Portrait of a Nation: Youth must adapt to new realities, says deputy chief of Emirates Foundation

The daughter of a diplomat stationed abroad, Maytha Al Habsi says her parents went to great lengths to ensure that she absorbed Emirati culture.

‘You have to hold on to your heritage ... and be open, tolerant and progressive,’ says Maytha Al Habsi. Ravindranath K / The National

Maytha Al Habsi says adapting to new realities is vital for Emirati youth because jobs and technologies are changing so rapidly.

ABU DHABI // As an Emirati who spent much of her formative years abroad, Maytha Al Habsi felt she was in danger of never fully learning her culture or language.

“I meet them all the time: educated, competent, experienced young Emiratis who struggle due to their limited grasp of their heritage,” the 37-year-old said.

The daughter of a diplomat stationed abroad, Ms Al Habsi said her parents went to great lengths to ensure that she absorbed Emirati culture. This included after-school Arabic and Islamic lessons as well as celebrating the UAE’s public holidays by wearing traditional dress and eating traditional food.

“If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be in the position I am today,” said the deputy chief executive of the Emirates Foundation.

Having helped to launch the philanthropic organisation in 2005 and overseeing the creation of Takatof – a 60,000-strong social volunteering initiative – as well as running its six flagship projects, Ms Al Habsi said she owed much of her success to her family’s support.

This included her father’s backing when she switched from engineering to graphic design and communication one year into her studies at the American University in Washington DC.

“He told me ‘make your own decision, but be responsible for your own decision’ and it’s a lesson I still apply to myself to this day,” she said.

Soon after landing a job in communications with Dolphin Energy, a Mubadala company, upon her return to the UAE, the opportunity with the foundation came up. It was the perfect fit.

Being able to use the communication skills she learnt from her parents helped her to engage Emirati youth in programmes while her experience of living overseas allowed her to meet the demands of working in a multicultural environment.

“You have to hold on to your heritage – your language, culture, religion – while at the same time being open, tolerant and progressive,” Ms Al Habsi said.

She has been able to balance her family and career thanks to the support of her husband. To ensure that neither her profession or life at home suffer, Ms Al Habsi makes certain one does not encroach on the other.

“I’ve seen too many examples where women have successful careers at the expense of their situation at home,” said the mother of three toddlers.

Adapting to new realities is important, not only in her position and organisation, but for all Emirati youth, she said.

“Even for the people we hire, it’s no longer just about your education and personality. You must have the soft and technical skills required for the jobs. We used to contact volunteers by SMS. Now, it’s social media. Yesterday Instagram was popular, today it’s Snapchat – it changes fast and you have to keep up.”

Although Ms Al Habsi said she was happy with the progress made by women in the country, she looks forward to seeing more women on executive boards.

As a female Emirati professional, she said she never felt she was at an advantage or disadvantage in her career.

“I was always judged on my abilities and potential but the important thing was my talents were recognised,” Ms Al Habsi said. “Organisations have to single out those with special skills and foster their abilities.”