Every day in Emirati woman’s life sees new achievement

Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Honorary Patron of Sharjah Businesswomen Council (SBWC), has recently announced that "every day in an Emirati woman's life sees a new achievement for which she should be honoured and empowered to effectively participate in all sectors and fields, as a member of the community who enjoys full human rights and deserves to occupy higher positions".
Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi was speaking on the occasion of International Women's Day, which falls on March 8th, and this year coincides with the 13th anniversary of the establishment of the Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC).
Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi said, "The UAE was among the first countries that granted women their full rights and gave them the status they deserve in the society - an approach based on true Islamic Sharia and the provisions of the UAE's constitution, thanks to the wise directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Emirates who continued in the approach laid down by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to support and empower women. This approach respects women as indispensable partners who play an effective and influential role in achieving progress and prosperity in the country, as part of the UAE's quest to achieve balance and equity between men and women." Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi expressed her confidence in the potential of Emirati women who proved their ability to give unlimitedly and achieve success in any fields they apply themselves.
She said Emirati women enjoy high national spirit with a strong sense of responsibility towards their country and humanitarian issues that prompt them to make every possible effort to ensure that their country will remain at the top and that their families can continue to enjoy happiness and stability.
Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi emphasised that Emirati women deserve to be honoured and recognised for their allegiance and loyalty to the nation, most notably their enthusiastic response to join national service, so as to work shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts and effectively engage in reinforcing their country's immunity protection.
She praised the crucial role played by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, in supporting and empowering Emirati women through countless initiatives and programmes she has launched over the past decades, and her eagerness to assist Emirati women in overcoming the obstacles they face on their paths to professional success by helping them reach the highest international levels.
Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi lauded the initiative launched by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to form the UAE Gender Balance Council last month. The council aims to enable women create a balance between family and work and offers her equal opportunities in education and employment as well as in occupying leading executive positions. It also commissions women to improve their abilities and hone their skills to further be able to make a positive change in the society.
Speaking about women's engagement in the business sector, Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi stressed that the Emirati woman has proven herself in leading private businesses. The leadership's immense support, economic potential and the competitive business environment enjoyed by the UAE would enable women to achieve greater progress in the business industry.
She pointed out that the Sharjah Business Women Council has been eager, since its establishment, to encourage women to enter into the business world while providing them with facilities, suggested plans and draft laws that endorse women and their participation in the various economic sectors, in addition to a series of training programmes, initiatives and projects undertaken by the council to support women.
On Women's Day, Sheikha Jawaher highlighted that the theme which was adopted by the United Nations to mark the International Women's Day: "Empowering Women - Empowering Humanity: Picture It!" was perfectly chosen, and truly corresponds with the UAE's vision - from which the SBWC's vision was derived - to enhance women's participation in social and economic development and encourage them to enter the free business world, by providing them with a conducive environment that supports women in the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE.
"In view of the vision of H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who supports Emirati women as key partners in the achievements made by the UAE, SBWC has benefited tremendously from the great appreciation and continuous support for women in overcoming obstacles and defeating challenges that face women in business, in coordination and collaboration with various local and federal bodies, as well as private organisations," Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi said.
She noted that the world is currently witnessing major developments with regards to the empowerment of women. "We, in the UAE, feel the positive impact of women's role in the organisations and corporations they work for or those under their management,' Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi said, adding that harmony and integrity between men and women at work are some of the crucial secrets of success witnessed in the UAE.
SBWC has turned into a prominent professional gathering in the UAE after its members increased to 1496 in 2014, compared to 600 members only in 2012, after expanding the scope of membership to include new categories, not only businesswomen.
The new categories included productive and professional women and university students who have their own enterprises or seeking to enter the business world. The Council supports those women and helps sharpen their skills through training and qualification programmes, to help them transform their projects into financially rewarding enterprises.
Over the last 13 years, SBWC has made the best use of the emirate's unique characteristics and business potential, its investment-friendly business environment, strategic geographical location, excellent infrastructure and facilities, to encourage more women of various nationalities to set up their own businesses that would help them become independent and contribute to the development in the UAE, while offering more job opportunities for trained and qualified cadres.
The Council has launched several programmes over the past few years to support Emirati women, most notably the "Badwa" project, which aims to strengthen women's contribution to the UAE's economic sector and preserve the Emirati popular heritage by helping women sell their traditional products. Other ventures included the opening of a yearlong market - the "Anwan Market" in Dibba Al Hisn to serve women with small enterprises.
In 2014, the council participated for the first time in its history in the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, adding deeper confirmation of the distinguished status Emirati women enjoy on international arenas. On the sidelines of its attendance, SBWC conducted a series of meetings with the representatives of a number of leading US and international organisations and bodies dedicated to enhancing women's participation in economic development and improving their contributions to various business sectors.
The Sharjah Business Women Council, SBWC, was established under an Emiri decree No.8 of 2002, issued by H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, and the women's economic empowerment initiative launched by Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and Honorary Chairperson of SBWC, to integrate women into all business activities.
SBCW enjoys a corporate body status and legal capacity as per Emiri decree No.57, which was issued in December 2010.
It aims to encourage women's contribution to the comprehensive development process in the UAE, and the Emirate of Sharjah in particular. The Council engages businesswomen, working women, productive women, university graduates and students and women with special needs in a wide range of activities to develop their personal and professional skills and offer them the opportunity to create and improve their projects and business enterprises. It also helps develop enterprises owned by women through guidance by economic and financial experts.
Source: WAM