Dubai Quality Group organises workshops in lead-up to Emirates Business Women Award 2008

The workshop, that was held at the Beach Rotana Hotel and Towers in Abu Dhabi, featured Lama A. Farsakh, the 2007 EBWA Business Category winner, as guest speaker who discussed the topic 'Business Environment for Women in the UAE'.

Organised under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, EBWA 2008 aims to recognise and reward the exemplary contributions of women in the business and professional sectors in the UAE. Applications are now being accepted until April 3, 2008, while the final assessment and culminating ceremony will be held in May 2008.

"The Emirates Business Women Award is another important phase in our continuing pursuit to strengthen the professional capacities and recognition of women, and to promote excellence in the country. The previous five editions of EBWA have been immensely successful, and it is Dubai Quality Group's goal to sustain the momentum by promoting the event to an even greater number of women through the different workshops we are organising,"

said Samia Al Yousuf, Manager, DQG.

The workshop and networking forum gathered women from various professional and business backgrounds, and focused on the opportunities and challenges faced by enterprising women in the UAE. It also provided insights into the key factors that have contributed to Lama A. Farsakh being proclaimed the 2007 winner.

Paris Gallery, the 2008 EBWA sponsor and leading retailer of luxury goods and services, provided all attendees of the workshop with personalised gifts, in addition to handing out prizes to the 2008 EBWA winners during the prize-giving ceremony in May 2008.

"The workshops are an excellent breeding ground for potential EBWA candidates; which is why the program continues to be sustained and improved. Many of the potential EBWA finalists are products of the different workshops we have organised, which reflects the importance of this ongoing activity in raising awareness about EBWA and encouraging participation," said Judith Barton, Chief Assessor, EBWA 2008.

EBWA is one of most prominent awards in the UAE that specifically focuses on the extraordinary achievements of women. The Award is open to nationals and expatriates and will have two categories - Business Owners and Professionals. Winners will be chosen based on five criteria: Leadership; Future Goals and Performance; Business; Professional and Career Achievements; Community Contributions and Participations; and Innovation.

EBWA is one of several programs initiated by DQG to promote business excellence in the UAE by encouraging high standards in quality and service. It has also been organised in line with the corporate social responsibility programs implemented by Shell, which has co-organised EBWA with DQG since the event's highly successful debut in 2003.