DNRD employs nearly 20% of Emirati working women

Lt. Ayoub made the point at a DNRD seminar titled 'Fighting Obstacles and Challenges Faced by Women in the Business World', held as part of the 'Woman and Business Forum 2008', at Zayed University during May 6 and 7.

Lt. Ayoub explained the key role played by DNRD in supporting local women, which is part of major governmental initiatives launched during the last two years.

She cited the yearly DNRN honoring of employees as an example, saying there was no category as 'distinguished woman employee', but only an open category for all employees, including men and women, to vie for the title.

Lt. Ayoub referred to the latest statistics launched on February 25 this year by Dubai Women's Establishment, which showed that more than 50% of the jobs in federal ministries and organizations were occupied by 4,470 female employees, while the number of male employees touched 4,271.

Referring to the statistics, she said that the number of Emirati women employed in Dubai government departments were more than 5,692, of which 1,050 women were working in DNRD, which constituted nearly 20% of the total women workforce in government departments.

She recalled the DNRD's role in supporting her in education with free scholarship to earn a bachelor's degree in International Business Administration, in addition to 20 training programmes in finance and accountancy, provided under the direct supervision of Major-General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, Director of DNRD.

He closely follows the progress of the employees who study on DNRD's expense through regular meetings with the professors of the universities, Lt. Ayoub said.

She mentioned the facilities provided by DNRD to help women enhance her position, without considering customs and traditions as an obstacle to women's development.

DNRD had taken many steps in this regard, like establishing a Women's Committee to deal with the social issues faced by women employees and launching a nursery school for women employees' kids in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs, in addition to many other concessions related to shorter working hours and maternity leaves for pregnant employees.

"Personally, I was allowed to do all the duties of the Investment and Financial Administration Manager in his absence, with no limits or boundaries. While on the administrative level, a women delegate represented DNRD at the biggest travel and tourism exhibition in India, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) of Dubai,"

Mona Ayoub said.

DNRD is participating for the first time in the 'Woman in Business' forum as a Silver Sponsor, considering the importance of supporting women in the job market, helping her protect her privacy and balance her personal and work-related obligations so that she can significantly contribute to the development process of the UAE.