Emirates Women Award: Recognising excellence

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Emirates Women Award: Recognising excellence

Celebrating the success of extraordinary women in the UAE, the Dubai Quality Group (DQG) gave away the Emirates Women Award (EWA) on Tuesday, at the Hotel Grand Hyatt.

by

Dhanusha Gokulan

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Published: Thu 31 May 2012, 9:36 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 12:09 PM

Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum with the winners of the Emirates Women Award in Dubai on Tuesday. — KT photos by Juidin Bernarrd

The EWA recognised successful Emirati and Arab women for their contributions to various public and private sectors.

The event was held under the patronage,and in the presence of Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of the Emirates Group and Chief Executive of the Emirates airline Honorary Patron of the Dubai Quality Group, and was graced by the presence of Mariam bint Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs.

Shaikha Budoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Chairperson of the Sharjah Ladies Club, Chairperson of Al Qasba Development Authority and Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), was honoured for her contributions to the social, economic and cultural development in the UAE. Shaikha Qasimi said: “The UAE has given me a lot and I pledge to continue to work faithfully to give back something of what it has already given me.”

Managing a fully functional hospital in Al Ain and at the same time raising three children is not a small task, said Dr Taif Sabah Al Sarraj, Chief of Clinical Support Services at Tawam Hospital, Al Ain.

“It requires years of hard work, and women are not like men. We multi-task. It’s not just the business we look into, but also raising a family that is equally important to us,” said Al Sarraj, who walked away with the career achievement award at the Emirates Women Awards (EWA).

A mother of three, she successfully manages Al Tawam hospital. “This is the first time I applied to the EWA. It feels wonderful because this means a lot to me as a woman.

Men have one role — that is to achieve in business. But women juggle so many roles,” she added. Al Sarraj said that as compared to a few years ago, Emirati women have come very far. “We can still do with more women in the medical profession. Most of them shy away from this field due to the strenuous work timings,” she said.According to the EWA Supreme Committee, the other winners in different categories are: Amal Sultan Moosa Al Halyan (Innovation); Salha Obaid Ghobash (Community Contribution); Taif Sabah Al Sarraj (Career Achievements); Dr Salwa Abdullah Al Suwaidi (Strategic and Financial Planning); and Dr Jeehan Abdul Ilah Abdul Qadir (Leadership). The three overall winners were Shahla Ahmed Abdul Razak in the professional category; and Rafia Helal bin Drai and Lama Bazzari in the business category.

“You have to put your heart and soul into what you do. Believe in your vision to succeed. Now, a lot of women are coming out of their comfort zones and taking risks,”said Lama Bazzari, CEO and founder of NStyle International, a Palestinian-Jordanian national and a mother of two. While Dr Layla Mohammed Al Marzouqi and Ahlam Mohammed Saleh Sheiban emerged runners-up in the professional category, Olimpia Tabbach came runner-up in the business category.

Saleh Janeeh, DQG Chairman said: “In its successive years, EWA has shown that in the world of business excellence, there are no limits to innovation by women, just as there are no limits to development and ambitions.” Du and the Abu Dhabi Business Women Council support the EWA.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com


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