17 April 2008: Discussion of the United Arab Emirates has penetrated the American media, but primarily with regards to Dubai’s impressive architecture, rapid pace of urban development, attraction as a luxury tourist destination, and aim to be the financial capital of the Middle East. Rarely addressed--if at all--is the role of women in the UAE, and their growing representation in education, government, and diplomacy.

Last month, nearly 1000 women from over 85 countries gathered in Dubai for the 3rd Zayed University Women as Global Leaders Conference (WAGL), a three day symposium hosted by Zayed University, the only public women’s university in the United Arab Emirates. Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the wife of the late founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan, and the recognized “mother of the UAE”, WAGL intends to build bridges between female student leaders from around the world.

The bold initiative of the Zayed University undergraduates to convene such an international conference and the government support of it are representative of the increasingly prominent role that women play in UAE professional life and the extensive government-sponsored opportunities now available to them.

Opening the conference, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, the UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and President of Zayed University, said of women’s capacity for leadership:

“Leadership is most likely some fascinating and highly variable combination of native talent and high degree of motivation. Women leaders in particular have been known throughout history for their courage and leadership,” he said. “We in the UAE strongly believe that leaders are self motivated and committed to a cause greater than themselves. They are astute communicators and careful listeners. We must learn to value the leadership skills that each person brings to the table, regardless of gender.” 

The UAE government has invested significant capital in the professional development of the daughters of its society and thus far, it has accrued positive returns. According to Mona Al Marri, CEO of the UAE Media Services Group and Vice President of the Dubai Ladies’ Club, the UAE has been undergoing a “social revolution for women” since the late 1990s. “Today, women know that there is potential for them to do anything because they have role models and examples to follow. Our government has created opportunities in a way different from many other places, due to their good vision and belief that to build a successful society you need to involve everybody.”

First articulated in 1971 by the founder of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan, this vision has since been encouraged and embodied by his wife and founder of the UAE Women’s Establishment, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. H.H. Sheikh Zayed declared an aim to create a modern society based on Arab and Islamic traditions, recognizing that national progress could be made only by fully involving women in society. He is remembered for saying, “A woman is an equal partner with her male compatriot in all walks of life and has the full right to participate in political life and decision making.”

Women have not yet become full participants in society, and there are many challenges still to overcome. However, perhaps unsurprisingly for such a rapidly developing country, the “revolution” has taken off fairly quickly.

The number of Emirati women receiving formal education has increased 14-fold since 1972 and continues to rise. Women currently comprise over 70 percent of students enrolled in higher education in the UAE, and at least 40 percent of civil service employees. There are four female Ministers, and nine female Parliamentarians. The vast majority of primary and secondary school teachers are women, and women fill over 50 percent of jobs in the health service industry.

Women are represented in business and government, as well. The first female UAE government minister, Sheikha Lubna al-Qasimi, was appointed Minister of Economy and Planning in 2004. At the time, she was the most senior woman minister in any Gulf state.

Among other top executives, the CEO of the Dubai Jebel Ali Free Zone is a woman, Salma Ali Saif Bin Hareb. Speaking to the plenary, she noted, “When I was born, women could not drive and could not go abroad. We have seen so much change in the last ten years--what for most countries took hundreds.”

According to the Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet, Her Excellency Najla Al Awar, “There are many reasons why women can excel in our country. Among them, is that we are undergoing a transformation, of realizing that the gender of the applicant has no weight on the quality of the applicant. At the job, we are all equal.” Prior to her appointment as Cabinet Secretary General in 2006, H.E. Al Awar served in the UAE Executive Office, in the Dubai Secretariat, and the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) office of the Dubai Municipality.

Exhibiting a similarly decorated list of accomplishments, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy was appointed the first female Minister of State in February 2008. She began her government career managing economic and social programs for the Emirate of Dubai, after which she was asked to join the UAE Diplomatic corps in Washington, DC. There she was quickly promoted from Commercial Attaché to Deputy Chief of Mission. In her mid-twenties at the time, H.E. Al Hashimy engaged with top Washington business executives and policy-makers negotiating U.S.-UAE bilateral relations, including the now-halted U.S.-UAE Free Trade Agreement.

Due to government sponsored leadership training programs, emphasis on and support for education, and an effort to identify future leaders from an early age, the UAE boasts an impressive cadre of young leaders, H.E. Al Hashimy among the best of them. Select students go from university into mid or high-level positions and once they prove capable, are quickly promoted, women included.

The pressure to embrace the professional opportunities the government provides poses a challenge to some Emirati women. The UAE is still a deeply religious and traditional society that places extremely high value on family and the traditional family structure. Whereas previously one would be married immediately after graduating from university, if not before, an increasing number of young Emiratis, women in particular, are now choosing to pursue their careers before starting a family.

Familial obligations are respected, and even in leadership training programs, the importance of balancing family life with professional life is emphasized. However, as women face greater demands in the work place, achieving this balance becomes more difficult. Many have succeeded in reconciling tradition, religion, and modernization thus far, but it is yet to be seen whether the evolution of traditional and cultural norms will be able to keep up with the rapid pace of professional development for women in the UAE.

Rachel traveled to the UAE in March 2008 to attend the WAGL conference as part of an American Jewish Committee (AJC) ACCESS delegation.