Business & Money | Thursday 29 September, 2016 5:32 am |

Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), in collaboration with Emirates Youth Council, hosted a Youth Circle today, titled “Emirati Women and the Workplace”. The event was attended by HE Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, HE Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Chairperson and Managing Director of DWE, and a number of prominent young women and men. 

Youth Circles has been established in line with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, who has stressed the importance of strengthening communications with Emirati youth, and gaining insights into their ideas and needs. This will also provide the government with an opportunity to strengthen its role as the main engine behind the development process in the UAE. 

 

Youth Circles is an interactive platform for youth to meet and discuss opportunities and challenges, to develop innovative and practical solutions. These sessions are designed to reinforce principles of unity and community participation and to highlight the country’s approach in strengthening sustainable communication between the government and Emirati youth to achieve the best investment in the nation’s capabilities and to prepare new generations of qualified future leaders. 

 

HE Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrouei praised Dubai Women Establishment for hosting the Youth Circle to highlight the challenges facing young Emirati women in the workplace. She said: “The accomplishments of Emirati Women across various fields highlights the strong support that our leadership provides to young people. Our leadership has always taught us that efficiency and excellence are the fundamentals of success.”

 

She added: “Emirati youth are highly skilled and responsible, and are the drivers of the country’s growth in all sectors. Emirati women play a pivotal role in the country’s development by serving as role models in society. Our hope today is to constructively impact society in preparation for leadership by a generation of young and passionate Emiratis.

 

HE Al Mazrouei added: “Enhancing the role of young Emiratis in the workplace and helping them to develop the necessary skills and experience to progress is a priority. Through a series of programmes and initiatives, we will strengthen the role of youths in the workplace and society, particularly amongst young women.”

 

HE Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Chairperson and Managing Director of DWE, expressed her gratitude to HE Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of State for Youth Affair, for her efforts in developing new ideas and initiatives to support this important sector in society. HE Al Marri also highlighted that the UAE’s appointment of the youngest minister in global history, is testament to the country’s ongoing strategy to prepare a generation of young national leaders and ensure that they are bearing the responsibility of the UAE’s development. Enhancing the participation of young people is not just a vision, but a goal being achieved in the UAE. The UAE is consistently providing young people with the necessary opportunities and tools to achieve leading positions. 

 

HE Al Marri stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to create opportunities for young people, particularly in linking education outcomes with the labor market’s needs. She said: “The Youth Circle represents an interactive platform which combines empowerment and innovation. Our goal is to build and strengthen the role of UAE youth in the workplace in line with our belief that young people are a key driving force behind the development of our society and its future.”

 

In line with the leadership’s directives and the UAE’s approach to strengthening the role of women, as well as activating their positive contributions within various sectors, HE Mona Al Marri expressed her desire to increase work skills training programmes to enhance the capabilities of Emirati women and enable them to compete in the workplace. 

 

The Youth Circle discussed a number of important topics related to the challenges facing young Emirati women before entering the workplace, and the reasons behind the low percentage of Emirati women continuing to participate in the workplace. The attendees also discussed the importance of sustainable work to identify skill gaps amongst young Emirati woman against work requirements. The discussion was led by Hessa Tahlak, Director of Research and Development at DWE. 

 

The Emirates Youth Council was established in line with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to foster a positive environment and an effective platform for identifying the opinions of young Emiratis on various topics and to communicate as well as implement their ideas and suggestions to serve the country and its citizens. The Council also aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of UAE youth to participate in achieving the UAE Vision 2021. 

 

Dubai Women Establishment, headed by the wife of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, HH Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, plays a major role in supporting Emirati women through developing their skills, highlighting their effective role in society and encouraging Emirati women on a professional and social level. Dubai Women Establishment includes: Dubai Ladies Club (DLC) and The Cultural Office of HH Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.