The Emirati Business Women of Tomorrow (page 2 of 2)

This is still a plan, all we have now is a new diploma in insurance and we're working with the insurance companies to make sure that happens," assures Dr Reed.

Faces from Dubai Women's College

Fatima Al Ghasimi: Al Ghasimi graduated in June 2007 and opened her own jewelry company in July 2006. She studied Jewelry Management, a course sponsored by Damas. She is also a member in Hamad Bin Rashid Institution that supports Youth programs.

Al Ghasmi sees that women's role in business has clearly grown. "Today, we see many local women at the executive level. This is something we haven't seen before and it encourages all other women to lead their way in the business world."

Asked if she thinks that local women's participation in business is now equal to that of men and her answer was almost positive: 'I think it's close to being equal, and this is clear in the number of projects run by women. A lot of women are members in the boards of directors, and many housewives are gaining ambition to go out and start their own business."

Khdijah Al Bloushi: Al Bloushi graduated this year from the Information section of DWC. She has already received a number of job offers, including from Sama Dubai TV, which she is most likely to take.

Al Bloushi believes that being a DWC student helped her greatly receiving these offers. "In DWC, we really get all the needed training to join the world of business. What we have learned here made us wanted by many companies, especially the information section students, who apply everything they learn immediately."

She adds: "Personally, I volunteered a lot, including making films for different campaigns. These activities usually come through the Students Council to which I was the vice president. We used to organise a lot of activities in cooperation with other colleges and this has added much to my resume."

Al Bloushi agrees that women have a strong presence in the business community today. However, she assures that Emirates women have previous experience in business, but that it didn't as much of an international reach as it does today.

"Life has changed and thoughts have changed. This paved the way for local women to enter into the business world. And one of the basic facilitators here is the governmental support."

In partnership with her colleague, Al Bloushi hopes to establish a private production company within 10 years. She confesses: "We have all the potential, along with the team we want to work with, which consists 100 per cent of locals."