'I am a mum and a CEO, not a mum or CEO'

Deauville - Shamsa Saleh, the CEO of the Dubai Women Establishment, spoke at the session titled "UAE Gender Balance Council: A new reference point" at the forum which will conclude today.

At the 11th Women's Forum Global Meeting in Deauville, Shamsa Saleh, the CEO of the Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) and General Coordinator of the UAE Gender Balance Council, spoke about how the women of the UAE have set a precedent of empowerment for the region.
She spoke at the session titled "UAE Gender Balance Council: A new reference point" at the forum which will conclude today.
The UAE Gender Balance Council - established earlier this year by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, - is responsible for the development of policies designed to empower Emirati women and enhance their role in the nation. The UAE is currently the only country in the world with a government entity dedicated entirely for this purpose. It is currently chaired by Shaikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
"Gender equality is achieved when people are able to access and enjoy the same rewards, resources and opportunities, regardless of whether they are a woman or a man. So how are we making a dream for many nations and societies a reality in the UAE? By building forward thinking and strong policies that support this idea," Saleh said on Thursday.
In her remarks, Saleh noted that women hold 66 per cent of all public sector jobs and 30 per cent of all decision-making positions within the government sector, and that women make up 71 per cent of Emirati graduates.
"Women represent 49.3% of the UAE population, and our active participation in the economy and society will reap insurmountable benefits, however, gender balance is...about happiness," she added. "The happiness of women who never have to comprise on family or career, and the happiness of men who share a common vision for the continued progress of their society and nation."
Saleh also spoke of the importance of gender balance.
"As an Arab woman, I am a mother and a CEO, not a mother or CEO," she said. "In the UAE, we strive to find gender balance, which will allow every Arab woman to not feel obliged to sacrifice their family life in order to succeed in the workplace. In other words, work and family must go hand-in-hand."
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• UAE