Top Businesswomen from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain to debate economic role of women at Forbes Arabia Event

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The high-profile 'An Evening with Forbes' event, scheduled to begin at 8 pm on Monday, March 27, 2006, at the Mina A'Salam hotel at the Madinat Jumeirah resort, will address a question of growing regional importance - Can Women be the Driving Force for Economic Growth in the Arab World - with insights from some of the region's most influential business leaders, as rated in the new Forbes Arabia listing of the 50 Most Powerful Businessmen in the Arab World.

The speakers include Raja Al Gurg, No. 4 on the list and the highest-ranking UAE businesswoman; Dr. Nahed Taher, CEO of Gulf One Investment Bank in Bahrain, No. 5 on the list and the second-highest Saudi Arabian woman; Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani, No. 11 on the list and the highest ranking Qatari woman; and Elham Hassan, No. 14 on the list and the highest ranked Bahraini woman.

The evening will also feature a keynote presentation from Suhair Al Ali, Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation; and Dr. Sulaiman Al-Hattlan, editor-in-chief of Forbes Arabia.

Several other leading businesswomen featured on the recent Forbes Arabia list and key business owners from the region are also expected to participate in the subsequent moderated debate between speakers and audience members.

'In business, power is more than a title,' said Dr. Sulaiman Al-Hattlan, editor-in-chief of Forbes Arabia. 'It is about action, not position. It is about integrity, passion, personality, impact and influence, and we will debate the impact that powerful businesswomen such as these can have on stimulating economic growth in the region.'

The high-profile evening is sponsored by Damas, Mercedes, Sony and NBC.

'We are proud to lend our support to an event of this kind, that encourages women to assume their rightful position of leadership in our society,' said Tawhid Abdullah, Managing Director of Damas. 'Women are half of our population, and without their full and keen participation our societies cannot reach the goals to which they aspire.'

Forbes Arabia, the Dubai-based Arabic edition of the world-renowned business and financial magazine Forbes, recently published its first-ever listing of the 50 Most Powerful Businesswomen in the Arab World. The listing takes into account a multiplicity of factors, including title and resume, the size and importance of her business, her influence and career path, cultural and social impact and the number of regional and international media mentions.

The Top 50 list, out in this week's edition of Forbes Arabia, is supplemented by a list of non-business women who have contributed significantly to their societies.