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3,000 women to converge in city for cultural forum

DUBAI — More than three thousand women from various parts of the world are due to take part in the International Women’s Cultural Forum to be held at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) from November 28 to 29.

The event will be held under the patronage of Princess Haya bint Al Hussein of Jordan, wife of General Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister.

Iman Ismail, Vice-President of the forum, told Khaleej Times that the organising committee and sponsors have been working for eight months continuously to complete preparations for the forum — the first such event to be held in Dubai.

She said that speakers at the forum would cover various topics including cultural tradition, marriage arrangements, marriage ceremonies, traditions and customs, family values and women in the family.

She said that the two-day forum would feature six sessions to be chaired by Princess Haya who will deliver a working paper during the forum titled “Women in Arab World”. Princess Haya will discuss the role of Arab women in the development process, she added.

According to Ms Ismail, the main objectives of the forum is to achieve international understanding among women to facilitate an exchange of ideas and to learn from each other’s experiences. The forum will provide an opportunity to the women of the world to get together and discuss issues of concern to them.

“The women coming to Dubai — the city which has become the social and cultural theatre for the people of the world — will learn about Arab and Islamic culture and heritage,” she commented.

Petra Muller, Head of the organising committee, said the forum will be sponsored by major companies in Dubai and aims at bringing forth a cultural exchange of traditions and values among the families of the international community.

Ms Muller said the two-day event would open with a speech by Princess Haya and the presentation of a working paper by Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan, to be followed by a speech by US ambassador Mrs Michelle Sison.

Speeches on the backgrounds and cultures of each country represented at the forum will be delivered by the wives of the many consul generals representing their countries in Dubai.

Among the speakers from the diplomatic community will be the wives of the ambassadors from Australian, Britain and Germany as well as the wife of Indian consul general.

Ms Muller pointed out that at the end of the programme children of all nationalities will be dressed up in their traditional costumes and sing a special song. Princess Haya will distribute appreciation awards and certificates to those who worked hard to make the event a success.

Naima Al Hadidi, wife of the Jordanian consul general in Dubai, said that Princess Haya is a perfect choice to represent Arab women, particularly the new generation, at this conference as she is well-educated and a sports champion. She has also played a great role in supporting humanitarian causes, being an ambassador for Right To Play, an organisation dedicated to bringing sports and recreation to children affected by war, poverty, disease and illness. She is also the honorary president of International Sports and Solidarity Association, an organisation that raises money through sports to provide aid to crisis areas around the world. She is currently establishing an institution “Tekkiyet Um Ali” for the poor in Jordan.

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