National women seek typing centre licence

The applicants filed all required forms and submitted all the necessary documents so that they could quickly be granted permission to go ahead with establishing their businesses.

"They are about to finish all the required formalities which will enable them to started their new businesses," Najeeb Al Shamsi, Director General of RAK Economic Department, told Khaleej Times.

The Ras Al Khaimah Economic Department, it may be recalled, had recently banned typing and photocopying offices from being owned or run by non-UAE nationals. "These offices should be owned and run by women from the emirate only," he added.

Replying to a question regarding why such activities have been restricted to the emirate's women, he said, "It suits their abilities and educational qualifications. Besides we keep in mind that women cannot easily seek jobs in other emirates because of so many social considerations," he added.

Meanwhile, statistics show that the emirate has a high rate of unemployed women, despite the fact that some of them have even completed their university studies.

"We have also issued a circular to all government departments concerned to lease offices in their vicinities to those who show up with permission letters from the RAK Economic Department," Al Shamsi added.