The two-hour event at Hotel Indigo, Dubai Downtown, saw Roudha Al Marri, the highly admired co-author of UAE 101; Nayla Khaja, first female Emirati film writer, director and producer; Ahlam Bolooki, director of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature; Amna Al Hashemi first female Emirati chef patron to open her own restaurants ; Fatma Alawi, deputy director and Head of Expo Operations Centre and Aida Mohammad Al Busaidy, Director, C2C campaigns and marketing management, Dubai Tourism discuss career paths, opportunities, challenges and the way forward for Emirati women in the coming years.

The session, which paid homage to this year’s Emirati Women’s Day theme of ‘Women: Ambitions & Inspiration for the Next 50 Years’, also revealed inspiring anecdotes to success, taking risks and overcoming barriers.

Talking about the event, Haitham Mattar, managing director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said, “It was our privilege to host the illustrious panelists and listen to their inspiring achievements and journeys. They serve as role models to all of us but especially the aspiring Emirati women who want to make a mark in their career of choice. We also encourage more Emirati women to explore their professional journey within the tourism and hospitality sector which is at the core of the UAE’s future.”