Sky’s no longer the limit: Emirati women going above and beyond

Forward thinking leadership, a dedicated approach to providing higher education, and opportunities for women to bring their business ideas to life, has made the UAE one of the top destinations for working women.

Speaking to Khaleej Times ahead of Emirati Women’s Day, which is celebrated every year on August 28, several business leaders highlighted their experiences working in various industries and how Emirati women are breaking more than just glass ceilings.

No slowing them down

Najla Al Midfa, CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), said that the UAE has made “great strides” over a relatively short period in building and nurturing an ecosystem that enables women to contribute to all sectors of the economy, thus becoming a great model for women’s empowerment.

“I am privileged to be living in a country that places such high value on women and that always strives to create opportunities for all,” she said. “Our wise leadership has always recognised women as equal partners in the national development process, and no efforts have been spared to empower them in the social, cultural, and economic sectors. Emirati women have demonstrated that nothing is impossible, and now, with the successful UAE Mars Mission, even the sky is no longer the limit. Today, we have Emirati women that not only lead roles in industries once deemed only for men, but have broken through new glass ceilings and proved themselves to be an inspirational success.”

She added: “Our founding father, the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, 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.’ Having made so much significant progress on the women empowerment front, there is no slowing down Emirati women.”

Al Midfa also noted that the participation of women globally in the entrepreneurial ecosystem is steadily increasing - more so amongst Emirati women, given the support from the UAE government. In alignment with the UAE’s vision of female empowerment, Sheraa actively encourages women entrepreneurship.

“Around 48 per cent of the startups that have gone through our programmes are female-led, and we are committed to supporting them on their journey to success,” she said. “We also believe that showcasing these stories is one of the best ways to inspire new generations of female entrepreneurs. There is nothing more rewarding than winning the trust of a young founder, and being offered the opportunity to walk beside them on their unique entrepreneurial journey. Watching them grow in confidence and self-belief, knowing that you have played a role in giving them the courage to dream, is perhaps the most fulfilling part of the work we do at Sheraa.”

‘Dream come true’

Maryam Darwish, showroom manager at Al-Futtaim Lexus, said that being an Emirati woman, and holding a prominent leadership position, is a “dream come true” for many women in any industry. “The UAE has made this possible due to the amazing vision of our leadership, who want each and every one of its citizens to have the right opportunities to pursue and grow. It is this support that has paved the way for many Emirati women to pursue higher education, work, and even start their own businesses or hold a prominent managerial position without any gender discrimination.”

Speaking about the growth of the automotive industry in the UAE, she noted that many women are keen to explore the option of working in an industry predominantly dominated by men. “The UAE’s futuristic vision and dynamic change of the business industry has paved opportunities for young women to step out and do something that their predecessors would have hesitated to do because of how they would be perceived by the opposite gender. Emirati women are already seen heading car factories and workshops in most of the automotive industries and I hope to see this continue. At Lexus, with more than 40 per cent of our customers being women, we believe that women are the future.”

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