"I was born in Abu Dhabi in 1973, but my family are originally from Yemen," says Fatma Gafoor, Human Resources Assistant at Shell Dubai. "My father and mother came to the UAE over 30 years ago when my father was offered a job with the Sharjah Police Force, and we have lived as a family in Sharjah ever since.

"I have four brothers and I am the second eldest child in my family. My elder brother works for Citibank, another for EPCCO and the other two are studying Computer Science in the USA.

"I had my primary and secondary education in Sharjah, and at 18 I also went to work for the Sharjah Police in their Human Resources Department at Sharjah Airport. I stayed for three and a half years, during which time I was trained in HR and other management activities, particularly in all aspects of security.

"When I left the Police, I joined a pharmaceutical company and worked in both the HR and Marketing Departments. At the same time, I enrolled with the South Eastern University in Dubai to study for an external degree in Computer Information Systems. The course was very demanding as, during the week, I had to work in the evenings when I had finished my daytime job. This left very little time for fun as, even at the weekends, if I wasn't catching up on sleep I was studying. I stayed with the pharmaceutical company for two years.

"My next job was once again as an HR Assistant but with the UAE office of the Aden Free Zone Project. The job provided me with the opportunity to work with fellow countrymen, and was especially interesting because we were involved with international organisations, such as the World Bank. After a year, the Aden Free Zone office moved to the Yemen and they asked me to go with them, but as my family and life are now here in the UAE, I rejected the offer.

"I then had some temporary jobs, before finally moving to Shell. My objective in changing jobs has always been to find a better job, with a better company. I want greater opportunities which offer me a chance to learn more and improve myself.

"With Shell I have learned a great deal. I have found the work interesting, although my job does involve many day-to-day activities, such as preparing paperwork for visas, immigration procedures and motor vehicle registration, and dealing with telephone and electricity accounts. Another aspect of the job involves co-ordinating training with the various Higher Colleges of Technology.

"However, with the opening of a new E&P office in Dubai, with a staff of more than 100 people to support Shell's new offshore development in the oil fields of Nowrooz and Soroosh in Iran, I will be busier than ever.

"Working for a multinational like Shell has both benefits and disadvantages. I am proud to work for such a well-known and reputable company. I also have the opportunity to receive good training which will enable me to climb up the ladder to a better job. All staff need to be motivated to stay happy and effective in their work, and I hope this will remain the case with Shell because I would like to stay with the company and grow my career with Shell.

"However," says Fatma, "there are disadvantages when it comes to being a woman at Shell. I believe that women have fewer opportunities for promotion in this very male environment, and we are on a lower pay scale than men. But at least I feel that I can voice these concerns."

Fatma finished her Computer Information Systems course at the end of 1999. "This has left me with time on my hands, which I have been enjoying very much," she says. "However, I am now planning for further education as I love to study. I look forward to taking my Masters Degree, then a PhD - and, hopefully, another step up the rung in the career ladder at Shell…"