UAE, Philippines Launch Women’s Leadership Program Together

The UAE Gender Balance Council held a high-level meeting with H.E. Louise Araneta Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines, to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The meeting, organized with the Government Knowledge Exchange Office, was attended by H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and H.E. Mouza Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council.

A key focus of the meeting was the Women’s Leadership Program, launched by H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council. The program, scheduled for April 2026, aims to enhance women’s leadership in the Philippines through knowledge exchange, best practices, and capacity-building in both public and private sectors.

The initiative is part of a broader Memorandum of Understanding between the UAE and the Philippines (Feb 2025 – Feb 2028), supporting government development, institutional capacity-building, and leadership growth.

H.E. Louise Araneta Marcos highlighted the importance of this partnership, stating it will strengthen women’s representation, institutional readiness, and practical leadership pathways. She emphasized knowledge-sharing initiatives as vital for implementing impactful programs.

Her Highness Sheikha Manal underlined that exchanging expertise is key to creating inclusive policies and sustainable impact, preparing both countries for future challenges.

A high-level delegation of 20–25 senior Philippine officials will visit the UAE under this program to participate in leadership and knowledge exchange activities, enhancing cooperation, women’s empowerment, and decision-making representation.

Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, stated that the program demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to international cooperation in women’s empowerment. Secretary-General H.E. Mouza Mohammed Al Ghuwais Al Suwaidi added that sustainable change requires collaboration across public, private, and civil society sectors.

The UAE-Philippines partnership, strengthened through the Government Knowledge Exchange Office, continues to support institutional excellence, innovation, and leadership development for long-term societal impact.