On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, UNDP Saudi Arabia’s Country Office took an active role in the 7th Middle East Women Leaders Summit in Riyadh, bringing the organization’s voice and convening power to one of the region’s most visible platforms for women’s leadership. Representing UNDP, Dr. Margaret Jones Williams, Deputy Resident Representative, joined H.E. Javier Carbajosa Sanchez, Ambassador of Spain to Saudi Arabia, for a high-level fireside chat on “Diplomacy With Purpose: Leadership, Alliance & Women’s Global Inclusion,” moderated by Ms. Ozge Tekalp, Chief Customer and Project Officer at Locksmith Software Technologies.

The conversation came at a particularly meaningful moment, just days after the world marked the International Day of Women in Multilateralism on 25 January, an observance established to recognize the essential role women play in advancing human rights, peace, and sustainable development across the multilateral system. Yet the gap between recognition and reality remains stark. Women continue to be underrepresented where global priorities are negotiated and decisions are made, including at the highest diplomatic levels. Against this backdrop, UNDP Saudi Arabia’s participation was not simply symbolic; it was a clear statement of commitment to shifting the conversation from visibility to influence.

Throughout the discussion, Dr. Margaret emphasized that real progress depends on moving beyond representation toward genuine inclusion in decision-making. That shift requires structural change, institutions that modernize policies and workplace conditions, leadership pathways that actively identify and support women’s advancement, and stronger accountability anchored in data. She also highlighted a less visible barrier that often shapes careers, not only “glass ceilings,” but “glass walls” that channel women into so-called “soft” portfolios, limiting access to the economic, political, and security arenas where high-stakes decisions are typically made. The message was direct: if multilateralism is to deliver results people can trust, women must be empowered to lead across the full spectrum of global issues.

The fireside chat also underscored how international partnerships can reinforce Saudi Arabia’s own national transformation. Dr. Margaret pointed to Vision 2030 as a powerful framework that places women’s empowerment at the center of economic and social progress, and noted the Kingdom’s tangible momentum in expanding women’s participation in the workforce. She stressed that partners can accelerate this trajectory by backing women-led entrepreneurship and SMEs with practical support, skills development, access to finance, and stronger connections to global markets, while also investing in future-ready education and innovation in areas such as STEM, digital skills, and emerging technologies. In this context, UNDP Saudi Arabia’s approach is to translate shared ambition into measurable opportunity, building bridges between national priorities and global cooperation.

UNDP Saudi Arabia’s presence at the Summit, carried through Dr. Margaret’s leadership, reflected the Country Office’s broader mission: advancing inclusive development by strengthening alliances that are purposeful, evidence-driven, and anchored in local realities. The takeaway from Riyadh was as inspiring as it was urgent. Women’s leadership is not an add-on to diplomacy and development; it is a cornerstone of more effective institutions, more legitimate decision-making, and more sustainable outcomes for communities everywhere.