Dr Nawal Al-Hosany is permanent representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency
August 26, 2021
Since the launch of the UAE’s National Strategy for the Empowerment of Emirati Women, we have made great strides forward. Today, the country has become a global leader in female empowerment.
One of the primary goals of this initiative – which also gave rise to the occasion of Emirati Women’s Day – was to make the UAE among the top 25 countries in the world for female empowerment. Six years later, it ranks 18th globally and first in the region, according to the UN Development Programme Gender Inequality Index.
Furthermore, government statistics from 2020 show that 77 per cent of Emirati women enroll in higher education after secondary school. And women comprise 70 per cent of all university graduates in the country. Perhaps most importantly for the future of our society, more than half of the government university graduates in the Stem fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are women.
The vision of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, is undoubtedly coming to fruition.
Perhaps the greatest testament of this vision to empower Emirati women through education and employment to date is the Emirates Mars Mission. Eighty per cent of the science team behind the mission, which became the first in history to launch a probe from the Arab world into the Martian atmosphere, were women. And the Emirati woman who spearheaded the effort, Sara Al Amiri, Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and the UAE’s Minister of Advanced Technology, was named among Time magazine’s Next 100 most influential people in the world.
More and more Emirati women’s voices are being heard at the top echelons of business, enterprise and government on the global stage. Indeed, the UAE had the highest number of women – 23 - on the Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab businesswomen in 2020.
But the UAE is never content to rest on its laurels. Especially when it comes to issues that are critical to national sustainable development, such as female empowerment.
Earlier this year, Sheikha Fatima, who is affectionately called the Mother of the Nation, launched the UAE National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. It is a first for a member state of the Gulf Co-operation Council, demonstrating the UAE’s relentless commitment to advancing the role of women, not just in peace and security, but in all aspects of life.
Rania R Saeed, left, and Futtaim Beljaflah have recently completed their personal training certification and are now teaching cycling classes at Crank, Al Quoz. Courtesy Crank
Brigadier Nabeel Abdullah Alrida, Deputy Director of Operations, honours Lt. Khatoon Ali Al Balooshi who has been serving the force in Dubai since 1977. Wam
Fahima Falaknaz hits the pads with UAE national team coach Mohammed Al Shebli. Pawan Singh / The National
Laila Al Dhaheri. Courtesy: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation
Badreya Al Marzooqi. Courtesy: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation
Amal Al Nuaimi. Courtesy: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation
Noran Al Bannai followed her dreams by opening up her own coffee shop. Khushnum Bhandari for The National
Dana Al Hosani has turned her passion for volunteering into her vocation. Antonie Robertson/The National
Amal Al Mansouri records an Arabic language voiceover for a cartoon for local television. Victor Besa / The National
Mariam Othman, Emirati Founder and CEO of Rashid Centre for People with Determination.
Kholoud Al Kendi, founder of Retaj Design, is a young Emirati entrepreneur who left her job as a banker to follow her passion for graphic design Reem Mohammed / The National
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Shaima Al Jabry, 39, at her home in Baniyas, is the first Emirati to attain a licence as a life coach on October 17, 2018. (Khushnum Bhandari/ The National)
DUBAI , UNITED ARAB EMIRATES , MAY 9 – 2018 :- Abeer Al Shahi , First Emirati to specialise in sign language during the event held at Meydan hotel in Dubai. ( Pawan Singh / The National ) For News. Story by Ruba Haza
Engineering graduates topped the Ministry of Education study called Majors in Demand. Chris Whiteoak / The National
One of Emirate Airline's youngest pilots, Bakhita Al Muhairi, 23, an Emirati, is pictured in the cockpit alongside a colleague.
As our nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of its foundation, we must continue walking the path that has brought us this far, to a place where the UAE has earned its place among the most progressive countries in the world. But now we must look further ahead: to the next 50 years.
Just as they are vital to the UAE’s space programme, women must be integral to important industries of the future, such as renewable energy, to advance the process of sustainable development.
Globally, women still only account for one third of all employees in renewable energy, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s latest data. The UAE can, and must, be a leader and stay ahead of the global curve in this instance. By carrying the momentum of young girls studying Stem fields into renewables, we can unleash the economic potential of our young women and our nation.
We cannot afford to overlook the social and economic dividends of gender equality for the global economy
Educating more girls is the first step to building the economy of the future. The next, and just-as-important step, is getting them into an industry that can affect positive change. To this end, we must explore ways of engaging the Emirati community, through collaborations between energy sector players and schools, so that our young women are immersed in a sector that can turn the tide against climate change. The aim is for them to begin building a legacy of positive change in the vital years ahead of what’s being described as the “decade of action”.
By taking these steps now, the UAE can amplify its impact on the global stage. Speaking at last year’s Global Women’s Forum in Dubai, International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva said that genuine gender equality could lead to more than $170 trillion in additional wealth. And our region, she said, is vital to realising this.
“If we were to bring the Middle East [on] par with the more advanced economies…over the next years, there would be $1 trillion more in output for everyone to share,” Ms Georgieva said.
We cannot afford to overlook the social and economic dividends of gender equality for the global economy. Imagine how that additional wealth could be used to fund research and development efforts into climate change and carbon capture technologies. How it could be used to accelerate a green hydrogen economy. How it could be deployed to achieve fair access to clean energy for all across the developed and developing world alike. Fortunately, the UAE is home to bold, courageous and ambitious young women who are already imagining how to make this a reality.
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring:Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), EsekaiaDranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), JaenBotes (Exiles), KristianStinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), EmosiVacanau (Harlequins), NikoVolavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), ThinusSteyn (Exiles)
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Ticket prices
Golden circle - Dh995
Floor Standing - Dh495
Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
