Emirati Women’s Day
August 28, was recently declared Emirati Women’s Day and marks the creation of the General Women’s Union in 1975. This date is an opportunity to celebrate Emirati women’s achievements since the union was founded. The celebrations come in line with the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, chairperson of the General Women’s Union, supreme chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, to celebrate Emirati Women’s Day with the slogan Women and Innovation.
Women empowerment has been one of the notable success stories in the UAE. The UAE firmly believes that progress on issues relating to women’s rights is essential for building a tolerant and modern society. Since the very foundation of the United Arab Emirates on December 2, 1971, women have been recognized as equal partners in national development by the UAE’s leaders.
The government continues to pursue a strategy of empowering women in all fields. The UAE society has comfortably accepted this approach in a way that has made women real partners and drivers in the country’s ongoing development process. Throughout the UAE’s history, the leadership of the country has heavily invested in women. The founding father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, made the cause of women empowerment a top priority of the UAE government. In this respect, every possible effort was and continues to be made to support the talents of Emirati women and to develop social conditions, which, in turn, encourages women to fully participate in public life.
Sheikh Zayed once said, “The woman is half of the society. Any country which pursues development should not leave her in poverty or illiteracy. I am on the woman’s side. I always say this in order to uphold her right to work and participate in the building process of her country.” The UAE government has successfully delivered on this objective by offering women education, employment, and training opportunities and by introducing forward-thinking and progressive laws and legislation that have paved the way for women empowerment.
The Constitution of the UAE guarantees equal rights for both men and women. Under the Constitution, women enjoy the same legal status, claim to titles, access to education, right to practice professions, and right to inherit property. Women are also guaranteed the same access to employment, health, and family welfare facilities. Furthermore, the UAE has enacted a range of legislations and laws that provide legal protection for women and punish anyone who would compromise their dignity or personal safety. In this context, the UAE has signed all international treaties on protecting the rights of women. Since His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan came to power in 2004 as the president of the UAE, the issue of women empowerment has gained only further momentum. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa has led national efforts to create permanent and positive changes in women’s lives. He has done so by offering more education and training opportunities that would increase the role and contribution of women in the public sphere.
UAE 2015–2021 Road Map
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, has launched a seven-year UAE National Agenda leading to the UAE Vision 2021, which also coincides with the UAE’s 50th National Day.
The UAE National Agenda, which was developed by over 300 officials from 90 federal and local government entities, includes a set of national indicators in the sectors of education, healthcare, economy, police and security, housing, infrastructure, and government services.
These indicators are long-term, measurable performance outcomes in each of the national priorities, and generally compare the UAE against the global benchmarks. The national indicators are periodically monitored by government leadership to ensure their targets are achieved by 2021. The visions are united in responsibility, united in destiny, united in knowledge, and united in prosperity.
To fulfil these visions, in March 2015, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, launched the National Strategy for Empowerment of Emirati Women in the UAE 2015–2021, which provides a guiding framework and reference for all federal and local governmental institutions and civil society organizations in developing plans and work programs to empower women in all areas.
Emirates Council for Gender Balance
Furthermore, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has also been at the forefront of encouraging women empowerment in the UAE. For instance, during the Government Summit in Dubai in 2015, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed announced the formation of the Emirates Council for Gender Balance, which aims to bridge the gender gap and boost the UAE’s efforts to evolve and enhance women’s role as key partners in building the future of the nation.
Women in the UAE
The UAE is a recognized leader in terms of gender equality in the region. This achievement comes from the fundamental belief that women and men are equal partners in society. Through a series of public and private sector initiatives, women are playing an increasingly stronger role in all facets of Emirati society. Women graduates in the UAE excel in government, engineering, science, healthcare, media, computer technology, law, commerce, and the oil industry, amongst other fields. Eight women serve in the UAE Cabinet, while nine women hold seats in the Federal National Council (FNC). A consultative parliamentary body accounts for nearly one-quarter of the FNC’s membership.
First Lady Minister of the UAE
HE Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the first lady to hold a ministerial post in the United Arab Emirates, is the best example of women empowerment whom I should mention. Currently, HE Sheikha Lubna is the minister of state for tolerance and was previously minister of state for international cooperation and minister of economic and planning of the UAE in 2004.
Sheikha Lubna graduated from the California State University, Chico, USA (1981) with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and has an executive MBA from the American University of Sharjah, UAE (2002). Her Excellency holds honorary doctorate degrees in science from California State University of Chico (USA), in law from the University of Exeter (UK), and in economics from the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Korea). Her Excellency was recently awarded an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters by the Lebanese American University (Lebanon).
In addition to her portfolio responsibilities, Sheikha Lubna holds several distinguished positions, including president of Zayed University, and serves on a number of boards, namely, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development. Moreover, Her Excellency is a member of the Governing Board of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore and many other local and international organizations. In 2016, she was listed as the 43rd most powerful woman in the world by Forbes. Really proud of you, Sheikha Lubna.
Youngest Lady Minister
Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui, at 22, is the youngest minister in the world. In the new cabinet, she has served as minister of state for youth affairs since February 2016. Her tasks are focused on youth issues and aspirations at the ministerial council, setting development plans and strategies for improving youth capabilities, in addition to further utilizing their energy in various fields.
Apart from handling the minister of state for youth affairs portfolio, previously HE Shamma Al Mazrui worked in private equity at one of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds. She also worked as a public policy analyst at the UAE Mission to the United Nations as a ministry policy analyst with the Prime Minister’s Office, as a research analyst at the UAE embassy in the USA, and as an education policy researcher at Tamkeen (UAE Strategic Affairs Authority).
HE Shamma Al Mazrui obtained her master of public policy degree with distinction from the University of Oxford in 2015. She was the first UAE Rhodes scholar and ranked within the top of her class. She completed her bachelor of arts in economics degree with a concentration in finance at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYU-AD) in 2014. HH Sheikh Mohammed said, “We will give the council prerogatives, and we expect true achievements from her and her council. Young people represent some half of our Arab societies, so it is only logical to give them a voice and role in governing the nation. The youth have hopes and dreams, issues and challenges. They are the reason why societies prosper or fail. They are our hope for the future. Our young country was built by the hands and achievements of the youth. They are our strength and speed and our treasure for the future.”
I am proud of you, Shamma! Continue your pursuits and make your nation proud. I am so glad that today more women are being given more opportunities to serve their country.
UAE National Assembly
The UAE has several women ambassadors. Currently, the UAE permanent representative to the United Nations, Lana Nusseibeh; the ambassador to Spain, Hessa Al Otaiba; the ambassador to Montenegro, Hafsa Al Ulama; and the consul general to Italy in Milan, Noura Mohammed, are women. Around 15 percent of Emirati women work in highly skilled technical fields, and a third of Emirati women hold senior-level positions. The best example is Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, who was appointed president of the Federal National Council (FNC) in November 2015, the region’s first female leader of a national assembly. She previously made history in 2006 as the first woman elected to the FNC, and in 2011, she was appointed deputy speaker of the FNC. Today, Emirati women constitute 66 percent of the national UAE labor market in fields as diverse as engineering, science, health care, media, computer technology, law, civil and military aviation, commerce, academics, public service, and the oil industry. Glad to see that women are doing very well in their respective fields.
Breaking the Stereotypes
Maj. Mariam Al Mansouri is the first female fighter pilot in the United Arab Emirates. She had wanted to be a fighter pilot since she finished high school, but she had to overcome gender stereotypes along the way. In the meantime, she earned her degree and served in the army. She graduated in 2007 and was one of the first women to join the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) academy. She attended the Khalifa bin-Zayed Air College of the United Arab Emirates Air Force for pilots and received the Mohammed bin Rashid Pride of the Emirates medal for excellence in her field. In her interview with CNN, she said, “At that time, the doors were not open for females to be pilots. So I had to wait almost 10 years for the decision to be taken.” She stressed that there is no difference between men and women when it comes to defending their country. “We are in a hot area, so we have to prepare every citizen,” she added. “Of course, everybody is responsible for defending their country—male or female. When that time comes, everybody will jump in.”
She leads UAE mission air strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Emirates were among the five Arab allies that joined the United States in launching air strikes in Syria in 2014 to beat back ISIS forces. In an interview with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Yousef Al Otaiba, Emirati ambassador to the United States, recounted that when US Air Force tanker pilots radioed in to speak with the UAE mission during air refueling and heard Al-Mansouri’s voice, they were initially surprised and silent for a short time.
Major Mariam, you really make us proud, and I totally agree with your thought that everybody is responsible for defending their country. Very true.
The UAE Businesswomen Council
Emirati women have also made great strides in the world of business and investment. The UAE Businesswomen Council, a nationwide network of business, professional, and academic women, was set up in 2002. Emirati businesswomen are running investments worth more than US$3.26 billion in various fields, including trade, industry, finance, real estate, tourism, fairs and exhibitions, construction, and services. In the banking sector alone, 38 percent of employees are Emirati women. In conclusion, today, many Emirati women, who account for 49.3 percent of the national population, are at the cutting edge and forefront of UAE economic, political, and social life. With the help of the government’s unwavering commitment to empowering women and providing equal opportunities, the status of women in the UAE has flourished in parallel with the country’s growth since the federation was established in 1971. It is evident that this process will only continue apace, and women will remain an ever-important cornerstone for not only the UAE’s present but also its future.
NAMA
The NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, which was founded on December 15, 2015, was created as part of the effort to empower women globally. Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi is the chairperson of the NAMA Women Advancement Establishment and wife of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, supreme council member and ruler of Sharjah.
NAMA aims to develop opportunities for women in three major sectors: economic, professional, and social. Other initiatives and programs may be launched by the establishment in other sectors in the future. On September 26, 2016, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher launched the $2.74 million NAMA International Women Fund during the launching of the Women, Peace, and Security Focal Points Network session at the UN Headquarters in New York City, which was organized as a side event of the 71st UN General Assembly.
“GLOCALIZATION” MIND-SET
Great steps have been taken towards women empowerment. Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher said that the main objective of launching the NAMA Fund is to support local, regional, and international efforts to support women’s development as economic, social, and professional decision makers. It seeks to organize financial and human resources required to elevate the status of women and support programs for women’s economic and professional empowerment and invest in initiatives for the same, not only in the UAE, but across the world. Sheikha Jawaher is really a global shaper.
Sheikha Jawaher said, “In the UAE, we grew up as women blessed with the care and support of our founding father Sheikh Zayed and his brothers, their Highnesses the rulers of the Emirates, who believed in women’s essential and important roles as key partners in the development of the union.”
Sharjah Family Supreme Council
In line with the great attention to the importance of family coherence and sanctity in our culture, on November 26, 2000, His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, ruler of Sharjah, issued Emiri Decree No. 24, setting up the Family Supreme Council of Sharjah (FSC). The decree said that the council, which works in the development, protection, and welfare of families, will be an autonomous department and will have its own budget and administration, and the council will have a board, a chairman, and a deputy chairman. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the ruler of Sharjah and chairwoman of the Sharjah Girls Club, said that the FSC has been established in line with the great attention paid by the ruler to the importance of family coherence and sanctity in our culture.
Woman: Secret Sauces of Success
On Friday, January 23, 2015, during a session on day 3 of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Jack Ma, the founder and executive chairman of China’s online marketplace Alibaba, revealed the reason why his company is so successful. According to the Hollywood Reporter, he said, “One of the secret sauces