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Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, opened the seventh edition of the Women in Technology 2026 Forum on Tuesday while stressing the need to empower women to influence and shape the future of technology. The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park organised the event under her patronage with the theme “The 2050 Mindset,” which focuses on long-term thinking for technological advancement. Sheikha Bodour highlighted the importance of creating environments where women can develop ideas into impactful projects and solutions that drive innovation. According to the Emirates News Agency, the forum brings together female leaders, government officials, executives, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to discuss transformations in technology, economy and society over coming decades.
The Emirates News Agency reported that Sheikha Bodour emphasised how Emirati women have advanced beyond participation to become key contributors in the knowledge economy, science, technology, research and entrepreneurship. A SPARK assessment found that women now represent around 50 percent of the workforce in the UAE National Space Programme and approximately 80 percent of the scientific team for the Hope Probe mission to Mars. The authority’s data also places women at more than 46 percent of STEM graduates and around 70 percent of all university graduates in the country. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, chief executive of SPARK, added in remarks at the opening that the opportunity ahead lies in positioning women at the heart of decisions shaping tomorrow’s industries and technologies.
Al Mahmoudi pointed to progress across advanced sectors while noting persistent underrepresentation of women in high-impact technical fields. A World Economic Forum assessment in its Global Gender Gap Report 2026 found that women comprise 36.6 percent of individual contributors in artificial intelligence companies compared with 44.8 percent in non-AI firms. The same report placed women at 25.3 percent of senior management roles in AI companies and only 19.3 percent of AI engineers globally. These figures underscore the gap the forum seeks to address through targeted dialogue and collaboration.
SPARK’s Tuesday briefing outlined how the park works to connect researchers with industry, entrepreneurs with opportunities, technology with testing and talent with partnerships that produce real-world impact. The forum edition builds on six previous gatherings that have progressively elevated women’s roles in UAE innovation ecosystems. According to the Emirates News Agency, discussions will examine how women can lead in artificial intelligence development while ensuring inclusive growth across emerging technologies. Additional sessions are expected to explore policy measures, investment strategies and educational reforms needed to sustain momentum.
Data from the UAE’s higher education sector, as cited by forum organisers, shows consistent female majorities in many technical disciplines yet reveals slower advancement into leadership pipelines. A separate PwC Middle East review of regional digital transformation noted that Gulf countries, including the UAE, have accelerated initiatives to close gender gaps in technology fields since the pandemic exposed workforce vulnerabilities. The Sharjah event aligns with national strategies that prioritise female participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Participants will examine case studies from the UAE space programme and Mars mission where women’s contributions have been particularly prominent.
The seventh Women in Technology 2026 Forum concludes its opening day with commitments to ongoing programmes that translate dialogue into measurable outcomes for female innovators. SPARK figures indicate the park has supported numerous projects led by women that span research, entrepreneurship and technology commercialisation. Organisers plan follow-up initiatives to track progress against the 2050 targets discussed during the sessions.
