Fortunately in the Middle East this is not a normal occurence - women are generally allowed to attend such events. Saudi Arabia is a repressive state when it comes to women's rights, but elsewhere in the region women are seen (veiled or unveiled) and participate in society.
Again, let's hope that the voices of reason speaking out against these actions by the ultra-religious gain the upper hand:
Ultra-Orthodox bar women from major Jerusalem economic conference
Hamodia's Management Forum is attended by leading Israeli companies and politicians including Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz.
...
The exclusion of women from this economic conference is another step on the path to destroying Israel's liberal democracy. It is yet another indicator of the dangerous escalation of the ultra-Orthodox endorsement of a sexist and racist agenda, which has been yet again demonstrated in the refusal to let police investigate rabbis suspected of incitement to racial hatred. The exclusion of women from full participation in public spaces is anathema to the concept of democratic representation.
...
http://english.themarker.com/ultra-orth ... e-1.372945
Shocking stuff.
Cheers,
Shafique