UAE businesswomen and women professionals of all nationalities have been urged to submit their entries for the third annual Emirates Businesswomen Award (EBWA) 2005, which is co-organised by Shell and the Dubai Quality Group.
Briefing a group of business and professional women at a workshop organised to promote the mission and goals of the Award, Shell’s External Affairs Manager, Hussain Al Mahmoudi, said this year’s award has been developed to honour both National and expatriate women in the UAE for their high levels of business acumen and professional excellence.
Attendees at the Workshop were given an overview of the major benefits of winning the EBWA, including the opportunity to network with different women achievers, thus enabling them to broaden their horizons and their circle of business contacts. Al Mahmoudi emphasised, however, that participation was of greater importance than winning and he encouraged women to submit their entries in large numbers.
“The actual nomination process itself is really very straightforward as nominees are not expected to submit an intense or complicated overview of their careers, rather a brief Curriculum Vitae (CV) with some brief background information and an introductory letter,” explained Al Mahmoudi.
Giving some historical background to the Award, Al Mahmoudi explained that the Emirates Businesswomen Award was established in 2003 in order to recognise and celebrate the important role that women in the UAE play in both the business and professional spheres, as well as the important ways in which they inspire and encourage others, including future generations of women, to achieve their full potential.
“Women’s role in business is becoming increasingly important, as figures from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce indicate; the number of female entrepreneurs, as well as the number of National women working in the private sector in the UAE has risen dramatically in the past few years,” said Al Mahmoudi.
“The picture is even more impressive at an academic level. According to official statistics, 70 per cent of students attending the UAE’s Higher Colleges of Technology and more than 60 per cent of its university students are women.”
These developments, he said, spoke eloquently of the emergence of women as a dynamic force in the corporate world and the Emirates Businesswomen Award pays homage to their achievements.
“Each woman in her area of business and work has several achievements to her credit, and it is high time women took stock of this. Sometimes, even the most ordinary things can appear extraordinary when viewed from the outside,” he said.
The Emirates Businesswomen Award 2005 has two categories, Business Owners and Professionals. The deadline for submitting entries in March 15, 2005 and the awards will be presented at a glittering awards ceremony in Dubai in May 2005.
In supporting Emirates Businesswomen Award, Shell is driven by its global corporate philosophy that gives priority to the empowerment of women. The award is particularly relevant in the UAE, a country that epitomises the region’s entrepreneurial spirit that is manifest in its thriving economy and booming business enterprises.
