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Middle East | UAE | Politics

UAE picks woman to be first minister for ‘happiness’

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It sounds a bit New Age, but the United Arab Emirates has just appointed state ministers for happiness, tolerance and youth. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the UAE prime minister who is also the ruler of Dubai, announced the new lineup on Wednesday via his official Twitter account. It is apparently part of a move to show the government is offering more than simply providing basic services for its citizens. "Happiness in our nation is not a wish .. but there will be plans, projects and programs and indicators .. and it will be part of the work of all our ministries .. and a par
Middle East | UAE | Crimes

Reporting rape means prison time for women in UAE

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Women who report rape in the UAE risk being accused of, and are routinely imprisoned for, committing Zina- adultery and fornication in Islam. The country abides by Sharia Law, which punishes sex outside of marriage with prison time and even flogging. Many of the jailed women are pregnant, or are migrant domestic servants who left their country to work for an employer, reports The Guardian. Some of the women who report being raped only to face prosecution and imprisonment are UAE residents, but the majority are domestic servants to wealthy citizens. The situation is more common than not,
Middle East | UAE | Science

Emirati mother of two making waves in science

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Mouza Shemaili is one of a growing number of Emirati women making names for themselves in the traditionally male dominated world of science. As a mother of two young boys, Ms Shemaili’s days are a finely tuned balancing act between family life in Ras Al Khaimah and her studies at Khalifa University’s Sharjah campus, where she is working towards a PhD. “I start my day so early, after the fajr prayers, in order not to be late,” she says. “After I finish my usual work at the university – almost six hours a day divided between classes, teaching and doing my research – I drive bac
Middle East | UAE | Career

Women of the UAE: A trailblazer who loves challenge

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As far as impressive women are concerned, Dr Eman Al Jaberi is right up there. The lieutenant colonel – the first woman to receive this rank – started her career as a police investigator and was the first female investigator at Abu Dhabi Police. She then became the first female instructor at the Police College before turning her hand to being a lawyer. “I took the theoretical approach while teaching law and now the practical as a lawyer,” says Dr Al Jaberi, 54. Her police experience and PhD study has given her useful insight for her new career role. For her doctorate, she
Middle East | UAE | Business

Developing Dubai’s female entrepreneurs

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The winds of change are blowing as strong as ever for female entrepreneurs in the UAE. The stereotypes that once relegated women to the sidelines of business have been washed away, with increasing numbers of executive roles being filled by females, and more and more groups, workshops and programmes being developed to encourage women into entrepreneurship. One such platform is Ro’Ya, an initiative by the Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) and MasterCard to, as they concisely put it, ‘empower and encourage budding female entrepreneurs in the UAE’. Now in its second year, the inau
Middle East | UAE | Culture

Almost 100 men fined each day on Dubai Metro for using women’s carriage

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Metro inspectors are fining almost 100 men a day for entering women-only coaches, making it the penalty most commonly incurred by passengers, trumping sneaking into gold class, chewing gum or drinking water. Since March, the Roads and Transport Authority has warned commuters that men will face a Dh100 fine if they intrude into the women and children space on the trains. Large pink signs inside coaches and on platforms clearly mark out the area, although this has not stopped many men from boarding.
Middle East | UAE | Activism

Abu Dhabi women set up first female Emirati leadership group

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When a group of high-flying Emirati women wanted to network with like-minded females, they struggled to find the right platform. Existing organisations focused on learning how to strike deals, so the group decided to set up their own. Qiyadiyat (meaning “female leaders” in Arabic), is Abu Dhabi’s first Emirati female leadership platform. It was created last year by a group of friends in management positions to develop, inspire and provide networking opportunities for fellow Emirati working women. “In the past when Emirati working women got together, they’d have what I call the
Middle East | UAE | Culture

‘No peace without women,’ Abu Dhabi forum hears

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There can be no peace or development without women. That was the simple message from Dr Ebtisam Al Ketbi, the chairwoman of the Emirates Police Centre, on the opening day of the Arab-Chinese Women’s Forum in the capital on Tuesday. Dr Al Ketbi said the achievements of the UAE’s women were the result of its leadership’s vision and commitment towards the empowerment of women. She said that when the region was facing so many challenges, women should be involved in the decision-making process to make the region stable. The forum is being held under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima b
Middle East | UAE | Business

Developing Dubai’s female entrepreneurs

Source:
The winds of change are blowing as strong as ever for female entrepreneurs in the UAE. The stereotypes that once relegated women to the sidelines of business have been washed away, with increasing numbers of executive roles being filled by females, and more and more groups, workshops and programmes being developed to encourage women into entrepreneurship. One such platform is Ro’Ya, an initiative by the Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) and MasterCard to, as they concisely put it, ‘empower and encourage budding female entrepreneurs in the UAE’. Now in its second year, the inau
Middle East | UAE | Culture

Fast, furious and female: Meet the UAE’s first female rally driver

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Rabab Al Tahir pays no attention to the sexist invective, the alarmed stares and the apathetic discouragement that are hurled at her. Strong, fiery- eyed, and unapologetic for being a woman who pursued her racing ambition, she claims proudly that despite all the hurdles she faces, rally racing has been an amazing journey. As the UAE’s first and perhaps only woman navigator and driver in international car rallies, Rabab began her journey as a racer in 2000 and hasn’t looked back since. “People still think that car racing or rallying is something that women can’t do. If they have t
Middle East | UAE | Business

Atkins looks to break glass ceiling with Middle East women’s network

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The British consultancy Atkins hopes to break the ‘glass ceiling’ in its Middle East workforce through a Women’s Business Network (WBN), which has grown to 460 members. Launched last August, the network is open to all female employees of Atkins and its project and cost-management arm Faithful+Gould. It was founded with a view of helping female employees cope with the challenges of working in construction, a traditionally male-dominated industry. Some of the key issues women have to deal with include tackling perceptions that they aren’t as competent as their male peers, or h
Middle East | UAE | Economy

Uae: women control 10% of private sector, worth 10 billion

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Emirati women, the most liberated women from a social and political standpoint in the Persian Gulf region, are coming out with a strong presence in the economic field too: 10% of the private sector in the United Arab Emirates (Uae) is managed by women and total investments of over 20,000 female entrepreneurs top 10 billion euros. The example set by Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid al Qasimi, minister for international cooperation and development is testament to the enterprising spirit and abilities of Emirati women. The path towards the economic and entrepreneurial success of Emirati women has bee

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