UAE Woman

Dubai’s open economy, like that of the United Arab Emirates in general, offers exceptional opportunities for women, and female leaders now hold many of the country’s top positions in both the public and private sectors. Of the 11,000 businesswomen working in the United Arab Emirates, 4,000 are based in Dubai, with 3,000 in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah respectively, and the remainder in the other emirates. Sheikh Mohammed’s ‘Vision 2015’ plan calls for creating even more opportunities for women in the future.

Dynamic female leaders making their mark

Several women have held important ministerial posts in the United Arab Emirates, including Minister of State Dr. Maitha Salem Al Shamsi; Minister of State Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimi; Minister of Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi; and Minister of Social Affairs Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi.

Prominent business leader Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, formerly Minister of Economy and Planning, was the United Arab Emirates’ first female minister, and is one of the world’s key role models for women, while Al Hashimi, who was sworn in as a cabinet minister in February 2008, also manages the External Affairs Unit of Sheikh Mohammed’s Executive Office and was formerly Deputy Chief of Mission at the United Arab Emirates embassy in Washington, D.C. She has an undergraduate degree from Tufts University and a master’s degree from Harvard.

Raja Al Gurg, Al Gurg Group

President Dubai Businesswomen’s Council (DBWC) and Managing Director Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group
Raja Al Gurg, President of Dubai Businesswomen’s Council (DBWC) and Managing Director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, believes that the participation of women in the workforce throughout the United Arab Emirates will continue to grow, especially as the government’s ‘emiratization’ program continues. “Opportunities for women exist in both private and government sectors, but currently 40 percent of working women are employed in the government sector while the private sector employs 18 percent,” she explains.

Al Gurg is one of the leading business figures in the United Arab Emirates. Formerly an award-winning school principal, she is now responsible for 29 companies with over 3,000 employees. She is the President of the Federation of the UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry Business Women’s Committee and of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Women’s Committee, and is a member of the Dubai Educational Council and of the National Advisory Council for the College of Business Sciences at Zayed University. She has received many awards, including the Datamix ‘Woman of the Year’ prize in 2003.
According to DBWC’s recent study, around 2 percent of working women in the United Arab Emirates hold high executive positions, while 20 percent hold administrative positions, 35 percent are in the national workforce and 80 percent are household workers. One goal for DBWC is to boost the percentage of women in more important positions.

Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, TECOM

Many prominent local women believe that Arab women need to address misconceptions held about them. “We aim to change how people in America and Europe perceive the image of women in this part of the world,” Al Gurg says. Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, Senior Executive at TECOM Investments, concurs, and adds, “It is the responsibility of women to speak up and seek opportunities. Self confidence is the key.” Praising Sheikh Mohammed for his promotion of new options for working women, she concludes, “Dubai offers the best opportunities for women. Nothing is impossible.”

Fatima Jaber, Al Jaber Group

Fatima Jaber, COO and Executive Director of the Board of Al Jaber Group, one of the leading construction firms in the United Arab Emirates, demonstrates how much women can achieve in the local business world, even in sectors not traditionally open to them. An engineer, she manages all of Al Jaber Group’s contracting, logistics, industrial, trading, investment, and real estate subsidiaries – around 30 companies – and is responsible for determining the group’s development strategies. Al Jaber has held important government posts and is deputy chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen’s Council and a board member of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Women bring a new perspective

Concerning the role of women in the United Arab Emirates, Al Jaber says, “Women have the skills, thanks to education, to gain empowerment in the business world, and they bring diversity to the workforce, as well as a different perspective. The United Arab Emirates is a step ahead of other countries in the region concerning opportunities for women.” The greatest challenge for women, she adds, is to overcome cultural barriers and develop more self-confidence. “Women need to step up and take on more responsibilities,” she believes, and she notes that Hillary Clinton has been a great role model for women.

Salma Hareb, Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority

Salma Hareb, CEO of Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA), made history when she became the first female in the MENA region to be appointed the head of a free zone. She also serves as a board member for Dubai’s Ports and Free Zones organization and for Dubai Export Development Corporation. She is well known for promoting more customer-friendly free zones and for making Jebel Ali Free Zone one of the most successful free zones in the world. She also serves as a member of the board of Forsa (‘opportunity’), which was launched in January 2007 to create a USD 272 million fund that allows women to invest in various sectors. According to a recent study by DBWC, women have already contributed USD 3.4 billion to the economy of the United Arab Emirates through their investments.
Although the Forsa fund, backed by Dubai World, will focus on start-up businesses for women entrepreneurs, it will only target large-scale projects with high returns on investment. As Manal Shaheen, Forsa’s Vice Chairman, says, “Initiatives like Forsa help ensure that women’s enterprises are supported, instead of marginalized.” Shaheen, Director of Marketing and Sales for leading property developer Nakheel, is one of Dubai’s leading role models for women.

Maryam Sharaf, Dubai World

Another role model for women in Dubai is Maryam Sharaf, Chief Financial Officer of Dubai World, one of the biggest and most influential corporate groups on the planet. When Sheikh Saeed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented her with the ‘Overall Winner in the Professional Category’ award at this year’s Emirates Business Women Awards, Sharaf said, “Our nation has certainly come a long way in the past few decades and this is primarily due to the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who has encouraged and urged women to actively partake in contributing to the national economy.”

Mona Al Marri, Dubai Press Club

Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of Dubai Press Club and CEO of prominent media firm JiWin PR, is another female leader who is widely respected as a role model. She is Chairperson of Dubai Women’s Establishment, which was created by Sheikh Mohammed to enhance the leadership capacities of UAE women and highlight their active role in society. She also serves as Secretary General of the International Association of Press Clubs, Vice President of Dubai Ladies Club, and member of the boards of Young Arab Leaders and Dubai Media Incorporated. She launched the Arab Journalism Award and the Arab Media Summit.

Concerning opportunities for women in the United Arab Emirates, Al Marri says, “Equal rights define the essence of modern societies, and as we seek to build integrated communities across the region, we are making rapid progress in achieving a high degree of egalitarianism. The UAE woman has gained considerable ground in her voice being heard, and not just within the country’s corporate corridors. As we speak, the UAE has four woman ministers and nine members at the Federal National Council, one of the highest rates worldwide. National women occupy more than 50 percent of the jobs in ministries and federal organizations.”

Sheikh Mohammed is the force behind new opportunities for women. As Al Marri points out, “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed calls us the ‘lionesses’, in recognition of our role as full and equal partners in the emirate’s development and progress. He has also said, “In fact, I can see the day coming when women will be the ones leading development”. The prospects for women in the UAE have never been as promising. The future is exciting, and there are opportunities everywhere. All we need to do is seize those opportunities if we are to rise to our ruler’s expectations of us, and shape a better future for all our people in this country.”
Female leaders in Dubai are demonstrating to the world that the United Arab Emirates offers exceptional potential for women and that local women are ready to meet the challenge. As Al Marri points out, “From being a proficient homemaker, the average UAE woman has – for some years now – taken over the mantle of a meticulous professional and a competent, multitasking individual. Responsible mandates at the federal level are increasingly being accorded to her, all for justifiable reasons – one of which is her unstinting commitment to contribute to the progress of the country.”

Laila Suhail, Dubai Shopping Festival

Laila Suhail, CEO of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), is the first female CEO of this important annual event that has been instrumental in earning Dubai the reputation of the world’s shopping capital. Suhail, who recently received Sheikh Mohammed’s prestigious ‘Government Excellence’award, is credited with dramatically boosting the festival’s sponsorship base, revenues and international profile. Over the past 12 years, Suhail has initiated many innovative projects for DSF and for the popular Dubai Summer Surprises festival that have helped to position Dubai as one of the world’s top tourism and shopping destinations.
Last year Sheikh Mohammed formally established the DSF as an independent public-sector company headed by Suhail. She explains, “I am very happy with the new assignment. It’s a challenge for me and in the coming months I will bring in new ideas and concepts to add value to the DSF.” Concerning being a role model for women in the region, she says, “I would like to share my success story as one example of many, that Dubai gives opportunity to skill and capability, not gender.”

Business leader discusses women in the workplace

Manal Shaheen is Director of Sales, Marketing and Customer Service at leading property developer Nakheel, which is responsible for The Palm and The World projects in Dubai, two of the best-known property developments on the planet. Her role is to oversee the developer’s massive property projects, including the iconic Palm Jumeirah initiative. She is also Vice Chairperson of Forsa (investment company dedicated to women in the Gulf Region) and Vice Chairperson of Dubai Women Establishment. She discusses opportunities for women in the Gulf region today.

Are women in the Gulf region more empowered today than in the past?
The empowerment of women in business has come a long way in recent years, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, where more and more women are being appointed to senior executive positions in both the public and private sectors. One excellent example is the recent appointment of the United Arab Emirates’ first female judge. This trend indicates the significant progress that has been made with regard to equality in the workplace over the past several years.
Higher education and its increasing availability to young women has played a major role, as does the fact that the young women presented with such opportunities are inclined – perhaps more so than their male counterparts – to grab hold of those opportunities and to squeeze out every possible ounce of benefit. Nevertheless, while female equality is much better today than the mere dream it was two decades ago, we still have a long way to go with regard to true equality in the workplace, particularly in the wider Gulf region.

What are the greatest challenges women in the Arab world face in climbing the corporate ladder?
Although women today, especially in the United Arab Emirates, are far more likely to succeed in a business environment than in the past, women in the Arab world in general still face a number of obstacles, including education, family commitments and cultural barriers, to name a few. However, when we talk about challenges, it is important to bear in mind that the entire region faces challenges, which women, therefore, face by default. The region, while prosperous economically, still faces political pressures, forcing us to develop new strategies for maintaining economic strength while avoiding political strife.

How have local attitudes changed concerning women in the workplace?
Deeply conservative people in the Muslim world still have reservations about women in business, but this attitude is becoming far less common as more and more women graduate from universities and colleges, and go on to build successful careers. A recently published list of the 50 most powerful women in the Arab world shows just how much women have achieved. In the United Arab Emirates, many women are succeeding in executive careers while also fulfilling the traditional roles of wife, mother and homemaker – roles that we are proud to take on, and for which we are still deeply respected, as our nation remains rooted in its traditional values.
The United Arab Emirates, by recognizing women’s abilities and allowing them to choose their own paths, while still affording them the respect and courteous treatment prescribed by our culture, is setting an example worthy of study not only by neighboring Gulf states, but across the globe.

Do you feel pressure to over-perform in order to prove yourself to your male counterparts?
Not particularly, but I think women do tend to put in that extra effort nonetheless. It is in our nature to notice the finer details, to add the extra little touches. Statistics show that women-owned businesses in the region tend to be more productive than those owned by men. At the end of the day, it’s all about getting the job done, and getting it done well, which is ultimately a team effort. I believe in the work that I do, and I do it to the best of my ability, not for the sake of proving anything to anyone, but because it is what I would expect from any member of the team, male or female.
Is the United Arab Emirates a good place for a woman to launch her own business?
The government is particularly encouraging of young entrepreneurs, whether they be male or female, and has begun implementing a number of initiatives for the establishment and support of successful small to medium-sized enterprises. Many of the larger local corporations also support such initiatives, so overall I would say that the environment here is generally very supportive.
Groups such as Forsa, the International Business Women’s Group, Dubai Women’s Establishment, the Dubai Women’s Business Council and others all share the common goal of helping businesswomen succeed in the region. I am actively involved in both Forsa and Dubai Women’s Establishment, as I feel passionately about the role of women in the modern business world.

How can Forsa benefit local women?
Forsa is a unique and powerful vehicle that facilitates investment opportunities for businesswomen and assists in the establishment of new ventures by female entrepreneurs. The name, literally translated, means ‘opportunities’, which is exactly what the organization is all about: creating opportunities for female investors and women-owned businesses. Initiatives such as Forsa ensure that women’s enterprises are supported, instead of marginalized.

What are the keys to success for a woman in business?
Adequate mentorship within the company environment, business support for female entrepreneurs, access to higher education and personal motivation – all of these determine, through their absence or availability, to what degree a woman is likely to succeed in the business world.
The corporate world is realizing, more and more, the value that women can add to business across a number of levels, and this is being reflected in the growing numbers of women being appointed to senior management positions. Bear in mind that women make up a vast percentage of the consumer market, and who better to cater to that particular market’s needs than other women?

How would you compare women’s management skills to those of men?
It would be difficult to determine whether women’s leadership or management skills are stronger than those of men, but they would almost certainly be different. Men and women approach things differently, nine times out of ten. However, at the end of the day, the appointment of a manager in any business should not be based on the candidate’s gender, but on his or her qualifications and capability.

What is your personal message to ambitious business women in the corporate world?
My advice to aspiring businesswomen is to persevere, to plan thoroughly, to make use of all the support structures available to them and to trust in their own ability to make it go right.