Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi has opened the seventh edition of the Women in Technology 2026 Forum in Sharjah, calling for greater representation of women in the leadership and decision-making processes that will shape the future of technology.
The forum, organised by the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) under her patronage, is being held under the theme “The 2050 Mindset.” The event brings together women leaders, government officials, corporate executives, researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators to examine how emerging technologies could influence economies and societies in the decades ahead.
Sheikha Bodour, who chairs SPARK, said technological progress should not view women’s involvement only through participation numbers. She highlighted the need for women to have a meaningful role in determining priorities, developing ideas and making decisions about how new technologies are created and applied.
She also pointed to the importance of building an environment where women can turn their ideas and research into practical projects and solutions. According to her, the choices being made today around research, investment and technology development will contribute to determining what the world looks like in 2050.
The forum’s discussions reflect a broader shift in focus from encouraging women to enter technology fields toward supporting them as innovators, leaders and decision-makers. Speakers and participants are examining the skills, policies and technological developments that could influence industries over the next several decades.
Sheikha Bodour also highlighted the progress made by Emirati women, noting that opportunities combined with trust and responsibility can create greater avenues for women to contribute to innovation.
The seventh edition of the forum therefore places leadership and influence at the centre of its agenda. Its discussions aim to explore how women can have a stronger role in shaping the technologies, industries and social systems expected to define 2050 and the years that follow.
