Dubai, UAE, 31 August 2015

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has today inaugurated the First Emirati Women's Forum, which DEWA's Women's Committee has organised at Grand Hyatt hotel in Dubai. DEWA has organised the Forum to celebrate Emirati Women's Day, declared by HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. The Forum honoured Emirati women and recognised their role in serving the nation. It also highlighted the role of the General Women's Union in the UAE and its leading role in serving society and the nation. The Forum was attended by Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Chairperson of the Women's Committee at DEWA.

Present were DEWA's Vice Presidents, a number of women leaders in the UAE, members of the Women's Committee and DEWA staff. A number of Emirati women leaders in the UAE discussed many key issues related to women and their empowerment.

"Thanks to the vision of our wise leadership led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the UAE has achieved top positions globally in treating women with respect, and in reducing the gap between genders in the Middle East and North Africa. The directives of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood to celebrate Emirati Women's Day on 28 August each year, is a significant step in Emirati Women's journey. The move consolidates women empowerment strategies in all areas," said Al Tayer in his keynote speech.

"Celebrating this occasion underlines our wise leadership's recognition of the contribution of the country's daughters and their role in the UAE's development and progress. It appreciates their contribution in supporting the Nation locally and globally. Establishing the UAE Gender Balance Council during the Government Summit last February was a significant step in the historical journey of empowering women in the UAE. It complements the UAE's efforts that started with its Union, to confirm the key role of women in building the future and supports the country's approach to enhance women's status and ensure their presence in all fields of work. Women's work integrates with their role in raising generations and their status as the backbone of family, and the building block of society. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum once observed that: "Appreciation for women in the UAE stems from the noble values of Islam, our true heritage that emanates wisdom." Our beloved country gives great care to women and provides them with all necessary resources to strengthen their giving, development and advancement. The progress achieved by Emirati women in international indices is a result of the UAE's development of national strategies that support women empowerment. It is also a result of adopting international approaches towards achieving gender equality in job opportunities and career development. Our nation's strategy in promoting gender equality supports recommendations and reports by UN bodies, international organisations, especially the Millennium Development Goals, which underline the importance of empowering women to attain a more robust growth to achieve the sustainable development," added Al Tayer.

"According to a report by the UN Development Programme in 2015, 1.4 billion people in the world suffer from poverty in energy, and about 2 million people, mainly women and children, die annually because of the burning of biomass indoors. Women and children in poor countries spend 200 million hours a day simply collecting water, enough working time to build nearly 30 Empire State Buildings. Women are key to social and economic development. That's why, providing a decent, motivating, and empowering environment for them contributes to economic growth and enhances its diversity and competitiveness. Participants in the 'Women in Economy' panel discussion at the Arab Women Leadership Forum, emphasised that the economy of any country and its standard of living will be strengthened if women participated in decision-making," he noted.

"The UAE's efforts to empower women and the post-empowerment phase have become a global model for, not only for the achievements Emirati women have made in all areas, but also because the role that women play in Emirati society is always evolving. Emirati women have proved their competence in all fields, to work hand in hand alongside men to build the Nation and take it to the highest levels. What Emirati women have achieved and are achieving is due to the vision of our leadership and the strategy of our country that does not rest on its laurels, but keeps working to enable Emirati women to become leaders on a global stage and a role model for others. DEWA has added a new strategic objective in its strategic map that is directly linked to the happiness of its employees since they are its real wealth. This supports the Dubai Plan 2021 that is synchronised with the UAE Vision 2021 and the National Agenda, and DEWA's vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility. We have a clear strategy and we take an active role in empowering Emirati women and enhancing their contribution, not only in the energy, water, and rational consumption areas, but also in developing work environment and the sustainable development of the UAE, especially in the renewable energy sector," he added.

"We will continue to develop the talents of our female staff, foster their knowledge and skills, and provide an ideal platform for them to highlight their achievements and success in their fields. This will ensure a happy, stimulating, safe and stable working environment for them, which reflects positively on their professional and social lives," concluded Al Tayer.

"Our wise leadership's vision has helped Emirati women move beyond the empowerment phase to real participation in building the society. This is evident through her effective and immense contribution in political, government, leadership and executive positions across all sectors to further ensure the sustainable development of the UAE. Emirati women have become key partners in leading the sustainable development of the UAE. They occupy different positions in legislative and executive authorities. They have a prominent presence in Arab, regional, and international feminist organisations. Emirati women now top regional and global reports in many areas. It is a matter of pride for us that the UAE ranks number one in the Arab World for the empowerment of women in 2014, according to the Arab Women Foundation. Emirati women work efficiently, and competently, as part of the National workforce in space research and other development sectors that are based on creativity and innovation. These include renewable energy, nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, manufacturing and launching of satellites, and the aviation industry," said Al Mehairi.

DEWA Women's Committee was established in 2010 to contribute to providing an ideal positive and stimulating environment that support women in the workplace and achieves a balance between their professional and family lives. The Committee has taken several effective steps to enable DEWA's female staff and enhance their sense of contentment and happiness. Establishing an ideal work environment not only benefits DEWA, but will benefit society as well by empowering it through women. DEWA plays a key and effective role in empowering women in the workforce. It provides a stimulating work environment that supports gender equality, and equal opportunities. This is reflected in its practices and strategies. A total of 1,600 women work in DEWA in all departments and operations, and 77% of the total female workforce are Emiratis. 417 currently work in technical and engineering positions, while 816 work in other roles," added Al Mehairi.

At the Forum, Shamsa Saleh, CEO of Dubai Women Establishment, thanked HH Sheikha Fatima for dedicating 28th August each year to be Emirati Women's Day.

"The UAE has achieved advanced positions in various international reports such as the Global Gender Gap compiled by the World Economic Forum. It has come 30th globally and first in the Arab World according to the UN's Human Development Report 2011," said Saleh.

"Today, Emirati women constitute 66% of the total workforce in the government sector, 30% of whom are leaders who occupy decision making positions. Women's role in the UAE is not limited to traditional jobs. They are also entrepreneurs. There are over 22,000 businesswomen in the UAE whose investments are estimated to be 18 billion dirhams," added Saleh.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank DEWA and appreciate their efforts to provide an ideal and encouraging environment for women. Their efforts support our wise leadership's empowerment policies to promote the position of women in developing our beloved country. We also value DEWA's efforts in providing professional training and progress and in engaging women in leadership positions. We also appreciate DEWA's response to the National Nursery Project launched in 2009 by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairwoman of  the UAE Gender Balance Council. DEWA has become the government department with the most number of high-standard nurseries. This contributes to establishing solid foundations that support Emirati women and help hundreds of women to achieve family stability. We look forward to other government departments to follow DEWA and take it as a role model in supporting and empowering women," concluded Saleh.

At the end of the opening ceremony, Al Tayer and Al Mehairi honoured a number of first Emirati women in different fields.

DEWA honoured Shamsa Saleh, Dr. Mariam Matar, Founder and Chairperson of the UAE Genetic Disease Association, Dr. Aysha Busmait, Marketing and Communications Director at Dubai Sports Council, Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, Emirates Environmental Group, Colonel Fatima Ali Al Sawaiya form the General Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, and the renowned journalist Fadila Al Muaini from Dubai Media Inc;, Al Bayan newspaper.

DEWA honoured Brigadier Dr Asmaa Sultan Al Mughairi, the first female Emirati to join the armed forces, Sheikha Al Suwaidi, the first Emirati female photographer, Hessa Alossaily, the first Emirati radio anchor, Amani Al Hosni, the first Emirati nuclear engineer, Hend Mohammed Taleb, the first female employee at DEWA to join the National Service, Amina Hashem, the first Emirati engineer to join DEWA, and Zainab Abdul Rahman, the first Emirati administrative at DEWA.

Colonel Al Sawaiya then talked about women in military leadership. Dr. Matar gave a lecture titled Emirati Women, where she talked about genetic factors. Al Marashi highlighted women's role in the social service.

The Forum also featured a discussion panel on women in the technical, administrative, and media fields. It was moderated by Shamma Lootah, Manager of Awareness and Building Capabilities at DEWA. Saleh, Busmait, Hashem, and Al Muaini took part in the discussion.

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© Press Release 2015