Emirates Businesswomen Award to be presented by H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum on May 16

Shell and Dubai Quality Group will honor HE Sheikha Fatima for her achievements

May 11, 2005

This year's Emirates Businesswomen Award, organised by Shell with the support of Dubai Quality Group (DQG), will be presented by H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation and patron of Dubai Quality Group, at a glittering ceremony to be held at Grand Hyatt Dubai on May 16, 2005.

Two winners and two runners-up selected from five finalists will be honoured at the ceremony. The Emirates Businesswomen Award is an annual event that recognises the important role women play in society. The award is open to Nationals and expatriates from the UAE. The awards are given in two categories of Business Owners and Professionals.

The ceremony will also honour H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, wife of the late H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and president of UAE Women's Association, and H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi, UAE Minister for Finance, on their achievements and contribution to the welfare of women.

"The Emirates Businesswomen Award has emerged as an ideal platform for creating role models for the UAE Society. It follows a fair and meticulous system to assess the entries and choose winners that will inspire other women," said Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Shell External Affairs Manager. "Shell is delighted to be part of this initiative as part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility."

Abdul Qader Obaid Ali, Chairman, Dubai Quality Group said, "Our association with Shell Markets Middle East in this award was to manage the award in line with our objective to grow DQG as the organization providing the imprimatur of quality initiatives in Dubai, with the intention of singling out extraordinary women with achievements in the professional and business arena. We are looking forward to recognize the winners and in advance I would like to thank all the participants who applied for the award it proves their dedication and stamina. This award is designed not only to recognize winners but to be used as a self-assessment tool for continuous development".

Judith Barton, Chief Assessor of Emirates Businesswomen Award, said: "We have observed the highest standards of assessment in short-listing and choosing the final winners. We received quality entries that demonstrated that women in the UAE are reaching new heights of achievements in business."

The supreme jury comprises well-known professional and business leaders, including Raja Al Gurg, Chairwoman of the UAE Business Council and President of Dubai Business Women Council, Dr. Rawda Al Mutawwa, Head of Business Women Council in Abu Dhabi, Meshool Kanoo, Deputy Chairman, Kanoo Group, Anita Mehra Homayoun, Director Marketing and Corporate Communications, Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Dr. Habib Al Mulla, Chairman of Dubai Financial Services Authority.

H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak to be honoured at the Emirates Businesswomen Award

Honour in recognition of her contribution to the welfare and well-being of women in the UAE

May 10, 2005

H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, wife of the late H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and president of UAE Women's Association, will be honoured during the Emirates Business Women Award ceremony, in recognition of her contribution to the welfare of women. The Emirates Business Women Award to be held on May 16, 2005 at the Grand Hyatt Dubai is being organised by Shell and Dubai Quality Group.

H.H. Sheikha Fatima has been known for her leadership and dedicated commitment to the cause of promoting the welfare and well-being of women in the United Arab Emirates. Sheikha Fatima founded the Abu Dhabi Women's society in 1973, which was the first women's society in the Emirates. In 1975 she founded the UAE Women's Federation, which was formed to create an opportunity for women to realise their full potential through education and work related training.

Sheikha Fatima has been an active advocate on issues related to women's equality and women's rights. She has been campaigning to significantly increase the employment of women in Government sectors and to ensure suitable conditions at the workplace for working mothers. Her efforts in putting women on the path to gaining access and participation in the political and economic institutions, has also been commendable.

Sheikha Fatima's leadership and unwavering commitment to the cause of women's empowerment, gender equality and the welfare of the community at large has been truly outstanding. She successfully used the Women's Federation as a medium to advance the status of women in society and help them to achieve their full potential. She consolidated the women's movement and gave it a sense of direction at the national level and later led the Women's Federation towards taking regional and global perspectives into account.

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Shell External Affairs Manager, said, "H.H. Sheikha Fatima has been a role model to thousands of women across the Arab world who drew inspiration from her efforts in various societal aspects like well being of children, orphans, aged and the disabled. By honouring Sheikha Fatima on the occasion of the Emirates Business Women Award, we are making a humble attempt to pay tribute to the huge contribution she has made to women's welfare in the region."

The role of Sheikha Fatima in voluntary services and charity is also noteworthy. She has provided both personal and financial support for non-governmental and civil society organisations, to further community participation in developmental and humanitarian assistance to the needy.

Sheikha Fatima was instrumental in providing free state education to girls and ensuring adult literacy in the UAE. Using the various branches of the Women's Federation, Sheikha Fatima ensured that the opportunity to enter literacy programmes were made available to older women, not only in cities and larger towns but also in smaller settlements throughout the country.

"We are grateful to H.H. Sheikha Fatima for empowering women in the UAE and helping them believe in their abilities to assume leadership roles in various economic and political spheres. She has instilled a sense of 'giving' in the minds of women, for whom. Sheikha Fatima has been a pillar of strength. We are certain that more women will follow in her footsteps to build a strong, developed and prosperous society," concluded Al Mahmoudi.