Dubai | February 16-17, 2020

The two-day We-Fi MENA Regional Summit in Dubai concluded on February 17^th, spurring action to support women entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa.  Global leaders, private and public sector partner and entrepreneurs from around the region discussed new steps to lower policy and regulatory barriers, pave the way to accelerate bank lending to women, launch innovative partnerships with the private sector, and provide training and networking opportunities for invited women entrepreneurs from the region.

The We-Fi summit, organized in collaboration with the Dubai Women Establishment and supported by the government of the United Arab Emirates, was held on the sidelines of the Global Women’s Forum Dubai which attracted over 3000 participants from 87 countries, including about 100 speakers, over the course of two days. During the opening session, World Bank Group President David Malpass, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and Advisor to the President of the United States Ivanka Trump emphasized the overwhelming advantages of full economic participation by women in the region and the need to support women entrepreneurship.