Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment sets up childcare centre for women employees

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders today today became the first Dubai Government entity to offer creche facilities at its premises, enabling women employees to achieve ideal balance between their family and work commitments.

Designed to host children between six months and 2 years of age, the childcare centre is part of an initiative to provide women employees with an environment that allows them to satisfactorily carry out their professional responsibilities.

Akil Kazim, Director of Operations, Mohammed Bin Rashid Est. For Young Business Leaders, said: "The Establishment is very keen to provide its staff with optimum working conditions. The cr?che will help assure women employees of the well-being of their children during working hours, motivating them to focus better on their key deliverables." The Establishment has joined hands with Dubai-based Good Baby, to provide educational and entertaining toys and games at the centre.

Hussain Muthana, Managing Director, Good Baby, said: "We are glad to be part of this initiative that illustrates the Establishment's commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Our products are designed to foster effective learning in a fun-filled ambience. We are confident the childcare centre will add tremendous value to the Establishment's women employees."
/WAM/

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Forum to support young businesswomen in UAE

The Dubai Women’s Association will launch the first forum for supporting small business projects for girls under the patronage of Shaikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, the wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

During the two-day conference to be held on June 1 and 2, six papers will be presented on issues pertaining to national identity, Khalifa Fund for supporting young women's business projects as well as other topics that encourage girls to establish small business projects to contribute to country's development.

Addressing a Press conference yesterday, Dr Shaikha Afra bint Hasher Al Maktoum, of DWA, said that the conference aims at encouraging young women to establish their own small business projects to help engage their spare time in useful things that will benefit them and their families.

The encouragement also will enhance their creative skills and ability for perfect planning as well to prepare them face the difficulties and challenges of life.

Umm Rashid, Member of Board council of DWA and head of Hour centre of DWA, said that the centre made great efforts to attract young national women and improve their skills to become leaders and owners of businesses in the future.
We believe that an Emirati girl has a strong will power and great interest in contributing to the country's development.
/Khallej Times/

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The pen, the book and a boss in an abaya

A quiet revolution is taking place in the Arab states of the Gulf, but this one needs no demonstrators, slogans or weapons. It is being undertaken by the pen, the book and the abaya. In what are supposed to be some of the most patriarchal societies in the world, women are taking the helm with and without the consent of men.
At colleges and universities throughout the Gulf, women are not only enrolling but graduating in larger numbers, and with more varied degrees, than their male counterparts.

In Qatar, for example, the ratio in universities is at an impressive four-to-one in favour of women. This transformation is quite astounding, so much so that it will start to affect the demographic balance in these societies as women look forward to marrying equally educated men, who are slowly becoming a rare commodity.

The tables have turned and it is the woman who is about to expect certain features in a potential spouse. After decades of neglect, even women from conservative backgrounds are being offered opportunities to learn in women-only colleges in the Gulf. In a decade or two, employers in the region will be facing an unprecedented situation. As governments enforce more stringent quotas of nationalised jobs, bosses will have to choose from amid women and a singular male applicant for the same post. Women, being more qualified and, according to various testimonies, harder-working, will be a natural choice.

As men continue to drop out of universities in pursuit of careers that offer immediate compensation with less entry skill requirements, such as the police and the army, women will be in a prime position to access what has been until now men-only domains, such as diplomacy, family businesses and the courts.

In truth, it is not the first time that women in the Gulf are taking charge. The natives of this peninsula can hear stories from their parents and grandparents of a time not so long ago when pearl diving was its “oil” and fishing its bread and butter. As the pearl-diving season would extend from April to September, men would be absent from the households. Women would be in control of not only their own homes but much more. The streets of the coastal towns would be almost empty of men in their third, fourth and fifth decades, which meant that women had to act as vendors, artisans, chefs and craftsmen. Grandparents would take their young girls with them to market, where they would learn how to pick fish, vegetables and other household items. They would learn how to trade and barter.

The young girls would then be sent to a madrasa (now an infamous word, but one that actually translates only as “school”), where they would learn to read and write (many of them courtesy of the state of Kuwait), vital skills that were in much demand and scarce among men. Many of these women would end up raising men of power who would become ministers, rulers, businessmen and decision makers, and whom we see today in official circles and on Fortune lists.

It seems the powers that be have finally recognised the importance of equating women with men in fields that were taboo just a few years ago. Qatar took the first step in appointing a female minister, Bahraini women were pioneers as ambassadors and judges, and the UAE recognised women in the business field.

Even ultraconservative Saudi Arabia has been unable to ignore the role of women in society: two women serve as directors in the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the kingdom’s most celebrated film director (even though cinemas are prohibited) is a woman and the popular and forward-thinking monarch has openly remarked on several occasions that the day when women will end up behind the steering wheel is not too far away.

Do not be surprised if one day, as you walk into business offices in the Gulf, you see men working in ensign positions and a woman behind the door that reads “Manager”. Know that this phenomenon has been in the making for many decades; it has been a long journey with many prejudices and much chauvinism, but the day will come as the region transforms into a meritocracy when you will look into the eyes of the lady in a black abaya behind the desk and utter the words: “Yes, boss.” /By Sultan Al Qassemi/

The author is a Sharjah-based businessman and graduate of the American University of Paris. He is founder of Barjeel Securities in Dubai.

Source

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Emirates Business Women Award (EBWA) applications deadline extended

Dubai Quality Group (DQG) and Shell have announced that they have extended the deadline for receiving applications for the Emirates Business Women Award (EBWA) 2008 from April 3, 2008 to April 14, 2008.

The extended submission period for entries allows EBWA, which is also supported by Paris Gallery, the prize sponsor, to widen its reach and encourage participation from more candidates.

Samia Al Yousuf, General Manager of DQG commented: "There are a lot of women in the UAE who deserve to be recognised, while there has also been strong interest from potential candidates; we are offering these new prospects the opportunity to be considered for EBWA 2008 by giving them more time to prepare and consolidate their credentials. As such, we have decided to extend the deadline for submission of applications from the April 3 till April 14 in order to accommodate more candidates."

EBWA 2008 aims to recognise and reward the exemplary contributions of women in the business and professional sectors of the UAE. The award has generated strong response from business and professional women after DQG successfully organised several promotional activities.

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"Progress for women is progress for all" - United Nations

Stressing that "progress for women is progress for all," the United Nations has urged the world to invest in its women and girls.

In a statement released ahead of International Women's Day, celebrated today March 8, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urged all States to review applicable laws, and to revise them or enact new ones to ensure that violence against women is always criminalized.

" I will call on all States to enforce their laws to end impunity"; said UN Secretary General Violence against women is an issue that cannot wait. A brief look at the statistics makes it clear. At least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Through the practice of prenatal sex selection, countless others are denied the right even to exist. No country, no culture, no woman young or old is immune to this scourge. Far too often, the crimes go unpunished, the perpetrators walk free; Pan Ki Moon said He continued: 'War has always been devastating, but now, women and girls are themselves targets in the war zone. Today's weapons of armed conflict include rape, sexual violence, and the abduction of children conscripted as soldiers or forced into sexual slavery.

'On my visits to conflict-torn areas around the world, I have spoken with women who have endured horrific forms of violence. I will forever be haunted by their suffering -- but equally, I will always be inspired by their courage. These mothers, sisters, daughters and friends are determined to reclaim their lives.

'This is a campaign for them. It is a campaign for the women and girls who have the right to live free of violence, today and in the future. It is a campaign to stop the untold cost that violence against women inflicts on all humankind.

'We know that gender inequality is hampering progress towards the Millennium Development Goals -- our common vision to build a better world in the 21st century.

We know that violence against women compounds the enormous social and economic toll on families, communities, even whole nations.

'And we know that when we work to eradicate violence against women, we empower our greatest resource for development: mothers raising children; law-makers in parliament; chief executives, negotiators, teachers; doctors, policewomen, peacekeepers and more.

And so my campaign to end violence against women will continue until 2015 to coincide with the target date for the Millennium Development Goals.

'Our campaign will build on a deep and broad partnership, bringing in all society to take us to the end of violence against women and girls everywhere. To help us reach our destination, I call on young people around the world -- our leaders of tomorrow. I call on the private sector around the world, whose reach is indispensable in advancing our cause.

'I call on women's groups around the world, whose valiance and vision have brought us to where we are today, and who will keep charting the way forward. I call on men around the world to lead by example: to make clear that violence against women is an act perpetrated by a coward, and that speaking up against it is a badge of honour'.
(WAM)

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International Women's Day

Celebrated on 8 March, International Women's Day (IWD) is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future.

15,000 women marched through New York City in 1908 demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. 100 years on, the pertinence of this event is honored through IWD's 2008 global theme 'Shaping Progress'.

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The third Women As Global Leaders Conference will begin next week

Over 2000 delegates from 60 countries from all sectors including education, government, and nongovernmental organizations all around the world are scheduled to attend the bi-annual three-day Women As Global Leaders Conference organized by Zayed University in Dubai from March 10 to 12.

The conference will be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, President of Arab Women Organization, under the theme :?Learning Leadership? .

Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim, Vice President of Zayed University, announced in a press conference held in the university?s educational center in Dubai Media City on Wednesday that H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University, will open the third Women as Global Leaders Conference.

''The gathering aims to build bridges that unite female students from around the world as participants meet with internationally renowned women leaders, share ideas, and engage in debate on 'Learning Leadership', he added.

Dr. Al Jassim stressed the importance of the conference as it focuses on women's emergent and current leadership roles across the globe as well as the practice of educating students for and about leadership, with each other and with some of the most prominent leaders in the world today, in addition to creating a connection between the emerging generation of leaders through discussing the issue of women empowerment.

He emphasized the importance of the upcoming conference in determining ways of preparing young women as future global leaders, as it includes presentations by prominent world leaders and personalities sharing ideas on the topic of leadership and interacting with submitted papers, presentations, simulations and workshops.

Key women figures will send a message to the attending students and their fellow women on how to equip themselves with knowledge and determination to be more prominent in positions of leadership and have their own vision and commitment which will make a difference. (WAM)

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More women are taking up non-traditional jobs

The number of women in non-traditional roles such as aviation and engineering is slowly growing, according to Boeing Leadership Development Vice-President Julie Ellen Acosta.

While UAE airlines said cabin crew was still the dominant role for women, Acosta said the leadership development being pursued in the country would rapidly change this.

Acosta, who visited Dubai last week for a leadership seminar, said she had been one of the few women engineers when she graduated in America. Graduates in the 80s were now making their presence felt in senior positions.

“They are changing in corporate America,” she said.

Acosta said the corporate and technical world’s approach to its employees was changing.

“We’re paying a lot more attention to the pipeline and accelerating leaders,” she said. “This will benefit not only women but anyone with talent.”

Emirates Airline has female staff members in 38 per cent of its UAE positions while nearly two-thirds of Etihad’s staff base is female.

Etihad spokesperson Thomas Clarke said the majority of these positions, 2,915 women, would be with cabin crew.

Across all fields in the UAE, there has been a focus on Emiratisation programmes and within aviation; the first female cadet pilots are well into their training.

Salma Mohammed Al Baloushi who is from Al Ain and Aisha Hassan Al Mansouri who is from Khor Fakkan, began their flying training with Etihad in June 2007 as part of the Emiratisation programme.

However, Acosta said the government’s focus on cultivating people’s potential was a mindset corporate America had only recently begun adjusting to.

“Dubai’s pipeline, with its deliberate development of human capital is, to me, amazing,” Acosta said.

“It will develop a very rich talent pool.” Source

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Jane Fonda and Sarah Feguson for Women as Global Leaders Conference

The third Women as Global Leaders Conference will be held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai on March 10-12.
The conference is being organised by Zayed University under the patronage of Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation, Chairperson of the UAE General Women’s Union and Supreme Chairperson of the Arab Women’s Organisation.

The conference will be attended by a large number of students from the UAE in addition to renowned international speakers.

Various papers will be presented and a large number of workshops held.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Learning Leadership”, and it focuses on women’s emergent and current leadership roles across the globe as well as the practice of educating students for and about leadership.

At a Press conference held at Zayed University on Monday, Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, CEO of Hydra Properties, one of the leading real estate developers in the UAE, said: “We are delighted to be associated with this conference which is contributing towards the development of women leaders at a global level.

“Women in the UAE have taken gigantic steps in business and political arenas.

“Women are part and parcel of society and enhancing their role and contribution to society is vital for its development.”

International figures like Jane Fonda, award-winning actress and human rights activist; Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, advocate, philanthropist and author; Carol Bellamy, former head of Unicef, CEO of World Learning, and president of the School for International Training; Anousheh Ansari, first female private space explorer, chairperson and co-founder of Prodea Systems Inc.; Helen Thomas, journalist and author; and Mary Sue Coleman, president, University of Michigan, would speak at the conference. Source

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Dubai Women Establishment's five-year plan

HH Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) and wife of HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Presidential Affairs, announced the launch of the five-year strategic plan of Dubai Women Establishment. This announcement signals the shoot of the efforts of DWE, as a major factor, to enhance women's role in the UAE economy. The plan marks a new era in furthering the role of women as vital contributors to the country's development.

Sheikha Manal said that the Establishment's plan is meant to add further qualitative accomplishments to UAE's bright record in terms of UAE women's achievements in all fields. It also reflects the phenomenal achievements of women in the UAE inspired by HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, President of the UAE Women Association, whose achievements have been internationally recognised on high levels, for her leadership and commitment to promoting UAE and Gulf women's welfare in the country. It is noteworthy that 70pc of the DWE's plan shall focus on working women and the Establishment is keen to discover more women UAE leaders throughout the country.

Sheikha Manal said "We have the pleasure to announce the launch of DWE's five-year plan which is inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for the future of Dubai and his aspirations for UAE women's role and his keenness to promote UAE women social and economical role. The Establishment has been created in light of that vision in order to lay down the basics required to achieve the targets of our plan according to the best international practices while retaining the religious, traditional and cultural values of the UAE." Sheikha Manal bint Mohamed asserted that the DWE's ambitious plan is based on an in-depth scientific and systematic research that clearly identified key requirements for engaging women in the UAE in order to ensure the advancement of women that, in turn, will complement the fast-paced development of the country.

"We are so proud of our wise leadership that comprehends the dimensions of women's role in the contribution of our country's development. The vision of our leaders helped a great deal in devising a plan that depends largely on the country's leadership support to women as well as on the increasing social awareness of women's vital capacity to contribute in shaping the future of the region," HH Sheikha Manal added.

Sheikha Manal explained, "While laying down the details of our five- year plan, we took into consideration all economic, cultural and social factors. We made everything possible to make it as much integrated and comprehensive plan as possible so that it could actively meet the requirements of the country's development, with no prejudice against our national, cultural or social priorities." Speaking about the legislative dimension of DWE's plan, Sheikha Manal said that Dubai Women Establishment will also lobby for new legislations to support UAE women in all fields. Throughout the plan, the Establishment will work in cooperation with authorities concerned and governmental bodies, abiding by the principle of constructive partnership as a major cornerstone towards the achievement of DWE's targets.

Her Highness pointed out that the plan gives balanced attention to all forecasted women roles either on the level of different work fields or on family and social aspects. "The DWE five-year plan does not ignore the social dimension, with special focus on the importance of work and continuous training. It neither ignores mothers' social responsibility toward their families. The plan also gives great importance to women's role inside their homes and within their social categories; particularly in relation to building new generations of active citizens who can work for the welfare of their own selves and their country," Sheikha Manal added.

She also explained that the plan includes a set of qualitative initiatives through which the Establishment shall work to plant its principles and provide right opportunities for UAE women and secure their basic rights. Her Highness has also made reference to the Establishment's ambition to play a key role in enhancing the position of women not only on local arenas but also throughout the Gulf region. In this regard, some initiatives shall exceed the state borders to cooperate with leading regional as well as international institutions concerned with women issues in different fields.

Sheikha Manal concentrated on DWE five-year plan's special focus on creating the channels through which the Establishment can unleash the UAE women's latent potential. She stated that the plan covers continuing training programmes that help boost the abilities of UAE women and enhance their opportunities to take part in work fields and meet its ongoing requirements.

She pointed out that the plan pays special attention to research fields and covers a group of key steps that include making regular reports that will help the administrators monitor the progress of the plan and measure its impact on the society. The reports will identify measures for ensuring the realization of the short and long term goals of the plan.

"We are confident that the plan will have a far-reaching impact on supporting UAE women and urging all their abilities till they become a key driving power behind Dubai's development and progress, and we shall save no effort to achieve such noble target," Sheikha Manal said. She extended an open invitation to the entire Dubai and UAE society to contribute to the enhancement of UAE women and enabling them more effectively to undertake their social role as a key partner in the development process. (WAM)

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Dubai Women’s Establishment announced five-year development strategy

Shaikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wife of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, and President of Dubai Women’s Establishment, recently announced the five-year development strategy of the establishment to meet the needs of women in today’s fast paced world.

A meeting of the board, chaired by Mona Al Marri, chairperson of DWE, finalised the five-year strategy.

The strategy focuses on areas that will help women achieve a balance between work and family life; nurture potential women leaders; provide life-long opportunities to trainees as well as employed women; cultivate conscientious citizens; and build women leadership in the UAE. Mona Al Marri said: “Our country is rapidly evolving and it is mandatory for women in the UAE to play active roles in its development. Dubai Women’s Establishment is keen to foster an enabling environment for women to quickly adapt to the dynamic needs of the community. This can be realised only through a comprehensive strategy that is flexible enough to incorporate current requirements but solid enough to ensure continuous and adequate support to women.” Source

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Emirates Business Women Council discusses its role in development

The Emirates Business Women Council discussed here on Tuesday a number of issues pertaining to the role of business women in the development of UAE.

The meeting held at the Headquarters of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry was chaired by Sheikha Dr. Hind Al Qasimi, the First Deputy to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

Addressing the participants, Sheikha Al Qasimi said that the institution of the council has encouraged many women to join the world of economy and business in the country.

The council reviewed the vital role played by business women in the over all economic process in the country and its march to progress and development.

The meeting also discussed the ways to expand the participation of women in the economic life. (WAM)

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New report by Arab Women Organization released

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the Arab Women Organization, the UAE Women’s Federation in cooperation with the ECSSR holds a session for the release of the report on the ‘Facts and Future of Projects for Advancement of Arab Women’ on Sunday, February 3, 2008, at the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Hall at the ECSSR Building.
Speaking at a symposium organised to mark the launch of the report, Nura Al Suweidi, Director of the UAE General Women's Union (GWU) said the report was a thorough analysis of projects aimed at empowerment of women in areas as diverse as health, education, economy, media, and politics.

The report, said Al Suweidi, was compiled by 60 experts from diverse academics backgrounds over a period of two years and will constitute a blueprint for future strategies of AWO.

For her part, Dr. Waduda Badran praised H.H Sheikha Fatima for her incessant efforts to support women programmes during her presidency of the AWO.

"The aim of the report is to pinpoint the areas of successes and failures so that they are addressed and redressed", she said.(WAM)

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Shelter for victims of human trafficking

The UAE Red Crescent Authority (UAE RCA) in collaboration with the UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) announced the opening of a new centre in Abu Dhabi for sheltering women and children who are victims of human trafficking and other forms of abuse or exploitation.


The centre will serve as a safe haven for the victims, where they will be provided medical care, counselling and social support.

Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs and head of the NCCHT stated that this initiative comes in line with the UAE strategy to combat human trafficking.

He said the decision to establish this shelter reiterates the UAE’S strong commitment to combat the transnational crime of human trafficking, and focuses on the four major pillars of the UAE National Committee’s strategy to tackle this issue which includes strengthening legislation, enforcing laws and training law enforcement officials, providing support and protection to the victims and promoting bilateral and international cooperation in tackling this issue. (WAM)

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Emirates Businesswomen award launched for 2008

The Emirates Businesswomen Awards (EBWA) for 2008 was launched yesterday. The award, which is in its sixth year, recognises the contribution of UAE national and expatriate women in their business or profession.


The launch marks the first stage in an awareness raising campaign to encourage women to participate in the scheme. This will be followed by a series of workshops throughout the UAE to familiarise potential applicants with the goals, objectives, eligibility criteria and rules of application for the award. Each application takes two assessors two to three hours to assess and will be followed by a site visit if necessary. Applicants, who must have worked in the UAE for three years, must be able to demonstrate to the assessment panel how they meet the award's criteria and be able to "write your story," explained chief assessor, Judith Barton. Deadline for submitting applications is 3 April

Barton also said that the ratio of participants had reversed completely over the years. In 2003, the first year in which the award was given, the ratio of UAE nationals to expatriates was 22 per cent to 78 per cent. "It has now done a complete circle," she said.

EBWA's assessment panel will comprise Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy, Rawdha Al Moutawa, president of Emirates Business Women Council, as well as representatives from Dubai Quality Group (DQG) and Shell (which is also an official sponsor), said Marwan Al Sawaleh, DQP's chairman. He also said "women are keen to participate" in the scheme and that former winners of the award will be "ambassadors to encourage and inspire others".

Omar Al Querishi, Shell's communications manager in the UAE, said that sponsorship of the awards plays an important part of Shell's corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. "It comes under our first priority," he said. The EBWA is also sponsored by Paris Gallery.

Speaking about what it meant to win the award, a former winner, Mariam Matar, assistant undersecretary of preventive medicine in the Ministry of Health (MOH) for Public Health and Primary Health Care said: "It meant a lot to win the award. It opened up opportunities," adding: "I want to pass the message to UAE nationals that the award is for everyone, and it is especially for those who have no discovered themselves yet." Source

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‘Women-only’ driving institute opens in Dubai

Women waiting in the queue for obtaining a driving licence now have a reason to smile. The Emirates Driving Institute has opened an exclusive driving institute for women, first of its kind in the GCC region and the Middle East.


Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, inaugurated the institute yesterday.

“The services provided by the facility range from the registration section to the driving licence section. There are well qualified and trained female driving instructors who have the experience to teach trainees in several languages. The institute also provides a playground for kids accompanying their mothers during the training period,” RTA officials said.

Al Tayer hailed the potential of the institute and modern technology applied by them. He cited the importance of demonstrations made by simulators, provision of educational software containing useful lectures for trainees, and provision of CDs, including all information pertinent to training courses. Source

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UAE to appoint female judges

Women in the UAE will soon be allowed to work as federal judges and prosecutors, a minister said yesterday.
Minister of Justice Mohammad Bin Nakhira Al-Daheri told UAE daily Gulf News women currently being trained at the Judicial Institute would take up positions in courts and public prosecutor’s offices across the country following the amendment of judiciary law. “At present, the law states that only a Muslim man is entitled to assume the position of a judge” he said.

No time frame was given for the move, which would make the UAE the second GCC country to allow female judges, after Bahrain. Source

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Arab International Women's Forum

The UAE women have become a key player in all walks of public life, including business, socioeconomic development, and politics, boasted Economy Minister Lubna Al Qasimi.
In her keynote opening address at the Arab International Women's Forum (AIWF) which opened yesterday at Dubai International Financial Centre, Sheikha Lubna expressed pride at the strides made by the UAE women.

"Women finance 32% of the transactions of the financial and banking sector, hold 20% of management jobs and 22.5% of the seats of the Federal National Council," she said.
The two-day forum is being held under the patronage of Princess Haya bint Al Hussein. Entitled "Powering the Future: Arab Business Women in a Modern Economy", this important event provides a focal point for increased communication, networking and information exchange between the City of Dubai and the City of London with the broader Arab world and the international financial community.

The Chairman, Mrs. Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani said AIWF aimed at creating an unrivalled forum for the development of multilateral corporate and public sector partnerships, with strong emphasis on the participation of global business, financial and governance organisations that strive to promote effective business relationships.
Participating in this initiative are 225 delegates from 35 countries including 18 Arab countries, besides representatives from government, business, academic, professional and institutional arenas and university students. (WAM)

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Chance to Escape

Dubai is rapidly becoming one of the most popular destinations in the Middle East, and a booming economic centre in the Gulf.
But some of those who live in the emirate have become victims of domestic violence, and found few places to turn to for help.
In a small non-descript villa in one of Dubai's smarter neighbourhoods is what Sharla Musabih calls a "City of Hope".

When Musabih, an American by birth, married an Emirati man and moved to Dubai over 25 years ago, she immediately fell in love with its cultures and tradition, which she described as caring and embracing.
Since then, the United Arab Emirates has gone through decades of growth that has given the country a new and modern face.
"I could see a place that I was passionately in love with undergoing the pressures of the influx of population as well as the speed and rate of development," Musabih says.
But Dubai's swift development has brought with it, and raised awareness of, social problems such as domestic violence, abuse of labourers and the trafficking of women.
And all of these have been difficult for a society at the crossroad of modernity to deal with, especially under the scrutiny of the international spotlight.

Victims of abuse
So Musabih decided to take action, opening up a villa to shelter women and children who could not get help anywhere else.
Today there are nine women and four children taking the offered refuge; they are victims of domestic violence, human trafficking or housemaid abuse.
"The types of cases that we see in the City of Hope are actually extreme, extreme cases. We don't just take any light little case, the cases that are often referred to us from the CID or the police or the embassies or other organisations are very, very severe."
At one point, 70 women sought refuge in the house.
Providing only modest living conditions, City of Hope survives on private donations and the help of volunteers such as doctors, lawyers and psychologists - they help the women and children with their traumatic experiences by providing counselling and coaching in basic life skills.
The City of Hope shelter may not have all of the amenities that some of Dubai's other million-dollar charities have, but according to the women and children that have sought refuge there, it has something much more valuable - a chance to escape abuse and violence.
One of the victims at the shelter, a British national whose name is concealed for the sake of security and privacy, said she became the victim of domestic violence when her Emirati husband suffered financial hardships.
"It came to the point where he was locking me up in my flat and beating me up, and leaving me without a mobile," she said. "He wasn't allowing my family to visit me."

Courting controversy
Despite the organisation's stated intentions, City of Hope has drawn controversy.
Musabih is involved in at least three legal cases involving defamation and operating an organisation without a license or certificate from the government.
"I think that it's so controversial because this culture is so private and anyone who wants to step in between a husband and a wife is considered an enemy," she says.
However, Musabih's efforts have been recognised by the highest levels of the Emirates government, which has taken her lead and has started the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children.
Although the government has asked Musabih to merge her organisation with the Dubai Foundation, she has declined, opting to keep it as a non-governmental organisation for the country and a "City of Hope" for the women and children who seek refuge there. Source

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Abu Dhabi to host women's business forum

The United Arab Emirates Business Women's Council will hold The Women Global Economic Forum in Abu Dhabi from 18-20 November. The conference will highlight the role women can play as partners in economic development. Through a series of workshops, it will focus on the various sectors where women have proven effectiveness.
The event will look at the ways women have contributed historically to economic and social development in different societies, beginning with the home and in modern times their role in the workplace and the national and international economy.
The conference is being organised under the patronage of HH sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Honorary President of the UAE Business Women Council, and Chairperson of the Arab Women's Organisation. Source

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