Emirati Women Leaders Highlight UAE’s Success In Driving Gender Parity

A number of Emirati female leaders have highlighted the UAE leadership’s success in empowering women and ensuring gender parity.

As the nation celebrates Emirati Women’s Day, highly successful Emirati women from various walks of life outlined their views on how the nation has made remarkable strides in enabling women with equal opportunities and ensuring their continued success in all walks of life.

Parvin Mansoor, Senior Manager, Development. IMKAN Properties, said: “On the special occasion of Emirati Women’s Day, the IMKAN team and I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the UAE government for its continuous commitment to empowering Emirati women and putting our advancement amongst the Nation’s top priorities. As an Emirati woman working in one of the country’s leading industries, I am proud to be amongst the females contributing to the rapid evolution and growing prominence of this nation’s remarkable and vibrant property development scene. Aided by the government’s commitment to empower Emirati women and provide them with equal opportunities, the status of women within the UAE is continuing to flourish, and Emirati women today constitute a vital part of the nation’s workforce – actively contributing to our country’s governance and economy.

“I have been working in the construction industry for more than 12 years and have always found it to be a dynamic and exciting work environment, allowing me to think on my feet to solve complex challenges on a daily basis. It is refreshing to see an increasing number of women entering the industry, providing undeniable value and an innovative point of view. Working as the Senior Manager for Development at IMKAN since 2019, I manage and oversee the design and development of IMKAN’s vast portfolio of projects across the Emirates’ capital and beyond.”

Duaa Hassan – Sr Human Capital Manager, National Petroleum Construction Company, added: “As an Emirati National, I strongly believe that we have been able to make the change and lead the MENA region in gender equality. At NPCC, females have been empowered to work on site, manage meg-projects and join the senior leadership team.

Our achievements in the UAE would not have been possible without our leaders’ support and vision. They have provided opportunities for women to grow in all fields, including holding top positions at corporate boards and governmental entities. These achievements stem from the vision of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who felt strongly about equipping Emirati women with the best education, protecting their rights, and safeguarding their political participation through the constitution.”

Amani Thabet, Arabic & Culture Specialist at Ford Direct Markets, observed: “I am very proud to be a young female Emirati working in the automotive industry. I have been part of the Ford Motor Company family for four years, where I am a cultural ambassador for our headquarters. Working for a global company, each day I have the opportunity to educate my colleagues from all over the world about Arabic culture and bring the unique values of our UAE nation, and our region overall, into the workplace. My role as a cultural representative for Ford takes on many different forms, from celebrating National Day and creating events (Eid, Ramadan, Global Month of Caring and many other activations), to supporting the brand’s charity and marketing communications work. I was also one of the few Emirati women to attend Dubai Motor Show as an automotive industry professional – this was a moment of real personal pride for me and a chance to show the world that nothing can stop Emirati women from following their dreams and pursuing a career in any industry. On this special occasion of Emirati Women’s Day I wish everyone the courage and success to achieve their goals. Anything is possible.”

Dr. Dalya Al Muthanna, President and CEO, GE Gulf, said: ““This year’s Emirati Women’s Day is special as we celebrate it to coincide with the success our nation has achieved in addressing the global pandemic. For the past months, women have been at the forefront of serving the country and its people, as we addressed one of the biggest challenges of our time to emerge stronger and more resilient. In every sphere – from contributing to the Mars Hope Probe mission to serving as frontline staff during the COVID-19 crisis – women continue to make remarkable achievements and prove their mettle. The pivotal role that women play in shaping the future of the nation is further defined under this year’s theme of the Emirati Women’s Day – ‘Preparing for the Next 50 years: Women are the Support of the Nation.’ I urge every woman in the UAE, Nationals and residents alike, to continue contributing to achieve the vision of our leadership as it establishes the UAE as one of the leading nations globally.”

Farah Alyasi, Director of Government Relations & Event, RAKTDA, commented: “On the occasion of Emirati Women’s day, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the UAE leadership for placing Emirati women’s advancement and empowerment among the Government’s top priorities. Across both the private and public sectors, the UAE offers Emirati women an inclusive and stimulating work environment, enabling them to play a leading role in the development of the country and support its vision to become one of the world’s top 25 countries for gender equality by 2021. I joined Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority thirteen years ago, and I’m now the Director of Government Relations & Event responsible for the delivery of numerous high-profile events hosted by the Emirate including the RAK Half Marathon which welcomed over 3,600 participants in its 2019 edition. I would like to congratulate my fellow Emirati female leaders, Entrepreneurs, and mothers on this occasion and thank them for always paving the way to a brighter future.”

Nayla Al Khaja, Canon Ambassador in the UAE, said: “As we emerge from an unprecedented time in human history, Emirati women, more than ever, have an increasingly prominent role to play supporting the nation in its preparation for the next 50 years. We have the confidence and foundations to overcome any challenges and build a stronger, resilient nation that is an inspiration to future generations in the UAE and the world. Having proved our mettle in diverse areas, from creative enterprises and film to space research and next generation technology, Emirati women will continue to be at the forefront in shaping the next chapter of our nation’s history.”

AlyaFadil Saeed Lootah, Business Executive managing Dubai Tram at ENGIE Solutions, added: “Emirati women have reached great heights and are the building blocks of society. We have earned our seat at the table, made many achievements, and are continuing to work tirelessly towards preparing our country for the next 50 years. As an Emirati woman, it gives me great pride to be able to contribute to this great country that has given all women every opportunity to thrive.  Together, we are fostering the growth of the nation.”

Emirati Women’s Day is observed this year under the theme “Preparing for the next 50 years: women are the support of the nation.”