On November 28-29, Dubai will host the fourth edition of WE Convention, the renowned international conference bringing together female entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and experts from around the world. The event will take place at SO/ Uptown Dubai under the theme EQUIPPED TODAY. READY FOR TOMORROW, with a program focused primarily on leadership, artificial intelligence and the future of work, entrepreneurship, capital, and financial independence.
The concept for the new edition has already been introduced: in 2026, WE Convention is shifting its focus from traditional success stories toward practical decisions and experience that attendees can apply directly to their own careers or businesses. The full speaker lineup is still under wraps, but, as always, it will include internationally recognized figures and world-class professionals. The names confirmed so far represent an impressive range of experience, from founding and exiting companies to leading international markets, investing, driving digital transformation, and working at the intersection of business and social change.
Speakers to Watch in Dubai
Mila Semeshkina will take the stage as both a speaker and the creator of WE Convention. The entrepreneur and venture investor is the founder of WE Council and the educational platform Lectera, which serves more than 7.3 million users across 60 countries. In 2026, the forum will continue her focus on a more practical conversation around leadership, entrepreneurship, and capital.
Emine Sabancı Kamışlı is the co-founder and Vice Chairperson of the investment group ESAS, as well as the founder of ESAS Sosyal, its social investment arm. Her work brings together business, capital, and long-term social impact, with a particular focus on equal opportunity, diversity, and the development of young professionals.
Amira Sajwani is Managing Director of DAMAC Properties, founder of the real estate technology platform PRYPCO, and co-founder of AMALI Properties. As an investor on Shark Tank Dubai, she also works closely with startups and their business models. At the forum, she will offer a perspective on entrepreneurship from three distinct angles: executive, founder, and investor.
Mirna Arif leads Microsoft's emerging markets business across the Middle East and Africa, where her work spans digital transformation, cloud technologies, and artificial intelligence. In January 2026, she also became a member of the Egyptian Parliament, bringing together experience in international business, technology, and public policy.
Mary Ghukasyan is Managing Director of Kraft Heinz in the Middle East and Africa and previously held roles at Nestlé, AB InBev, and Danone. She is also the co-author of When the Market Sleeps, a book exploring how companies operate during periods of stagnation. Her experience centers on growing businesses across diverse markets and identifying new sources of growth when established strategies stop delivering and the outlook remains uncertain.
Mona Ataya founded Mumzworld, one of the Middle East's leading e-commerce platforms for mothers and children, and led the company through six funding rounds before exiting in 2024. She previously co-founded Bayt.com, and her entrepreneurial experience spans company building, fundraising, scaling, and the transition to a founder's next chapter.
Dr. Leila Hoteit is a Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group in the Middle East, with more than 20 years of experience working with governments and public-sector institutions. Her career includes education reform, human capital development, employment policy, and major public-sector transformation programs. In recent years, her work has also expanded into artificial intelligence, including the launch of BCG's Global AI Government Institute.
Lana Bazzi is Vice President at Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, where she oversees initiatives in startups, entrepreneurship, innovation, and small and medium-sized enterprises. She is also the founder and head of Dubai Founders HQ. At WE Convention, she will share Dubai's experience in building infrastructure and support systems for startups and entrepreneurs.
Yana El Dirani is Managing Director of Endeavor's global hub in Dubai and Head of MENA at Endeavor Catalyst. She works with company founders across six markets in the region, supporting them with scaling, fundraising, and investor relations. Before joining Endeavor, she also managed Vivium Holding, a $200 million family investment office.
His Excellency Hussain Mohammed Al Mahmoudi is CEO of Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park and has more than 20 years of experience developing innovation ecosystems and public-private partnerships. His work focuses on bringing together government, universities, businesses, startups, and investors around emerging technologies and economic development.
What Else to Expect from WE Convention 2026
The speakers confirmed so far already suggest the broad professional range of the upcoming program. On one stage, the audience will see entrepreneurs who built companies from the ground up and navigated fundraising and exits; senior executives leading across multiple markets; investors; and leaders whose work sits at the intersection of business, technology, and social change.
Behind each of these areas is direct leadership experience. Mona Ataya understands what happens to a company at different stages of growth. Mary Ghukasyan and Mirna Arif work across markets where global strategy constantly has to be adapted to local realities. Emine Sabancı Kamışlı combines investment capital with a strong social agenda. Amira Sajwani brings together leadership of a large business, the launch of her own companies, and investment decision-making.
Leila Hoteit works on large-scale government transformation and AI adoption; Lana Bazzi and Hussain Al Mahmoudi focus on developing the region's entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems; and Yana El Dirani works with companies at the moments when they need to raise capital and move into their next stage of growth. Mila Semeshkina connects the entire program through two roles at once;as the creator of the forum and as an entrepreneur developing international ventures.
The conversation around leadership at WE Convention 2026 promises to go far beyond familiar success stories. At the center will be questions faced by any growing business: when to enter a new market, how to choose the right moment to raise capital, where artificial intelligence is genuinely changing the business model, how to manage growth across multiple countries, and what to do when the previous strategy stops working.
That is exactly what the new concept of the forum is built around. WE Convention 2026 participants can expect not simply inspiration, but practical solutions and an opportunity to map out their own path toward their goals alongside recognized experts.
The full program is still being finalized, so the speaker lineup will continue to grow. WE Convention 2026 will take place in Dubai on November 28-29. Tickets are already available on Platinumlist-make sure to secure yours.
