Dubai Women Establishment announces five-year plan

Al Marri pointed out that the strategy came as a result of hard work guided in all its phases by the directions of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Presidential Affairs.

This comes out of Her Highness complete awareness of the vision and aspirations of country's leadership for the enhancement of women as a key partner in the development of all social and economical categories.

The DWE chairperson said that the Establishment pioneers the launch of a set of well-planned initiatives that contribute to the enhancement of women's contribution in work fields. As a leading authority working to meet women needs and aspirations, DWE undertakes its full role towards the advancement of UAE society through enhancing women skills and abilities required to meet career challenges and Dubai's priorities.

Al Marri stated that DWE seeks to make a positive change in the status quo of UAE women, enhancing their potential so as to help them confront present and future challenges, and strongly contribute to different aspects of life including family and professional lives. Al Marri also asserted that the DWE will work through five main dimensions, namely (i) laying down policies and developing women-related legislations; (ii) nurturing future women leaders; (iii) helping women maintain a balance between their professional and family lives; (iv); provide life-long opportunities for trainees as well as employed women; and (v) cultivate role models and enhance the image of UAE women.

Al Marri said that the DWE's vision is based on enhancing UAE women's role to become a major driving force behind the future growth and advancement of the UAE. She added that such a vision shall be translated in adopting a package of qualitative initiatives targeting the expansion of UAE women participation and enhancing women contribution and effectively make a difference not only in the country's economic, social and political advancement but also on the political decision-making process. This personifies the wise leadership's conviction of the importance of women role as an integral part of the society.

"The DWE strategy came as a result of some 18 months of research and data and statistics analysis in order to determine the actual needs required for enhancing UAE women statue in the workforce. This led to the development of a well-prepared plan, setting the objectives, strategies and tools through which the Establishment shall launch its endeavours to achieve the set targets," Al Marri added.

Al Marri asserted that the DWE shall work hard to guarantee valuable representation of UAE women in international conferences and forums, along with celebrating the image of UAE women in Dubai and nation-wide on all local and foreign levels. The Establishment is looking forward to playing a more comprehensive role as a key integrated reference to all information and statistics related to the status of UAE women.

Dubai Women Establishment seeks to achieve a set of key targets covering a leading role in social advancement, through the enhancement of women skills and capabilities required to meet the ever-developing requirements of work fields and Dubai's strategic priorities. The Establishment also seeks to undertake a leading regional role in developing creative initiatives that may enhance women contribution to professional life; meanwhile the DWE endeavours to celebrate the image of UAE women in Dubai and nation-wide on local, regional and international levels. The Establishment is also working hard to be the optimum and primary source of information related to UAE women and their needs.

Al Marri added that DWE's five-year plan covers a group of initiatives that will have a great impact on the enhancement of UAE women's participation in new impost social roles.

Highlighting its commitment to the wellbeing of the UAE family, DWE will influence the implementation of policies related to working women.

Other initiatives outlined by the Establishment's strategic plan include initiating a women's research centre and launching periodic monitoring reports that highlight the status of women development in the UAE. The Establishment also seeks to develop strategic partnerships with leading regional and international organisations.

The Establishment aims to play a pioneering role in promoting women participation across the GCC countries. Its long-term regional objectives include launching a regional report that measures and evaluates the progress of women in the region.

Dubai Women Establishment will also work to expand its scope of activity to cover the Gulf region so as to become a vital reference for information related to the status of UAE women throughout the Gulf region.

DWE was formed under Decree No. 24 of 2006, issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with the target of enhancing UAE women abilities in all fields and highlighting their positive social role.