About Us

Our Story

The Middle East – North Africa Women’s Economic Forum (MENA WEF) is a 501c3 non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Michigan.  MENA WEF was created to build and strengthen relationships between businesswomen in the United States and their counterparts in the MENA region through training, consulting, mentoring and networking activities, both in-person and virtually. Fewer than 5% of businesses are women-led in the MENA region, compared with 26% globally and 35% in the U.S. This is due not only to the more obvious social and legal barriers, but often, it is also due to limited access to information, training, capital and a professional network of support. MENA WEF aims to provide the professional development and other support services necessary for women to succeed in the global market. 

MENA-WEF grew out of, and remains closely affiliated with, the Arab American Women’s Business Council, a 501c3 established in 2007 to address the needs of Arab American women business owners and professionals as well as those of young Arab American women seeking business or other professional careers in Michigan and throughout the United States. It provides business support services, including mentoring, internships, scholarships and professional development programs on topics such as leadership development, strategic planning, financial planning and management, access to capital, marketing and exporting. It also hosts regular networking events and partners with many local business support organizations in the Detroit metropolitan area to enable successful business development and growth.