Sarah Mohammad Ameen Falaknaz is one of 20 women in the 40-member FNC. Victor Besa / The National
Sarah Mohammad Ameen Falaknaz is one of 20 women in the 40-member FNC. Victor Besa / The National
Sarah Mohammad Ameen Falaknaz is one of 20 women in the 40-member FNC. Victor Besa / The National
Sarah Mohammad Ameen Falaknaz is one of 20 women in the 40-member FNC. Victor Besa / The National

Creating a sustainable world demands greater female involvement


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Gender balance has been one of the UAE's core aspirations since the foundation of the nation nearly 50 years ago. On this Emirati Women's Day, we can look back proudly at how far we have come. Today, women are integral to our burgeoning public sector, energy sector and government. And yet, we all know that the work is not yet done.

I have been immensely proud to witness a raft of young Emirati women breaking barriers to lead the country and the region towards a new era of modernisation. Whether they have been pioneers in the renewable energy space and or strong female leaders in Emirati diplomacy, our women are presenting the UAE to the wider world as an open, fair and globally competitive economy founded on the virtues of endeavour and ambition.

While we may have become a regional and even global leader in female participation and representation, we must continue to involve more women in the work we do at home and abroad. The critical thinking, agility and, ultimately, the success of our public offices, our economic diversification and the efficiency of our renewable energy projects depend on it.

There is no doubt that the UAE has made giant leaps in recent years. In the public sector, government employment for Emirati women stood at 11.6 per cent in 1995. Today, women hold 66 per cent of government jobs and 33 per cent of leadership positions. What’s more, the UAE’s Federal National Council holds 20 female elected representatives – the same number as male elected representatives. The 50-50 split has seen the UAE rise to the top of the female parliamentary representation index of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2020.

Gender balance was important to the UAE’s Founding Father. Sheikh Zayed strongly believed that true progress can only be achieved when we empower women. He described the women of the UAE as the “makers of generations”.

This vision has also been central to the seminal work of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, who is also chairwoman of the General Women's Union. A major force in the formation of the first women’s organisation in the UAE, Sheikha Fatima has provided female Emiratis with a model of strength, ambition and determination that they can aspire to through her efforts to empower and enable young women across the country.

Today, this vision is becoming a reality. We have 10 female cabinet ministers responsible for some of the country’s most critical and progressive government portfolios. We have a UAE Gender Balance Council. And women are leading in vital sectors outside government. For instance, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi is led by two women. Adnoc has three female chief executives in its leadership mix. And we have a female chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group.

With this dynamic mix of female leaders at the top of a range of industries and sectors, it has become self-evident that a country’s national competitiveness correlates strongly with various metrics of gender equality. Investing in women enhances productivity, recruitment and retention, and it creates a more inclusive work environment.

Sheikh Zayed strongly believed that true progress can only be achieved when we empower women. Getty Images
Sheikh Zayed strongly believed that true progress can only be achieved when we empower women. Getty Images
We have seen how greater female involvement in the labour force can advance a low-carbon, sustainable industry

Nowhere is this more important than in the renewable energy space, in which I work, and which continues to drive great change and progress from within the UAE. The gender equality that globally competitive nations strive for today should not fall short in the renewable energy sector simply because it is a traditionally male-dominated field. Rather, this should remind us that renewable energy is an industry that seeks urgent realignment and reassessment. Little progress will be achieved by resting on the laurels of outdated and even repressive traditions.

We have seen across the world how a more prominent role for women has led to great community involvement. Moreover, we have seen how greater female involvement in the labour force can advance a low-carbon, sustainable industry and facilitate social changes that advance their standing in societies, such as we have seen with some of UN Women’s projects in Tanzania, Guatemala and other developing countries in their pursuit of the fifth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): gender equality.

This should come as no surprise. And when we consider the drastic changes in mindset and action needed to get the world on track to reach not only the UN’s SDGs, but also the global warming goals set by the Paris Climate Agreement, a diversity of well-informed, analytical minds from an array of backgrounds is critical to overcoming what is perhaps our greatest existential challenge ever: that of turning the tide on climate change and transitioning to a green energy future.

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany says pushing the envelope for greater female representation in the renewable energy sector is about being able to meet the categorical imperatives of our planet. Victor Besa / The National
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany says pushing the envelope for greater female representation in the renewable energy sector is about being able to meet the categorical imperatives of our planet. Victor Besa / The National

There is nothing inherently masculine or feminine about either of these imminent challenges. The planet will not respond differently to solutions pioneered by either gender; it will only recognise and respond to the momentous shifts in human behaviour and consumption habits required to keep our earth breathing long into the future. And the gender mix of the people making the decisions, which can affect these changes in behaviour and consumption, should reflect this truth.

For us in the UAE, pushing the envelope for greater female representation in industry is not simply the right thing to do, from a gender equality perspective, it is about being able to meet the categorical imperatives of a planet crying out for sustainable solutions. As we forge ahead with our plans to meet the UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050, the UN’s SDGs and the Paris Agreement, I can guarantee you that women will be instrumental in our success.

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany is a permanent representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

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UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

RECORD%20BREAKER
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The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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