WE Convention 2026 in Dubai

WE Convention 2026 returns to Dubai on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026, moving to SO/ Uptown Dubai in Jumeirah Lakes Towers for its fourth edition. Billed by its organisers as the world’s largest forum for women leaders, the WE Convention in Dubai packs two days with keynotes, workshops, mentoring and networking on leadership, money, entrepreneurship and careers. It was created by women for women who lead, and it draws founders, executives and young professionals from around the world.

For anyone building a company, stepping into a bigger role or widening a professional circle in the UAE, it has become one of the most talked-about dates on the business and networking calendar in the city.

Who Is Behind WE Convention Dubai

The convention is organised by WE EVENTS DMCC and run by the Women’s Empowerment Council, known as WE Council. Its founder and president is Mila Semeshkina, who launched both the council and the convention with a stated mission to empower women globally. Semeshkina is also an author, and press coverage of the 2025 edition noted that she planned to present her third book during the event.

The audience is deliberately broad. Sessions are pitched at women at every stage of their working lives, from career starters and mid-level corporate professionals to C-level executives, CEOs and business owners. That mix is part of the appeal: a first-time founder can share a roundtable with someone who has already scaled a company.

How the Convention Has Grown

WE Convention has grown quickly since its first edition in 2023, which brought names such as Maria Sharapova and Carla Bruni to the stage. The 2024 convention ran under the theme Big Goals, Bold Choices, and the 2025 edition moved to Atlantis The Royal on 1 and 2 November with the theme All In: Career, Money and Life.

That 2025 event sold out around three weeks before opening day, according to the organisers, with the most affordable ticket tier gone by September. Post-event coverage put attendance at more than 2,500 people from over 100 countries, with more than 100 speakers. Headliners included Anna Wintour, Candace Bushnell and Joelle Mardinian, and across 2023 to 2025 the speaker list has also featured Maye Musk and Natalia Vodianova. The 2026 speaker line-up had not been announced at the time of writing, so names from past years should not be read as confirmed for this edition.

The 2026 Programme at SO/ Uptown Dubai

Ticket listings for the fourth edition describe four core thematic tracks. Three of them have been named so far. Adaptive Leadership looks at how women leaders adapt, make decisions with confidence and lead through disruption. AI and the Future Workforce turns to technology and how work is changing. Women Who Build brings founders together to share what they have learned about market value, scaling and long-term decision-making.

Alongside those tracks, the wider programme of recent years has covered Pioneering Women, Technology, Health and Longevity, Money and Entrepreneurship, Career Advancement, The Art of Leadership, Fashion and Beauty, and Brand Building. Whether your focus is finance, tech, wellbeing or building a personal brand, there is usually a session that speaks to it.

Main Stage

The main stage hosts the keynotes and panel discussions with leaders from business, culture and public life. It is where the headline conversations happen and where most attendees spend at least part of each day.

Workshops, Mentor Sessions and Roundtables

The more hands-on side of the convention runs in smaller rooms. Practical workshops, 15-minute one-to-one mentor sessions and roundtables all require advance sign-up, and places are limited, so it pays to look through the programme as soon as it is published and reserve the sessions that matter most to you. Informal themed meetups add a looser way to meet people with shared interests.

Evening Events

The convention extends beyond the daytime sessions. Listings mention a networking cocktail on Friday 27 November, the evening before the main programme, and a Platinum Dinner on Saturday 28 November. WE Night, the evening event, is open to VIP and Platinum badge holders, so check what your badge includes before planning your evenings.

The Venue: SO/ Uptown Dubai

For 2026 the convention moves from Atlantis The Royal on the Palm to SO/ Uptown Dubai, a hotel inside Uptown Tower in the Uptown Dubai district of Jumeirah Lakes Towers. The location sits within easy reach of Dubai Marina, JLT and the wider New Dubai area, which suits local professionals coming in for the day.

Because it is a hotel venue, international delegates can stay on site and move between the main stage, breakout sessions and evening events without crossing the city, which makes it easier to keep conversations going across both days.

Is WE Convention Right for You?

The convention is aimed at women founders, entrepreneurs and business owners, women in leadership roles or working towards their next career step, and anyone keen to build a network that reaches across the region and beyond. Badges differ in what they unlock, from the main programme to the evening events, so the right choice depends on whether you want the talks alone or the full networking experience.

Pre-registration opens before general registration on the official WE Convention website, and the 2025 sell-out suggests that the earlier tiers go first. If you are planning a wider month in the city, our guide to things to do in November and the main things to do in Dubai page cover what else is on around the convention weekend.