According to a WAM report published on 4 October, Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) marked the graduation of the first cohort of its Women in Finance Mentorship Programme with J.P. Morgan. The group comprised 22 women employees and leaders in accounting, finance, budget planning and asset management from 19 government, federal and semi-government entities in the UAE. The ceremony was part of DWE’s September programme of events for Emirati Women’s Day, held under the theme “We Emerge Stronger and Better.”

Over six months, the programme paired each participant with a senior J.P. Morgan executive for six individual mentoring sessions. DWE said the discussions covered professional development, leadership, resilience, career growth and networking. The format gave participants recurring opportunities to raise questions about their career paths with experienced executives. WAM described the sessions as an interactive experience built around dialogue, knowledge-sharing and professional connections, extending beyond conventional classroom training. The agency’s report does not, however, include an assessment measuring changes in participants’ performance or career outcomes.

The ceremony was attended by DWE Chief Executive Officer Naeema Ahli, J.P. Morgan Senior Country Officer for the Middle East and North Africa Khaled Hobballah, programme mentors and senior representatives from participants’ organisations. DWE Chairperson and Managing Director Mona Ghanem Al Marri said the programme reflected an approach of investing in Emirati women’s capabilities and supporting their professional and leadership advancement. Ahli said sustained direct engagement with senior executives gave participants practical perspectives and insights to consider as they made career decisions.

The graduation included a panel titled “From Mentorship to Leadership: Empowering the Next Generation.” Laura Barrett, Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel for J.P. Morgan in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, moderated a discussion with Evren Yazman, Managing Director for Global Markets Sales, and May Wafa, Executive Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa FIG Payments. They discussed lessons from the six-month programme and direct engagement between national talent and global finance expertise. The announcement does not say whether the mentoring resulted in promotions, job changes or financial outcomes.

The programme is one area of cooperation under a memorandum of understanding that DWE and J.P. Morgan signed in November 2025. That agreement provided a general framework for joint work on women’s professional development and economic participation, including events, career mentorship and leadership development. The first cohort’s graduation shows that the framework has been translated into a finance-focused programme. The partners have not announced a date or target for another cohort, a budget, or measurable employment and career indicators. The announcement confirms completion of the first cycle; assessing longer-term effects will require information on graduates’ subsequent careers and whether the programme continues.