LADIES TAKE SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS BY STORM

The Society of Engineers, a premier association working for the interests of engineers in the UAE, announced the formation of its Lady Engineers Wing at a specially organised function at the Dubai Municipality Hall in Deira last week.

By Mohan Gunderao (Contributor)

Published: Mon 28 Jun 2004, 2:48 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 12:52 AM

The SOE represents over 10,000 engineers, including 459 lady engineers, out of the total 42,000 who currently work in the country.

Based in Dubai, with branches at Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, the association has both UAE nationals and expat engineers as members. Presiding over the function, SOE president and vice-president, Mater Mohammed Al Tair and Dr Khaleel Alhosini explained the reasons for the creation of an exclusive Ladies Wing.

They pointed out that currently over 3,000 lady engineers work across the nation in civil, electrical, mechanical departments of the government, Municipalities and private organisations. "Lady engineers work very hard, play a crucial role in the society, in building up our nation. Unfortunately, there hasn't been a separate platform to address the various professional challenges and problems they constantly face. Barring the small number of our existing lady members, the rest of the UAE's lady engineers aren't even aware of this organisation that can help and support them. We formed the Ladies Wing to provide an umbrella unit for this large number," explained Al Tair.

He said the organisation's nine-member managing committee currently has two lady members, a number it plans to increase in the near future. At the end of the function, Al Tair and Dr Alhosini announced the appointments of Mona Kamaly and Samah Marwan, as chairwoman and vice-chairwoman of the new 15-member Ladies Wing managing committee. The remaining 13 posts will be filled as membership of the new branch increases, they said.

They added that the Ladies Wing will get in touch with lady engineers across the nation, explain the objectives of the new branch and urge them to become members to reap the organisation's myriad benefits. The new branch will act as a common platform to share professional experience and ideas, talk about job-related difficulties, and help members overcome the profession's challenges and problems.

It will also act as a support group to encourage lady engineer members and even help them find jobs. Members located in other Emirates could get in touch with the Society's local branch there to interact with colleagues. Al Tair and Dr Alhosini pointed out that the Society of Engineers is fortunate to enjoy the patronage of none other than the UAE President His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who has graciously extended all the facilities, help and support to the organisation. "So, we urge all the lady engineers to come forward and join the Ladies Wing of our organisation," said Al Tair. A number of lady engineers from the UAE, as well as expats from diverse nations attended the function.