Emirati Women's Day: Building a nation without limits

This weekend, the Opinion pages of 'The National' focus exclusively on the female voices giving shape to the UAE's greatest aspirations

Rania R Saeed, left, and Futtaim Beljaflah have recently completed their personal training certification and are now teaching cycling classes at Crank, Al Quoz. Courtesy Crank

Brigadier Nabeel Abdullah Alrida, Deputy Director of Operations, honours Lt. Khatoon Ali Al Balooshi who has been serving the force in Dubai since 1977. Wam

Fahima Falaknaz hits the pads with UAE national team coach Mohammed Al Shebli. Pawan Singh / The National

Laila Al Dhaheri. Courtesy: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation

Badreya Al Marzooqi. Courtesy: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation

Amal Al Nuaimi. Courtesy: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation

Noran Al Bannai followed her dreams by opening up her own coffee shop. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Dana Al Hosani has turned her passion for volunteering into her vocation. Antonie Robertson/The National

Amal Al Mansouri records an Arabic language voiceover for a cartoon for local television. Victor Besa / The National

Mariam Othman, Emirati Founder and CEO of Rashid Centre for People with Determination. 

Kholoud Al Kendi, founder of Retaj Design, is a young Emirati entrepreneur who left her job as a banker to follow her passion for graphic design Reem Mohammed / The National

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Shaima Al Jabry, 39, at her home in Baniyas, is the first Emirati to attain a licence as a life coach on October 17, 2018. (Khushnum Bhandari/ The National)

DUBAI , UNITED ARAB EMIRATES , MAY 9 – 2018 :- Abeer Al Shahi , First Emirati to specialise in sign language during the event held at Meydan hotel in Dubai. ( Pawan Singh / The National ) For News. Story by Ruba Haza

Engineering graduates topped the Ministry of Education study called Majors in Demand. Chris Whiteoak / The National

One of Emirate Airline's youngest pilots, Bakhita Al Muhairi, 23, an Emirati, is pictured in the cockpit alongside a colleague.

Every year on August 28 we celebrate Emirati Women’s Day. The occasion holds significance throughout the UAE as an opportunity to recognise the many achievements made by the nation’s women. It also reminds the world of the meaningful steps the Emirates has taken with regard to women’s rights and gender equality since its formation nearly half a century ago. Perhaps most crucially, it encourages all Emiratis to build on the collective efforts of Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, in creating the modern, diverse and meritocratic society that citizens and residents alike are proud to call home.

To honour this day, The National's Opinion pages this weekend focus exclusively on Emirati women – their aspirations, challenges, accomplishments and areas of continuing progress as the UAE lays out an ambitious social and economic agenda for the next 50 years of its modern history.

We share insights from dynamic women who have paved their own paths to success, thereby becoming role models to their compatriots, both female and male. Each individual has carved a niche for herself, and is thereby uniquely qualified to reflect upon the aforementioned themes in her respective field of expertise – whether it is in the boardroom, industry or government – while being able to look at the bigger picture of progress for women in this part of the world.

Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, chief executive at Alliances for Global Sustainability, points to Mariam Almheiri’s stellar work as the Minister of State for Food Security in building the UAE’s resilience at a time when global supply chains have been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany, permanent representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency, gives us hard numbers to highlight the progress women have made in the public sector. And the numbers don’t lie – in 1995, government employment for Emirati women stood at 11.6 per cent; today, women hold 66 per cent of government jobs and 33 per cent of leadership positions. The Federal National Council, meanwhile, holds 20 female and 20 male elected representatives – topping the global ranking for women in parliament.

And Hend Al Otaiba, director of strategic communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, reminds us that half of her colleagues in the ministry are women.

Progress, of course, cannot be viewed through the prism of careers alone. It is important to recognise the oft-undocumented achievement of stay-at-home mothers in managing their households and solidifying society’s progress, especially at a time when the pandemic has interrupted the daily routines of their school-going children, who will shape the future of our country.

The question, then, is what the UAE might look like in 50 years' time. While it is impossible to predict fully, it is worth considering all the good work currently under way to build a model country for gender parity.

Efforts to bring about a balance in the workplace and more broadly throughout society are ongoing. Last year, for instance, a new harassment law was passed that would treat male and female victims equally. The UAE Gender Balance Council has promoted the idea of longer maternity leave – but also, to achieve true equality in the responsibilities of parenthood, an increase in paternity leave. In 2018, a law ensuring that women are paid an equal wage to their male colleagues was approved by the Cabinet.

Our contributors are hoping for more such initiatives in the future, calling for women to be given more seats at the table, whether it is inside companies at home, or global, multilateral organisations abroad. In doing so, they are helping to shape a better future for humankind.