DUBAI // Women in the UAE are empowered and a vital part of a successful economy, says Shamsa Saleh, the chief executive of the Dubai Women Establishment.
“If women step back, our economy will be affected,” said Ms Saleh, who through her position strives to increase female participation and representation across economic and social spheres.
“Women are already empowered, whether in terms of grades or graduates, and the country needs them.
“We need to think deeper of women’s development and help to increase women’s participation in the economy.”
The Dubai Women Establishment, presided over by Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, was founded in 2006.
“There are five pillars: work-life balance, leadership development, the policy, research and statistics, and international representation,” said Ms Saleh.
But she said that the backbone of the establishment remained the ability to affect policies.
“When we are able to improve women policies, by default, women’s lives change for the better,” she said.
“We work closely with the Federal National Council and consult with its members.”
The establishment held a conference in 2012 about including women in boardrooms. A couple of weeks later, the Cabinet made it compulsory for corporations and government agencies to include women on their boards of directors.
The historic decision was announced on Twitter by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
“I was on maternity leave when Sheikh Mohammed announced it, and I remember being so happy to read that the policy had been approved,” said Ms Saleh.
“It meant that we had succeeded in our efforts to improve women’s participation in the economy.”
Being a mother of three and having a high-profile job means that Ms Saleh has faced the issues many women face when they have a family and are striving to also have a successful career.
She said setting priorities to achieve a good work-life balance was important.
“On the work level, delegation of authority is important to make sure you have set up a second line from which others can make decisions,” she said.
“I now have three successors in my organisation.
“So, if I am not available for any reason, my successor, my backbone, will support me.
“Also, if I know I have a conference coming up and that I will have to leave the kids for three or four days, I will make sure my husband is on leave to stay with them or find other alternatives.”
And when the Zayed University graduate has to stay late at work, she brings the children to the nursery at the establishment.
“Planning, finding alternatives and the delegation of authority are key to maintaining balance,” she said.
To get to where she is now, Ms Saleh has made a steady progression after graduating in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in information systems and a minor in communications.
She completed the development general management potential programme from the Cranfield School of Management in 2005, and the director development programme at the Hawkamah, the Institute for Corporate Governance in 2007.
Ms Saleh then served as vice-president of corporate strategy at Nasdaq Dubai from 2006 until 2008, before joining the Dubai Women Establishment in 2008 as director of strategic planning and corporate development.
She was promoted to chief executive in 2010 and is now in charge of implementing plans.
She also works directly on strengthening and enhancing the relationship of the establishment with other government departments and institutions.
This year, the establishment achieved a goal when it was announced that a gender balance council would be set up.
“The Government is now working on the decree, and there will be a federal umbrella to serve the whole UAE,” said Ms Saleh.
“This is one of the biggest achievements in the country, and a direct result of efforts in past years.”
She also said that she was honoured to have had a hand in Dubai hosting the Women’s Forum next year.
Ms Saleh said matters of importance to women were brought to her attention after she became a mother.
“The project to establish childcare centres was very close to my heart. I must have gone to at least 10 government departments. None were convinced to have a childcare centre,” she said.
“There was a fear there, and the main issue was the know-how. They didn’t know the first thing about child care.
“So, we developed a manual that spoon-fed departments on how to start a childcare centre and how to operate it.”
Now, Dubai Customs and the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority are among the government departments that have nursery facilities for working mothers.
But she had a word of caution for enterprising women: “Women sometimes feel like they have to do everything, but it’s all about balance.
“After I had my second child, I realised I cannot do everything.
“It’s important to divide the house responsibilities. I have a responsibility and my husband does, too.”
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
MO
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Results:
5pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600 metres
Winner: Dasan Da, Saeed Al Mazrooei (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Saabah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Mukaram, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: MH Tawag, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) | Dh70,000 | 1,400m
Winner: RB Inferno, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Juthoor, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
