UAE Minister of Foreign Trade discusses key issues affecting female employment in technical fields at special SPE workshop

Titled 'Women Professionals in the Energy Sector,' the one-day seminar has four key objectives: promote the positive image of women in the workplace and their role in the energy sector's future; encourage, motivate and develop the skills of young professionals; create a women's professional network; and thoroughly discuss challenges faced by women in their careers and the corresponding solutions that promote continuous personal and professional growth. Attendees include general and asset managers, team leaders, professional women, scientists and engineers in the energy sector, particularly in the oil and gas industry. Workshop participants qualify for SPE Continuing Education Units (CEU) at the rate of 0.1 CEU per hour of the Workshop

"The participation of women in key technical fields such as oil and gas exploration is steadily increasing. There are certainly many challenges that women in engineering and similar professions need to overcome, but through networking and full government and corporate support, these can be properly addressed. In the end, it is women themselves who set boundaries on what they can achieve. As long as they dream and pursue, then they can attain anything they set out to accomplish,"

said H.E. Sheikha Lubna.

The Minister also emphasized that women in the UAE comprise around 59% of the UAE labor force, with 30% occupying senior leadership positions involved in the adoption of resolutions, and around 60% involved in technical work. She added that women throughout the UAE have integrated themselves into society with efficiency and professionalism and are now participating in Executive and Legislative activities.

The UAE Government has been highly supportive of female participation in the workforce. In 2004, the Emirates became a signatory to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, thus further expanding opportunities for women to join fields such as engineering. The literacy rate of women Nationals was 90% in 2007, with 77% of females continuing on to higher education from high school. This reflects an increasing preparedness among women to enter and excel in fields traditionally exclusive to men.

After more than 50 years of existence, the Society of Petroleum Engineers continues to collect, disseminate and exchange technical knowledge on the exploration, development and production of oil and gas resource and related technologies for the public benefit and to assist in enhancing the technical and professional competence of people involved in the oil and gas industry. The Society serves more than 75,000 member engineers, scientists, managers and educators through its offices in Dallas, Houston, London, Dubai, Moscow and Kuala Lumpur.