Panel for women’s uplift
By a staff reporter

DUBAI — His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, yesterday issued a decree establishing the Dubai Establishment for Women Development (DEWD) to enhance the leadership capacities of UAE women and to highlight their role in society.

Shaikh Mohammed also issued a decree appointing Shaikha Manal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, wife of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, as President of DEWD.

The newly-formed agency will launch projects and initiatives on women’s issues and raise awareness of their role in society.

It will also provide the government of Dubai with recommendations on laws that will affect women and encourage their participation in local, regional and international forums.

“We are extremely proud of the trust that Shaikh Mohammed has placed in us to lead this pioneering initiative, which will support women and provide them with the mandate to hold positions of responsibility in the government and private sector.”

“The DEWD will also help shape the global image of UAE women, and promote their achievements,” said Shaikha Manal. 

She added that the decree underscored the commitment and conviction of the UAE leadership to enhance the status of women, and highlight their crucial role in the development of the country.

Shaikha Manal said the organisation would not spare any effort to launch initiatives, conduct research and implement policies to increase the scope of job opportunities for women and enable them to prove themselves in society

Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of the DEWD as well as the Dubai Press Club, said that the decree was the most significant among the series of initiatives launched for UAE women.

“It opens new avenues of opportunity for women to voice their opinions and initiate action that will validate their potential to assume positions of responsibility,” she said.

Al Marri added that UAE women had achieved significant success across political, social, economical and cultural sectors.

The DEWD board will comprise Manal Shaheen, Executive Director–Sales, Marketing and Customer Service of Nakheel as Vice Chairperson. Other board members include Najla Mohammad Al Our, General Secretary for the UAE Cabinet; Sana Suhail, Assistant General Secretary of Executive Council; Maryam Mattar, Under-secretary of Public Health and Primary Healthcare-Ministry of Health (MOH); Hala Badri, Vice-President of Corporate Communications, du; Najla Al Awadi, General Manager, One TV; Dr Lamees Al Shamsi, businesswoman, and Azza Al Sharhan, Director of Emirates National Development Programme (ENDP).

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