Women Board of Directors and PwC Middle East to host ‘Reaffirmation’ — bringing together accomplished Emirati women leaders
Taking place on 28 September 2026 in Dubai, the event will celebrate Emirati women’s contributions and inspire the next generation of leaders
Dubai, UAE, 22 September 2026 – Women Board of Directors (WBD), in collaboration with PwC Middle East, will host ‘Reaffirmation’, bringing together accomplished Emirati women leaders from across business, government and wider society for an afternoon of dialogue and recognition.
Hosted at PwC Middle East’s offices in Emaar Square, Dubai on Monday, 28 September 2026, from 2:00 PM onwards, the event builds on the momentum of Emirati Women’s Day and will recognise the contribution of Emirati women to the UAE’s development, while looking at the opportunities and priorities for the next generation of leaders.
‘Reaffirmation’ brings together WBD and PwC Middle East around a shared focus on leadership, governance and the advancement of women. WBD supports the advancement of women into senior corporate leadership roles. PwC Middle East works with organisations and leaders across the region on some of their most important challenges and opportunities, with a focus on building trust and supporting sustainable growth. The collaboration will bring together women with different leadership backgrounds to share their perspectives and experiences.
“This collaboration with PwC Middle East makes ‘Reaffirmation’ a truly distinctive occasion,” said Poonam Chawla, Founder of WBD. “~~ We~~ We share a commitment to creating opportunities for women to lead, contribute and have a greater voice in the organisations and communities they serve.”
Khaled Bin Braik, UAE Country Senior Partner, PwC Middle East, said: “Emirati women have long played a central role in the UAE’s growth and transformation. The next opportunity is to build on that momentum by creating clearer pathways for women to stay, grow and lead. Through ‘Reaffirmation’, we are bringing leaders together to share experience and help strengthen the leadership pipeline for the UAE’s continued development.”
Maria Lalousis, Chief People Officer, PwC Middle East, added: “For the next generation of women leaders, seeing what is possible matters. Bringing together accomplished Emirati women from across sectors creates an opportunity to share experiences, celebrate achievement and help others envision their own path to leadership. These conversations can also spark the mentorship, sponsorship and connections that help future leaders navigate their careers and realise their potential.”
‘Reaffirmation’ will open with a keynote address, ‘Roots & Reach: Emirati Women as Resilient Leaders’, exploring the relationship between heritage, resilience and forward-looking leadership.
This will be followed by a panel discussion, ‘Architects of Ambition’, exploring the role of Emirati women in the UAE’s continued transformation, and a fireside chat, ‘The Sovereign Mindset’, focused on purpose, resilience and the next generation of leadership.
The programme will also include a recognition ceremony honouring Emirati women for their leadership and contribution to the UAE.
The UAE has long placed women’s participation and advancement at the heart of its national development. Across government, business, innovation and entrepreneurship, Emirati women continue to make an important contribution to the country’s growth and progress.
-ENDS-
About Women Board of Directors (WBD): Women Board of Directors is the region’s leading platform for women’s empowerment, dedicated to enabling women to acquire a high-level corporate leadership mindset. It brings together influential leaders — both women and men — to create impactful initiatives that support and elevate women in business across various sectors. For more information, visit: https://www.womenboardofdirectors.com/
About PwC: At PwC, we help clients build trust and reinvent so they can turn complexity into competitive advantage. We’re a tech-forward, people-empowered network with more than 364,000 people in 136 countries and 137 territories. Across audit and assurance, tax and legal, deals and consulting, we help clients build, accelerate, and sustain momentum. Find out more at www.pwc.com.
With over 12,000 people across 12 countries in 30 offices, PwC Middle East combines deep regional insight with global expertise to help clients solve complex problems, drive transformation, and achieve sustained outcomes. Learn more at www.pwc.com/me.
PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.
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