DUBAI, UAE, 5 October 2026 — DIFC Family Wealth Centre (DFWC) and the Arab International Women’s Forum (AIWF) today convened business leaders from across the region at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, for the ‘Women-Led Family Business in the Global Economy’ roundtable and networking event. The event, which took place as part of AIWF’s milestone 25th anniversary programme, examined the evolving role of women as leaders within family-owned enterprises across the region and in the global economy.
Through this joint initiative, DFWC and AIWF highlighted the impact of women’s leadership on family business growth, sustainability and longevity. Discussions explored how greater representation of women on family business boards can strengthen governance, foster innovation and enhance long-term resilience as family businesses respond to AI and other shifts in the global economy.
DFWC and AIWF are committed to supporting and promoting family enterprises. As MEASA’s largest family wealth ecosystem, DFWC supports family businesses and ultra-high-net-worth individuals with the expertise, services and structures needed to preserve and grow wealth across generations, with a focus on areas including succession planning and governance. DIFC’s family wealth ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, with 1,408 family business-related entities, up 36 per cent year-on-year, and 1,409 foundations, up 67 per cent. In the Gulf, family businesses contribute around 60 per cent of GDP and employ more than 80 per cent of the workforce.
His Excellency Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, welcomed key guests ahead of the event. In her opening remarks, Haifa Al Kaylani OBE, President and Founder of AIWF, reflected on AIWF’s 25 years of supporting women’s leadership in the private sector, family businesses and economies across the region. Abdullah Jefri, Division Director, GCC, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, delivered the Guest of Honour keynote.
The event placed women’s leadership at the centre of discussions on how family businesses preserve their legacies, prepare successors and respond to new opportunities in the global economy. The first discussion, Women-Led Family Business: Leadership, Legacy and Transformation, examined how women lead established family enterprises while planning for change across generations. Moderated by Haifa Al Kaylani OBE, the panel welcomed HE Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson and Managing Director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, UAE; HE Mona Al Moayyed, Managing Director of YK Almoayyed & Sons, Bahrain; and HE Lujaina Mohsin Darwish, Chairperson of Mohsin Haider Darwish LLC, Oman.
The second discussion, Empowering the Next Generation of Women Leaders in Family Enterprise, explored the skills, support and opportunities that aspiring leaders need to thrive in family business structures. Moderated by Nilufer Gunhan, Senior Executive and Board Member of AIWF, the session brought together Basma Alzamil, Family Business Advisor at LGA Global, Saudi Arabia; Farida El Agamy, Attorney at Law and General Manager of Tharawat Family Business Forum, UAE; Nisha Jagtiani, Group Director and Board Member of Landmark Group, UAE; and Hanan Saab, Founder, Co-Owner and Managing Director of Pharmamed, Lebanon.
During the event, DFWC launched the Women in Family Leadership and Governance Programme in collaboration with Hawkamah and AIWF, a landmark initiative aimed at advancing women’s participation in family business governance and promoting greater representation of women on family and corporate boards.
The programme forms part of DFWC’s broader commitment to supporting family businesses with the knowledge, networks and governance capabilities needed to navigate succession and preserve wealth across generations, while empowering the next generation of leaders. Through specialised education, peer engagement, mentorship and practical governance insights, the initiative seeks to strengthen women’s contributions to leadership, succession planning and strategic decision-making, helping to build more resilient, inclusive and future-ready family businesses across the region.
The Arab International Women’s Forum
The Arab International Women’s Forum was founded in London in 2001 by Haifa Al Kaylani OBE to support women’s economic empowerment and leadership, and advance youth engagement in the MENA region and globally. From our base in London and from the heart of the MENA Region, AIWF convenes global and emerging leaders from government, public service, business, civil society, academia and media to create an Arab world where women are empowered to make a positive impact as equals and as leaders, in their communities, in grassroots advocacy, in parliament, in the economy, and in societal development overall.
Working closely with our Global Partners, collaboratively with our international institutional partners, and across cultures with our global member base, AIWF facilitates multi-stakeholder dialogue and drives action to help women and young leaders unlock their full potential and exercise their agency in the MENA Region through education, economic empowerment, and leadership development. We work to raise awareness and amplify emerging voices; shape an impactful agenda for women and youth; and drive collaborative action on sustainable development challenges.
About Dubai International Financial Centre
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is the world’s most advanced financial centre, shaping the global financial landscape and cementing Dubai’s reputation as a leading business destination across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA).
As the region’s only financial centre operating at scale across all sectors, DIFC is home to 10,018 active firms. These include 1,134 regulated firms, among them are 327 banks and capital markets firms, 71 brokerage entities, 165 insurance and (re)insurance companies and 592 Wealth and Asset Management firms (including over 100 hedge fund managers). Home to 1,933 AI, FinTech and innovation firms, DIFC sets the benchmark for financial innovation and is a top five ranked FinTech hub across the world.
Underpinned by a trusted, world-class legal and regulatory framework, including the region’s most utilised commercial courts, DIFC ensures efficient governance and reinforces Dubai’s leadership in the digital economy. Connecting 50,200 professionals, it offers the region’s deepest pool of financial talent, serving as the gateway to MEASA for all financial players.
Beyond business, DIFC provides the complete urban experience with world-class lifestyle amenities, establishing it as a highly sought-after destination. The 17.7mn sq. ft. DIFC Zabeel District expansion which provides capacity for over 42,000 companies and a workforce of more than 125,000, DIFC is solidifying Dubai’s position as a top four global financial centre. The new District will also include premium Grade A commercial office space, over 1mn sq. ft. allocated to future technologies including the world’s largest Innovation Hub and world’s first purpose-built AI Campus, an expanded academy, residential buildings, hotels, a conference centre, and a range of retail, dining, and cultural offerings, including the Museum of Digital Art, the region’s first museum dedicated to digital art and new technologies.
Anchored in integrity, DIFC is the platform for success, driving the future of finance.
For further information, please visit our website: difc.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X @DIFC.