Emirati Women’s Day, launched in 2015 by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, is celebrating its sixth anniversary today, August 28, 2021. On the event of the Year of the 50th in UAE, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, announced that the theme for Emirati Women’s Day this year will be “Women: Ambitions and Inspiration for the Next 50 Years.”
Emirati Women’s Day 2021 pays homage to the leadership’s support and empowerment of women, intending to highlight Emirati women’s boundless dreams and aspirations for a better and more affluent future.
Emirati Women’s Day 2021, held in the Year of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, aims to honor Emirati women in leadership positions across the country, made possible by legislation and rules that strengthened their rights and increased their involvement in legislative, executive, and management responsibilities.
Every year, various activities and exhibitions are planned to honor the achievements of local women and to provide them with new and fascinating ways to enjoy life in the city on Emirati Women’s Day.
To celebrate the occasion, TECHx talked with women in leadership roles in UAE to explore the importance of women in the country’s economy, particularly in the tech industry, and how they are preparing to play a role in the next 50 years.
While talking about the occasion, Zeinab Ali – Quality Executive, managing Dubai Tram at ENGIE Solutions said: ‘Emirati women of today are the leaders and changemakers of society. We are continuing to reach new heights of leadership across the nation, which is being further driven due to the ongoing support from our government. I am grateful to belong to a country that prioritizes women’s empowerment and growth. Together, we are one step closer to reaching our ambitions and aspirations for a brighter and prosperous future.’
We spoke with Sakeena Ahmed Al Housani, Team Leader in Finance shipping division at Eros Group, to discuss the role women in the UAE have played in the past 50 years. Commenting on that, Sakeena mentioned, “I am proud of the fact that I come from a country that places women’s empowerment and equity at the forefront of its development priorities. I am honored to have the opportunity to be instrumental in the development and prosperity of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is an example to the world that women have an active role at all levels of society.”
Further, she added: “The role that women have played in the UAE over the past 50 years was a vision of our late founding father, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Our role as women continues to advance thanks to the support of the Mother of the Nation, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. With the support of our forward-thinking leadership, we will continue to ensure that Emirati women fulfill the values and traditions of the UAE by being a pioneer and change-maker. I look forward to a future in which the girl can dream greatly, and aspire to be in any field she desires, and aspire to reach the highest ranks and be a leader.”
Commenting about her personal experience, Eros Group’s leader shared these thoughts: “Speaking from my personal experience, as women, we should be grateful to the mothers in our lives. This is what will always motivate me to pursue and work harder on my goals. We must live by the values that women have been empowered and uphold because we collectively impact. I am grateful for all the support I have received from women throughout my life.”
Moreover, TECHx spoke with Tala Seif, Channel Engineer for Interior Designers at Schneider Electric Gulf, to know more about her perspective on women empowerment in UAE. Tala commented, “The UAE’s women aren’t just the foundation for our society, we’re also pushing boundaries in areas such as engineering and science. And over the next 50 years, we women will excel in significant roles in the country, both globally and towards new extraterrestrial frontiers. It’s our time to make things happen, to change the world around us for the better.”
A prominent commercial wholesale data center provider in the UAE, Khazna’s, Chief Corporate Officer, Fatma Ashkanani gave TECHx an exclusive statement on Emirati Women’s Day: “For women working in this fast-moving, dynamic, and competitive ICT sector, there are no shortcuts. The industry is a heavily knowledge-based sector, and its growth potential is strongly driven by ambitious and dedicated men and women alike. Today the passion and drive of the technology sector is infectious, thanks to better recognition and increasing female representation in organizations. The United Arab Emirates has been relentless in ensuring greater inclusion for women and Emirati women specifically in the ICT sector and indeed, great progress has been made. For me, working in technology is both highly challenging and highly rewarding.”
Considering the ongoing pandemic situation worldwide, we recorded the viewpoint of Dr. Shai Efrati of Aviv Clinic. The founder of the clinic remarked, “Women around the world continue to make strong strides, taking on roles across a number of sectors, including science and medicine. But seeing the resilience and ambition of Emirati women and their constant quest to play a role in driving the advancement of healthcare in the UAE never ceases to amaze. Today, we see Emirati women making bold choices as influencers and advisors, informing policies and decision making in sciences, technology and innovation.
“As the UAE celebrates the Year of the 50th, I stand amazed at how the country and its sound leadership continue to empower Emirati women, ensuring their active inclusion to advance the country’s healthcare system, bringing it on par, if not exceeding global healthcare practices. Today is a celebration of their ever-growing achievements, and I have full faith in their contributions to realizing the UAE’s goals to become a leading medical tourism destination. It is worth noting that Emirati women now hold positions of leadership across the country, thanks to legislation and laws that have strengthened their rights and increased their participation in legislative, executive, and managerial roles, allowing them to effectively assume their responsibilities and achieve many achievements and successes.”
As a leading technology media platform in the region, TECHx acknowledges the contributions of Emirati women and applauds their dedication, strength, and achievements that have helped to shape the nation.
