An Emirati woman to me is a symbol of ambition: Habiba Al Marashi

Habiba Al Marashi, the Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group, speaks to Khaleej Times on the role of Emirati women in the UAE.

Among the most well-recognized Emirati women today is Habiba Al Marashi, the Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG). She has been widely praised for her work encouraging firms to take Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into account and for her tireless efforts to promote environmentalism and sustainability in the UAE.

Under her leadership, the EEG became the first environmental NGO in the world to be ISO 14001 certified, and the only environmental organization of its kind accredited with the United Nations Convention to Combating Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

This Emirati Women's Day, Al Marashi was also one of 24 women highlighted for praise in the newly released  "Emaratiyah: UAE's Inspiring Women" book, for which she was chosen from over 100 potential candidates.

Khaleej Times's Nivriti Butalia recently had the opportunity to pose Al Marashi a few questions.

Q: What does being an Emirati woman mean to you?

A: An Emirati woman to me is a symbol of ambition. I feel that as an Emirati woman, I stand at a very important juncture in the history of our country along with all my fellow countrymen where the future presents an endless possibility of greatness. Being an Emirati woman means leading my country to even greater feats of achievement by contributing to the nation building, economic growth and social progress. This ambition drives me as an Emirati woman. I would like all Emirati women to seize a big role in shaping the destiny of our country and our nation.

Q: Can you talk a bit about growing up in UAE and your women role models?

A: Growing up in the UAE was nothing like what it is today. We lived with fewer resources but had everything we could have wanted. We learnt to live contentedly with whatever we had, and life was always one of discovering wonderful things. We were a close knit family of siblings and although my father died when I was young, I still remember his teachings on Islam, life and nature. My role model is HH Sheikh Fatima, the Mother of the Nation. She has promoted the lot of women in the UAE so much, supported by her husband and Father of the Nation HH Sheikh Zayed.

Q: What about the UAE makes you most proud as a woman?

A: The UAE leads in the Region in the preservation of women's interests and their empowerment. We were among the first to launch policies, strategies and initiatives aimed solely at women. The government of the UAE has always held women's interests in high priority, which is corroborated by the great strides made by Emirati women in all walks of life. Our voice is not only heard but keenly sought out by our leadership, who are on the constant strive to make our lives meaningful, productive and happy. The UAE has an impressive record in gender related achievements, ranked first in gender equality in the region, as per the World Economic Forum's 2014 Global Gender Gap report. Women are free to pursue their dreams in this country, and their dreams are given a nurturing environment. Women are provided with a safe, secure and supportive ecosystem for their growth and fulfillment, and that makes me most proud as an Emirati woman.

Q: Even though you would prove otherwise, do you think it's tougher for a woman to make a mark in UAE?

A: I don't think so. Women are definitely in a very solid position in the UAE, backed by the efforts of the government to allow us to reach our potential. We are among the most progressive in the Region and our women are supported at every level. So I think it is relatively easier for us Emirati women to make a mark in society, or in the business or political arena.

Q: Can you specify some of the challenges you've faced? Say 3 obstacles you've had to overcome in UAE?

A: One of the challenges inevitably comes from being a woman with a career and a family. This I think is something that women across the world would relate to. Balancing the demands of family and career is always a challenge although not so much of an obstacle. A second challenge was giving up a very lucrative and set government job and opt for an NGO at a time when civil society activism was an unfamiliar territory in the UAE. The third challenge is to make sustainable development a common commitment among all sectors of society. We live in a very commercialized and consumptive world, and our country is no different from the rest of the world. All the frills of modernism have engulfed us and very rapidly. So we are not as conscious as we could have been about a sustainable lifestyle and a sustainable culture. In my field of work I have to deal with this challenge on a daily basis and create enough awareness and commitment that will help us to motivate and drive community action.

Q: From 20 years ago to now, is there a difference in perception of Emirati women? How so?

A: Very definitely so. Twenty years ago women in the UAE were just beginning to be aware of the potential role they can play in the society, economy and nation. Today women pursue education with the aim of having a professional pursuit and with the zeal to make it big. Sky is the limit for the Emirati woman of today, 20 years ago she was just learning to spread her wings. And the world today recognizes that Emirati women have the potential to be leaders. So the perception of the Emirati woman has changed drastically I would say.

Q: In terms of a green nation and sustainability, what do you hope to contribute to UAE in the next couple of years/ decades? And where do you see women in the UAE? Given that there are already a few women ministers, would you be happy to see a woman leader/ head of state in our lifetime?

A: I have great hopes of the UAE becoming a green nation and fielding a green economy. Our leadership is already committed to a green and sustainable vision and with the work that is already underway we are sure to make great strides in sustainable development as a nation.

I see women in the UAE in the driving seat of growth and progress. With women playing a powerful role at every step the future is an open slate. We can curve out the role we want for ourselves. However we still have a great deal to be accomplished. What the future holds for us cannot be predicted, we shall have to wait and watch the journey and where it takes us.

nivriti@khaleejtimes.com