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UAE women still face challenges

DUBAI - There are real major challenges facing the women in the UAE, irrespective of the achievements made so far in the enhancement of the status of women in the country, said Shaikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment and wife of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, in a speech yesterday at the Women as Global Leaders Conference at Madinat Jumeirah.

Shaikha Manal’s speech, short but diversified and very meaningful in its content, came on the second day of the conference that is aimed at celebrating international dialogue and global understanding.

“Although the percentage of women getting university education is 92 per cent in the UAE, there are still 18 per cent of women incapable of finding proper job opportunities.

“Although there are more than 52 per cent of women employed in the public sector, only five per cent of them are occupying leading positions. Although 22 per cent of the Federal National Council members are women, less than one per cent are representing the UAE in international conferences and forums,” said Shaikha Manal.

Realistic approach

She pointed out that she was not being pessimistic about the status of woman, but rather realistic in her approach to the situation in the country.

Shaikha Manal stressed that these figures needed to be addressed and improved in order to call the woman’s experience in the UAE a success.

She called on each of the women present in the audience to focus on community and social contribution rather than personal achievements.

“The human being’s age is measured by his achievements and his contribution to the society he is living in. How successful is this achievement is measured by how much it positively affects others. Each one of us owes some contribution to enhancing others’ lives.

“I believe that the voluntary work, apart from being a good gesture towards the society, plays a major role in creating psychological balance and self-satisfaction. Each one of us has a talent greater than what we believe we have,” Shaikha Manal said.

Dubai Ladies Club praised

The President of the Dubai Women Establishment recounted how Dubai Ladies Club (DLC) has been transformed from a mere sport and entertainment club to a full-fledged integral club that hosts social and educational activities with the aim of boosting women’s skills at all ages, categories, positions, cultural levels and nationalities.

She attributed the positive change made to the DLC to the relentless support of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“We strived hard to be up to the trust and expectations of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed. We looked to increase the woman’s participation in the construction and development process in the UAE. From students to professional and creative women all have been involved in the activities we hosted.

“The club grew all along with our dreams and aspirations. Thanks to the support of our leadership, we were given a motivation and we managed to set strict and clear goals,” she said.

Call to join DWE

Shaikha Manal called upon all the women, whether students or workers, to join in the Dubai Women Establishment.

“When the establishment was set up in December 2006, it was aimed at creating women leaders for the future; leaders who are educated and able to adapt to the changes and modernisation of our time, while preserving the traditions and our own identity; women leaders who are able to strike a balance in their lives and are very good representatives of their country,” she pointed out.

Shaikha Manal noted that the Dubai Women Establishment adopted a new strategy based on five pillars in developing and promoting the woman’s role in society: the legislation, improving the leadership skills in women, creating job opportunities, enhancing the woman’s image locally and internationally, and devising many initiatives.

“The experiences we have accumulated over the years do not belong to us alone. We must share this expertise with various institutions, internally and externally, so that others can benefit from what we have achieved. The success of woman anywhere is a success and breakthrough for women everywhere,” she concluded.