Dubai: Women in the region are breaking down misconceptions about them throughout the world, speakers at the Global Women’s Forum said during a session titled Voices from the Gulf.
This session aims to look beyond some of the most common stereotypes and focus on real-life achievements of and challenges for women in the region.
Dr Hessa Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to Spain, said officials were initially surprised to see a women ambassador coming from the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
“When I was made the ambassador to Spain by our great leadership, this broke down perceptions. During my foreign diplomacy work officials who met me were surprised because they were expecting to meet a man. But their surprise turned into admiration,” she said.
Al Otaiba said the UAE leadership and having Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, as a role model encouraged Emirati women to play a vital role in society.
“Thirty-three per cent of leadership roles in the UAE are filled by Emirati women and the UAE has eight ministers in the government,” she said.
According to statistics shared during the session, GCC female labour force participation is 47 per cent in the UAE, 51 per cent in Qatar, 44 per cent in Kuwait, 29 per cent in Oman and 20 per cent in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Basmah Omair, CEO of Al Sayedah Khadijah Bint Khawilid Centre, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Saudi Arabia, said her country has made many acheivments in women joining the workforce.
“The trade ministry did not allow women to invest in construction. After many discussions in a spam of three years, women are now able to invest in the field of construction. There has been a change in perception in the country, when people in Saudi Arabia were surveyed most were with women working and driving,” she said.
Ahmad Al Mukhaini, Chairperson SASLO Legal Training Centre, Oman, said women should be involved in legislation and policy making.
“The law should be made with a feminist point of view as well as a masculine one to insure that their rights are preserved.”
