The important and highly critical role of women in Emirati society cannot be overstated. Equality of the sexes has been a cornerstone principle of the very union of the UAE itself, and the nation is progressive in ensuring the application of this in every aspect and corner of life.
Years ago, the idea of an Emirati woman driving a train would have seemed impossible — there were no trains for starters! But step forward Mariam Al Safar, the first Emirati to be trained by Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to drive a Metro train. While Dubai's state-of-the-art Metro system is driverless, the trains themselves can be switched to manual mode, allowing the units to be driven like conventional trains.
Al Safar is a living example of the roles women play at the work place. By taking on such jobs, Emirati women are empowered on an equal basis, proving that their sex is simply not an issue nor an obstacle in everyday life. Today, Emirati women are at the controls in cockpits, heading national and international concerns, sitting at the cabinet table, playing an equal role in the economic, social and political development of the UAE. What better way to enshrine the founding leaders' vision of equality 40 years ago?
