Diversity of women achievers to be celebrated through Emirates Businesswomen Award 2005

In launching the third annual award, organised by Shell with the support of the Dubai Quality Group, Ahmed Al Banna, Chairman of the Dubai Quality Group, said: "The 'glass ceiling' for women in the workplace is disintegrating worldwide, and the trend is apparent in the UAE as well. The role of women in the development of this nation is assuming ever-greater importance and this Award celebrates their attainments.

"Winners of this Award are role models and we are proud indeed that not only does the Award attract entries across the races represented in this country, but also that the Award winners themselves represent our nation's diversity."

The Emirates Businesswomen Award brings public and private sectors together under the committed patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Emirates Group and President, Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, aims to raise the profile of women in business in the UAE by recognising and rewarding outstanding achievement. The Award honours women in two categories - Business Owner and Investor, and Professionals.

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, External Affairs Manager, Shell Markets Middle East, commented: "Women in the workplace in the UAE are continuing to make remarkable headway thanks in large part to the initiative and leadership of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, wife of HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and who, 21 years ago, established the Abu Dhabi Women's Association, the first women's group in the UAE.

"We are continuously working to improve the Emirates Businesswomen Award to more fully reflect the advances made by women in the UAE and to recognize the widening range of their achievements."

The fact that women have come into their own in the business, work and educational environment is substantiated by the statistics drawn up by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. In the 15 years from 1985 to 2000, the number of UAE national women working in the private sector rose by 700% while the number of national men rose only by 45% over the same period. In 2003, the total number of national businesswomen totalled 10,409. In additiion, today, 70% of students at the UAE's Higher Colleges of Technology are women and 60% of the student population at the UAE University are women.

One of UAE's most prominent and well-known business women, Raja Al Gurg, Chairwoman of the UAE Business Council and President of Dubai Business Women Council, called on women across the UAE to enter the contest.

"It is crucial that we have the will and the belief that we will succeed," said Al Gurg. "It is also the duty of every successful buisnesswoman or female professional to share their knowledge and experience. That is why the Emirates Businesswomen Award is such an excellent initiative - it brings forward those role models, of sharing ideas, of showing ways in which women can succeed. With the level of growth that we are experiencing here, it has never been a better time for women to make their mark. Now is the moment for women to start businesses, to move up in the professional and academic world. We women have much to be proud of - we must let our achievements be known. And we must continue to achieve, today and in the future."

Underlining Al Gurg's sentiments, Al Mahmoudi stated: "The UAE has been, and continues to be a role model within the region for the emancipation of women, especially in the work environment. We are proud of the contribution that the Emirates Businesswomen Award is making to this process."