer
- Ala Mustafa, founder of Living Yard and Living Concept
- Ellen Mannaert, founder of Era of You and creator of The Architecture of Who You Are
- Laura Omuralieva, founder of Earth Future
- Diji Shujahi, CEO of Urban A2Z
- Sara Charif, founder and creative director of Sara Charif
- Fatima Al Hammadi
- Salma Aldarmaki
- Dr Khadija Bano
- Sanaa Zia Khan
- Kátia Helena de Souza, speaker and business professional
The announced line-up reflects the summit’s focus on women working across business development, entrepreneurship, investment, engineering, creative industries, technology and professional leadership.
Speakers are expected to move beyond personal success stories by addressing the decisions, obstacles and resources that shape the growth of women-led businesses. The programme is also designed to create opportunities for attendees to meet speakers, founders and other professionals outside the formal stage sessions.
Womenpreneur Middle East has announced individual participants gradually through its official channels. Attendees should consult the organiser’s final on-site programme for the exact running order, session times and any last-minute speaker changes.
Media entrepreneur and FAME founder Sheeraz Hasan is also attending today’s summit. Known for advising global personalities and brands on attention, influence and media strategy, Hasan joins the founders, investors and business leaders gathering at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC.
Panel Discussions Cover Business, Technology and Investment
Today’s panel programme centres on the conditions needed for women-led businesses to start, compete and scale.
The summit’s announced discussion areas include:
- Entrepreneurship and business growth
- Leadership and women-led impact
- Investment and access to funding
- Technology and digital transformation
- Innovation and emerging business models
- Sustainability and responsible growth
- Inclusion in professional and commercial environments
- Legal considerations for startups and small businesses
- Collaboration between founders, investors and established companies
One of the highlighted technology discussions is titled “From Virtual to Reality: The Road to Reshaping the Value of RWA.” The session is expected to explore real-world assets, digital ownership and the evolving relationship between physical assets and technology-enabled financial systems.
Other conversations will examine how founders can turn expertise into commercially viable companies, establish stronger professional identities and build partnerships capable of supporting long-term growth.
The panels form a central part of the Emirati Women’s Day Summit 2026, but they are not the event’s only business feature. Attendees can also explore the exhibitor area, meet company founders and watch selected brands present their growth plans during the live pitch competition.
Womenpreneur Unveils Three New Initiatives
Womenpreneur Middle East is using today’s summit to launch three initiatives intended to extend its work beyond events and media exposure.
The first is the Womenpreneur App, a dedicated platform for women in business. The app is structured around four pillars: Learn, Explore, Collaborate and Grow Together.
It is intended to connect members with business knowledge, events, professional communities, potential collaborators and new opportunities. The wider objective is to give entrepreneurs a digital space where they can continue making connections after the summit concludes.
Womenpreneur Legal is also launching today in partnership with PSP Legal Consultancy. The initiative aims to make legal guidance more accessible to women entrepreneurs, particularly those navigating the requirements involved in establishing, managing or expanding a company.
The third initiative is the Womenpreneur Foundation, an impact-focused platform centred on entrepreneurship, education and opportunity creation. The foundation is expected to develop projects and partnerships intended to create practical and longer-term support for women.
Together, the three launches show Womenpreneur Middle East expanding from an events platform into a broader business ecosystem.
Vivek Malik, founder and CEO of Womenpreneur Middle East, said the organisation wants to create an environment where women do not have to build businesses alone but can learn from one another, collaborate and grow together.
Ten Brands Compete for AED 50,000
The Womenpreneur Brand Pitch is one of today’s main competitive features.
Ten selected brands will present their businesses, products and growth potential to the summit audience. The format gives each participating company an opportunity to explain its concept while building visibility among investors, executives and potential commercial partners.
Three winners will receive a combined AED 50,000:
- First place: AED 25,000
- Second place: AED 15,000
- Third place: AED 10,000
The three winning brands will also receive one year of support from Womenpreneur Middle East. That support is expected to include mentorship, networking, visibility and business-growth opportunities through the organisation’s wider platform.
The final AED 50,000 figure replaces the AED 90,000 prize structure included in earlier promotional materials. The latest release published ahead of today’s summit confirms AED 25,000, AED 15,000 and AED 10,000 as the current awards.
For the seven finalists who do not receive a cash prize, appearing on stage still provides an opportunity to introduce their companies to an audience already engaged with entrepreneurship and women-led business.
The Expo Connects Founders With Dubai’s Business Community
Alongside the stage programme, the summit includes an exhibition of women-led businesses.
The expo allows founders to present products, services and business concepts directly to attendees. It also gives visitors a closer look at companies operating across different industries and stages of development.
For participating brands, the exhibition may support customer discovery, media exposure, commercial partnerships and direct feedback. These conversations can be particularly valuable to small businesses that are still refining their market position or preparing for expansion.
The event’s expected audience of more than 1,000 people increases the potential reach of the exhibition. However, the figure comes from the organiser’s pre-event announcement and should be treated as projected attendance until final numbers are released.
Womenpreneur Excellence Awards Close the Programme
The evening programme includes the Womenpreneur Excellence Awards, recognising women working across entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation and social impact.
The awards ceremony will be followed by entertainment and a gala dinner, extending the day’s networking opportunities beyond the formal panels and presentations.
Recognition is only one part of the programme. By combining awards with legal support, business education, pitching, financial prizes and year-long assistance for selected brands, the summit aims to create outcomes that can continue after Emirati Women’s Day.
Why Today’s Summit Matters
Dubai has built a substantial calendar of startup conferences, investor gatherings and professional networking events. The Emirati Women’s Day Summit 2026 adds a women-focused platform that combines recognition with direct business opportunities.
Its strongest feature is the range of participation available. Attendees can hear from industry figures, join conversations about business challenges, meet founders in the exhibition and discover brands competing for growth support.
The launch of the Womenpreneur App, Womenpreneur Legal and Womenpreneur Foundation also gives today’s summit a longer-term dimension. Instead of ending with the gala dinner, the announced initiatives are intended to support continued learning, collaboration and access to professional resources.
For founders attending today, the summit represents an opportunity to build relationships and discover services that may help their businesses grow. For Dubai’s wider business community, it offers a direct look at the women-led companies, ideas and leaders shaping the region’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Emirati Women’s Day Summit 2026 Event Details
Event: Womenpreneur 11th Emirati Women’s Day Summit & Expo 2026
Date: Today, Friday, August 28, 2026
Starting time: 10am
Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre
Organiser: Womenpreneur Middle East
Expected attendance: More than 1,000 people
Programme: Keynotes, panel discussions, exhibition, brand pitch, platform launches, awards and gala dinner
Brand-pitch finalists: 10 selected businesses
Total prize fund: AED 50,000
Registration: Complimentary guest passes, subject to availability
The official Ritz-Carlton DIFC website lists the hotel inside Dubai International Financial Centre, off Sheikh Zayed Road. Guests should check their registration confirmation and the organiser’s latest schedule before travelling.
