Dubai, February 02, 2009: Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) recorded many significant achievements during the year 2008. The council was established under the umbrella of Dubai Chamber (formerly Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry or DCCI) in 2002, to achieve multi-sectoral goals. It has sought, since its establishment, to play its mandated role and to represent Emirati businesswomen in the best possible ways at regional and international forums, so as to reflect the position reached by the UAE in general and Dubai in particular.

The UAE has also encouraged the participation of Dubai businesswomen at international forums. This has raised the status of the Emirati woman and has made her the focus of world's attention.

The council also seeks to discuss the problems facing businesswomen in Dubai. It makes recommendations to solve these challenges in accordance with the regulations of the chamber, presents proposals on services and events that could be provided by the chamber to help  members, provides a forum for communication and networking between businesswomen and the business community in Dubai  to strengthen relations between them,  spread awareness of the importance of Emirati women's participation in various economic activities and  encourages women to break into new areas of work, besides participating in various events organized by the chamber.

Mrs. Raja Easa Al Gurg, president of DBWC, reviewed the most important achievements of the council during 2008 and reviewed the status of the Emirati woman, who, she said, now occupies a privileged position in Emirati society and in the world.  

In January 2008, DBWC Board Members met a delegation from MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Business Women's Network headed by Erin Walsh, Senior Advisor at the Bureau of Near East Affairs, US Department of State. The Network brings together different businesswomen councils and organizations.

During the same month, DBWC Board Members applauded, during their meeting with a delegation from Hong Kong led by Lady Salina Pow Siu Mei, wife of the Honorable Sir Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, China, the strong mutual relations between UAE in general and Dubai specifically, with Hong Kong.

In March, Mrs. Raja Easa Al Gurg represented Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, on the occasion of the International Women's Day at the AL-Mizher American Academy for Girls, Dubai.

DBWC also significantly participated at the WIEF Businesswomen Forum, which was held alongside the Fourth World Islamic Economic Forum, hosted by the State of Kuwait from April 29 to May 1, 2008, under the slogan "Islamic Countries: Partners in Global Development."  

Also in April, the DBWC president represented Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in a panel discussion organized by Forbes Arabia magazine, on the occasion of launching the new issue of the magazine.

In May, DBWC and Dubai Women's College (DWC) launched the "Women Business Owners in the United Arab Emirates Report," which is a part of a regional project focusing on countries also like Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia. The project which aims at capacity building was undertaken and is managed jointly by the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Gender Entrepreneurship Markets (GEM) program and the Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) in partnership with local business women's associations and research centers.

The DBWC official website, www.dbwc.ae which highlights DBWC services and facilities for businesswomen and includes beneficial information on the UAE, business establishments, investment opportunities in Dubai and DBWC objectives, was also launched. The press conference to announce the important development was held in Dubai Chamber in the presence of HE Eng. Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In Beirut, DBWC was represented by Mrs. Kaltham Abdullah, DBWC Board Member, in the two-day 2nd New Woman Arab Forum. The event was held from October 23 to 24, 2008.     

On October 30, 2008, a meeting was held between DBWC Board Members and officials from the Women Business Leaders Summit (WBLS), headed by Mrs. Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, WBLS chair, president and CEO of Pace Communications and former U.S. Ambassador to Finland, in the presence of other DBWC board members.

On November 4, Mrs. Raja Easa Al Gurg was invited to the monthly gathering of the American Women's Association (AWA) at the Westin Hotel. The meeting was held in the presence of Mrs. Catherine K. Sutphin, wife of the Consul General of the United States, Paul R. Sutphin and the Vice president of AWA. During the meeting Al Gurg, emphasized the need for education, the importance of acquiring knowledge, the need for a firm will and the determination to meet challenges that stand in women's way towards progress and excellence.

The last major DBWC event in 2008 was the signing the world's longest letter of gratitude and love for His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the meeting with the participants of the "Union Marathon" at the Dubai Chamber and on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the UAE National Day.

-Ends-

About the Dubai Business Women Council:
Its mission is to proactively encourage business and professional women in Dubai to participate in a variety of business segments in order to enhance the contribution, productivity and activity of business and professional women locally and internationally.

Its objectives are the following:

1. To represent the DBWC at Arab and international conferences and forums related to business and professional women.

2. To cooperate with local and international institutions to increase awareness about the council and to share and contribute business ideas between the business women and different organizations.

3. To negotiate problems that women face at the workplace and find solutions and recommendations to solve these problems.

4. Providing facilities and introducing business women to the Dubai Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), its services and activities.

5. Organizing networking opportunities by inviting business women to participate in a variety of events organized by the Dubai Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

For more details, log on to DCCI website at: http://www.dbwc.ae

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© Press Release 2009