Mohammad inspires excellence

Dubai: Ambulance driver Zainab Juma is grateful to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for not just encouraging Emirati women to work, but giving them all the opportunities to excel.

The 32-year-old Emirati woman has broken the gender barrier and has been working as an ambulance driver with the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services for the past three years.

"I am the only female ambulance driver so far, and I hope the honour given to me will encourage more Emirati girls to consider being in this field. This is not just a job, it's a humanitarian service," Zainab told Gulf News on the fifth anniversary of Shaikh Mohammad's accession as Ruler of Dubai.

Zainab was honoured by Shaikh Mohammad in 2009 as part of the Dubai Government Excellence Programme awards.

She is one of the unsung heroes such as public bus drivers, ambulance drivers and bus inspectors honoured by Shaikh Mohammad.

Juma said: "The award showed my family, especially my sons, the value of being dedicated to your profession."