Raja Al Gurg, President of the Federation of the UAE Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Women’s Committee, has called on ambitious women in the Middle East to seize opportunities in the business world.
Mrs. Al Gurg was recently named one of the ‘Women to Watch in the Middle East’ by Forbes magazine for her pioneering career, and work promoting Arab women in the business world.
Commenting on the role of Arab women, she said: “In the past 30 years a steady transformation has taken place where more and more Arab women are taking on more professional roles. It is important to highlight that women are just as capable of succeeding in the business world as men, and that Arab women are as just competent as their Western counterparts.”
The Forbes feature was compiled as part of a wider study to find the Most Powerful Women around the world. Mrs. Al Gurg was selected as one of 11 ‘Women to Watch in the Middle East’, along with Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE’s Minister of Economy and Planning.
“Recent figures show UAE women are making their presence felt in a range of different fields, such as the civil service, where women account for approximately forty per cent of the total number of employees,” added Al Gurg.
“The dynamics of females working in fields which are conventionally considered male territory are now seeing a shift. Women are now running more businesses in a broader range of fields than ever before – a strong contrast to the scenario a few years ago when women were mainly found in educational and medical practices.”
Mrs. Al Gurg, a former school headmistress, worked her way up from her early role running her father’s steel factory. Today, as Managing Director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, she is responsible for 23 manufacturing and trading companies which have 3,000 employees.
The Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group was founded in 1960 by Chairman HE Easa Saleh Al Gurg. Today, the Group is associated with leading names such as Unilever, Siemens, Dunlop, Benetton, Osram, British American Tobacco, and ICI Paints.
As President of the Federation of the UAE Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Women’s Committee, Al Gurg often speaks to aspiring female entrepreneurs.
“At first I never thought I wanted to go into business. But when I took a role in my father’s company, I had to prove that I could be successful regardless of the fact that I was a women or chosen by my father,” said Mrs. Al Gurg. “It is crucial that all women push their own boundaries and have the will to succeed.”
In 2003, Mrs. Al Gurg attended the Detroit Business Women’s Forum together with 14 other Arab women entrepreneurs. It was the first time Arab women outside the Middle East had attended a forum. This year Mrs. Al Gurg addressed two more such forums in Italy and Germany.
“At the Detroit Business Women’s Forum we received a very positive response and much encouragement. It gave us a valuable opportunity to dispel the misconception of Arab women, and a voice on the international stage. I would like to thank His Highness for his support and the Government initiative aimed at developing more female leaders,” said Mrs Al Gurg.
“Also, the strong presence and growth of UAE women would not have been possible without the continuous support from H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. She plays a large role in promoting the image and the role of UAE women, both on a local as well as global scale.” H.H. Sheikha Fatima is the wife of the late H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and president of UAE Women’s Association.
When asked in a recent interview about her future plans, she said: “Each and every one of us must let our achievements be known. Staying on top of the mountain is easy but to reside there involves much more work. With the UAE’s rapid development, now is a great time for women to start businesses and to move up in the professional and academic world.”
About Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group:
The Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group was founded in 1960 by Chairman HE Easa Saleh Al Gurg. Today, the Group is associated with leading names such as Unilever, Siemens, Dunlop, Benetton, Osram, British American Tobacco, and ICI.
About Forbes:
Based in New York, Forbes magazine reaches approximately 5.4 million readers worldwide covering a range of subjects including business, technology, personal finance, lifestyle, and History.
