Dubai – Ivanka Trump lauded Saudi Arabia and UAE for embarking on “significant reforms” to advance women’s rights, while addressing a gathering of women entrepreneurs and regional leaders in Dubai on Sunday.
The daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump was addressing a two-day Global Women’s Forum under the theme “The Power of Influence” held at Dubai’s opulent resort overlooking the city’s Persian Gulf coastline.
“We know that when women are free to succeed, families thrive, communities flourish and nations are stronger”, Trump said.
During her speech in Dubai, Trump congratulated Saudi Arabia for recent changes in the law that allow women to travel abroad and obtain a passport without the permission of a male relative.
The 38-year-old mother of three has positioned herself as an Oval Office confidante while spearheading initiatives that broadly back women’s empowerment. Her husband Jared Kushner has become a top adviser on U.S. Mideast policy.
Trump also highlighted the changes in other Mideast countries. She said Bahrain had introduced legislation against discrimination in the workplace; Jordan had eliminated legal restrictions on women’s ability to work at night; Morocco had expanded women’s land rights; and Tunisia had introduced laws to combat domestic violence.
Notable figures among the audience were, Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, World Bank President David Malpass and International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have together cultivated close ties with the Trump administration and were early supporters of the Women’s Empowerment Fund, a World Bank initiative to help female entrepreneurs that Ivanka Trump strongly backs. And both the nations pledged $100 million to the fund.
Based on inputs from Associated Press.
