Emirati Women's Day Special 2021

HH Sheik ha Fatima bint Mubar ak , Mother of the Nation

WO MEN: A mbi ti ons & I nspi rati on f or Nex t 50 Years

Ed i t o r i a l Founder | Executive Editor

Sabin M uzaffar Human Rights Advisor

M elanie Bublyk Regional Programs Manager Americas

Rochelle Dean Communications Manager | O ffshore Correspondent

Chiamaka Adinnu

Design By Sabin Muzaffar

O ffice 3204 Latidfa Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE PO Box: 125344 media@anankemag.com www.anankemag.com Content can only be republished with proper accreditation to Ananke (website URL), writer's name and link to the original article.

Images & Data Sources Accredited in articles

Marking Emirati Women's Day on August 28th, 2021, we are thrilled to showcase inspirational HERstories from across the United Arab Emirates. Today, we celebrate the vision of UAE's leadership that promotes and cultivates a culture of tolerance, inclusion and diversity! We celebrate the very distinguished Emirati woman and their non-Emirati sisters as well as they leave an indelible mark on history.

Happy Emirati Women's Day

Sabin Muzaffar Executive Editor

HH Sheik ha Fatima bint Mubar ak , Mother of the Nation

HHSheikha Fat ima bint Mubar ak, Mother of the Na tion

HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak is known as both Mother of Sheikhs as well as Mother of the Nation. Her Highness is the UAE?s pioneering advocate for female rights, dedicating her life towards women?s empowerment and development both regionally and globally.

The spouse of the UAE founder, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, she is the Founder and Chairwoman of the General Women?s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

According to the Mother of the Nation website: ?Since the sixties of the last century, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak paid special attention to women?s issues, for Her Highness believes that upon women?s empowerment and advancement rests the renaissance of the entire society, and thus Her Highness is keen on following up women?s affairs on the local, regional and international levels.?

In 1973, Her Highness founded the first women?s assembly ever followed by the establishment of the Women?s Union in 1975. In 2003, she established the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood in 2003 and Family Development Foundation in 2006.

Her Highness has played an instrumental role in women?s economic empowerment in the form of female literacy, representation in government, sports and culture through campaigns and forming various, much needed establishments. Her immense body of work has been lauded the world over with UNIFEM describing Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak as a ?Champion of Women?s Rights.?

Dr Raj a Easa Al Gur g Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG), is a well-known businesswoman in the region. She has achieved laurels for her stellar leadership of the Group under the tutelage of her father, the Chairman, H.E. Easa Saleh Al Gurg, KCVO, CBE. Her counsel and valuable insights have significantly contributed to the growth and expansion of ESAG. She is the President of Dubai Business Women Council; Board member of the Dubai Chamber Of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and Dubai Women?s Association.

Dr. Al Gurg is the Deputy Chairperson of the National Bank of Fujairah and on the advisory board of Coutts Bank, the wealth division of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.

She is also on the Board of Trustees for the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives - one of the largest development and community foundations in the Middle East.

She is Vice Chairperson, Board of Trustees, for the Mohammad Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences and a member of the Board of Governors of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University. She was awarded with an Honorary Doctorate at Queen?s University Belfast for economics and also conferred the Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) honour by Amity University, India. Dr Raja Al Gurg is also the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Al Jalila Foundation, a

non-profit organisation whose mandate is to promote the UAE as a centre of excellence for medical research and education. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Emirates Schools Establishment, an independent entity which oversees the implementation of policies, strategies, and standards related to the education sector.

In 2020, Dr Raja Al Gurg was awarded the Legion of Honor, Chevalier (Knight) by President of France Emmanuel Macron, in appreciation of her outstanding efforts in strengthening the exceptional partnership between France and the UAE. Besides providing valuable counsel to various business groups and international trade alliances, Dr. Al Gurg spends considerable time in several philanthropic, social and charitable activities, notably with the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Charity Foundation and the Al Jalila Foundation, a UAE organisation with global aspirations dedicated to making lasting and significant contributions in healthcare to transform lives.

Sou r ce: h t t ps:/ / w w w.algu r g.com /

H E Dr Aisha Bin Bishr Director General of the Smart Dubai Office ? a government entity for the Emirate of Dubai, Dr. Aisha helmed the creation of the ?Smart City Index?, a first of its kind benchmark for smart city implementation across the world in cooperation with ITU and the United Nations (UN). According to her LinkedIn profile, Dr.Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr has been ?entrusted with Dubai?s city-wide smart transformation by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice

President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.?

Representing Smart Dubai in numerous high-profile global events including Smart Cities Expo World Congress, South by South West and Mobile World Congress, Her Excellency is the only female from the Middle East to be a member of the Gartner Global CIO Research Board.

Dr. Aisha has also worked in the Ministry of Labor as an Assistant Undersecretary for support services responsible for developing and implementing strategic management, partnership development and change management policies. Her Excellency has over 20 years of experience in information, communication and technology (ICT) development in public and government sectors.

A graduate of a two-year young leaders program organized by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Centre for Leadership Development (MBRCLD), Dr. Aisha Bin Bishr holds a PHD in Management, Science, Technology and Innovation and Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Policy and Research on Engineering, Science and Technology from Manchester Business School. A Bachelor of Science (BS), Applied Science (Business Information Technology) from Higher Colleges of Technology , and a degree in Public Finance Management from Dubai School of Government as well as a graduate of Orchestrating Winning Performance from IMD Dr. Aisha is the Chairperson of the SDG 11 Global Council also serving as a Member of the World Economic Forum?s Global Future Councils. Her Excellency is the Chairperson of the Dubai Future Council for Digital Transactions, part of the Dubai Future Councils initiative, a futuristic platform launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council to assess and develop the future of key industry sectors in Dubai over the next 50 years.

HESheikha Lubna Al Qasimi Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi brought a revolutionary change in 2004 when she became the first woman ever to hold a ministerial position in the UAE?s cabinet as a Minister of Economy.

The UAE cabinet appointed her for three other posts after her role as the Minister of Economy. Founder of Tejari, president of Zayed University, and a distinguished board member of numerous

organizations, including Dubai Autism Centre and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi held the title of the most powerful woman in the Middle East in 2015 and in 2017 in Forbes?s List.

A passionate supporter of Women?s Rights and an ardent philanthropist, Her Excellency is also the first Emirati to receive the Clinton Global Citizen Award in 2016.

She was also selected as a Minister of State for Tolerance with the primary mission to ?promote tolerance and instill its core principles, as a fundamental value in UAE community and the globe. ?According to the UAE Cabinet website: ?Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi holds a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science from California State University of Chico, USA (1981), and an Executive Master ?s Degree in Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah, UAE (2002). Her Excellency holds Honorary Doctorates in Science from California State University of Chico, in Law from the University of Exeter (UK), and in Economics from the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Korea) respectively. Her Excellency was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from The Lebanese American University, Lebanon.?

UAE Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri is at the forefront of the UAE Mars Mission as theScience Lead and Deputy Project Manager at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.

According to the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology website: ?In her role as Minister of State for Advanced Technology, her Excellency spearheads the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology?s efforts to empower the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and promote research and development in the advanced science and technology sector, to create new industries that drive the shift towards a knowledge-based economy. This, in turn, contributes to the overall mandate of the Ministry to strengthen the UAE?s industrial base, ensure in-country value, and raise the competitiveness of local industries.?

HESar ah Al - Amir i Apart from being the Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, Her Excellency is also the Chairwoman of the Emirates Scientists Council, Chairwoman of the UAE Council for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Chairwoman of the Dubai Future Academy Board of Trustees, and Deputy Project Manager and Science Lead of the Emirates Mars Mission

(Hope Probe) at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).

Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri was the Director of Research and Developmental MBRSC, prior to her current roles, she established the Centre?s Knowledge and Research Department and ?put in place product assurance and functionality systems?.

She was also involved in DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2, and in the project development for KhalifaSat. The World Economic Forum honored Her Excellency as one of its 50 Young Scientists for her contributions to science, technology, and engineering in 2015.

During her international TED Talk in 2017, she talked about the first Arab initiative of reaching Mars: ?The project Hope is run by a team that is under 35, a team made up of 34 percent women? An entire nation is putting its hope in a team of youth and presenting a message to the region. ?Excellency Sarah Al Amiriwas the first Emirati to speak at an international TED stage event.

Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri holds a Bachelor 's and a Master ?s degree in Computer Engineering from the American University of Sharjah.

HE Reemal Hashimi

In October 2021, the much awaited Expo 2020 (postponed till 2021 due to the pandemic) will commence. The six-month long event was won in 2013 with HE Reem Al Hashimi as the Managing Director of Dubai?s World Expo 2020 bid.

Her Excellency is the UAE?s Minister of State for International Cooperation as well as the Chairperson of Dubai Cares since the launch of the organization in 2007. Dubai Cares is a philanthropic organization that supports quality education in developing countries The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation website states: In February 2016, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy was sworn in as Minister of State for International Cooperation, in the UAE?s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Additionally, she holds responsibility within the Cabinet, for the UAE?s bilateral relations with Sub Saharan African countries. Her Excellency was formerly Chairperson of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, which drives the UAE?s global competitiveness across many sectors.?

Her Excellency has and continues to manage, the Vice President?s Office for Political Affairs, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum ever since her first appointment as a minister in 2008.

Her Excellency holds the position of Managing Director of the Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee as well as Director General of the Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, in preparation for the upcoming national milestone.

After completing her undergraduate degree at Tufts University, earning a BA in

International Relations and French, Her Excellency received her MA degree from Harvard University. Her Excellency has also served as Commercial Attaché, and subsequently Deputy Chief, of the UAE Embassy to the United States of America, in Washington DC, prior to her position as a Minister of State.

HE Mona GhanemAl Mar r i

?The winds of change are blowing, and believe me you don?t want to be left behind,? HE Mona Al Marri stated in an interview.

A passionate advocate for women, HE Mona Ghanem Al Marri is the Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council. With a highly distinguished career in strategic communication and media, Her Excellency possesses many important titles to her name including Director General of the Dubai Government Media Office, President of the Dubai Press Club, Secretary General of the Arab Journalism Award, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Arab Media Forum, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Arab Social Media Pioneers Summit, and a member of the Emirates Experts Program. She is also the Managing Director and Chairperson of the Board of Directors -Dubai Women Establishment.

HE Mona Al Marri was selected by the World Economic Forum on the list of Young Arab Leaders for the year 2014 and was also granted membership in the Forum?s Global Agenda Councils.

Her Excellency is also member of the boards of directors of The Young Arab Leaders Foundation.

Lana Zaki Nusseibeh Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh presented her credentials as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations in New York in September 2013.

She also presented her credentials as non-resident Ambassador of the UAE to Grenada in November 2017.

Ambassador Nusseibeh currently serves as Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform ? a position she first assumed in 2018.She previously served as Vice-President of the General Assembly for the 72nd session. She has also served as President of the UN Women Executive Board in 2017, as Co-facilitator of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the

Revitalization of the UN General Assembly for the 71st session of the General Assembly, and as Co-facilitator for the overall review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2015.

Alongside the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, Ambassador Nusseibeh Co-Chairs the Friends of the Future of the UN (FFUN), a small group of Permanent Representatives who convene regularly for briefings and unscripted, substantive discussions on the most pressing issues affecting the future of the organization. In 2017, she was awarded the UAE Prime Minister 's Government Excellence Award (the UAE Medal of Pride).

Prior to her appointment as Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Nusseibeh served in several capacities within the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, establishing the Ministry?s Policy Planning Department in 2009 and serving as its first Director for three years. During this time, she was also the UAE Deputy Sherpa at the G20 Leaders? Summit under the Presidency of France in 2011. From 2010 ? 2011, she also served as the UAE Co-Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Previously, she was the Head of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Campaign Task Force at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Director of Research and Communications for the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs.

Ambassador Nusseibeh received an MA (Cantab) and BA (Hons) in History from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, and an MA with Distinction in Israeli and Jewish Diaspora Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London in 2003.

She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Security Council Report (SCR), and serves on the Advisory Board of The London School of Economics?Middle East Centre.

Content Source: UN

Sheikha Bodour bint Sul t an Al Qasimi

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimiis the founder of Kalimat Group, which is the UAE's first publishing house solely for publishing Arabic children's books. She is not only the founder of the Emirates Publishers Association and The UAE Board on Books for

Young People,Sheikha Bodour also become the first woman in the Arab world to be appointed President of the International Publishers Association (IPA) since the founding of the organisation in 1896.

In addition to this, she also spearheaded the

Advisory Committee that steered Sharjah's tenure as the UNESCO World Book Capital 2019.

According to a news release, Sheikha Bodour becomes the second woman globally to occupy the position of President of the International Publishers Association after Ana Maria Cabanellas of Argentina who had served as Vice President and President of the Association from 2004?8. She assumed the position officially in January 2021, which is one of the most influential positions in the book industry.

In 2007, Sheikha Bodour founded Kalimat Group and through its foundation, she has launched empowering initiatives with the aim of providing books to refugees as well as children affected by global conflicts.

She is also the Founder and Patron of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), UAE?s national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).

PublisHer is another platform founded by Sheikha Bodour that strives to empower women in the book industry through global women-led community of publishers.

HEReem BinKar am In 2016, Reem BinKaram became the director of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, helming numerous initiatives including Sharjah Business Women Council, Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, NAMA Fund, NAMA?s educational and development arm, and Souq Anwan.

Nama Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA) was founded in 2015 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah.

Reem was appointed as a member of the new board of Directors of the Sharjah Tatweer Forum (STF) in 2010 and has also served Director of Sharjah Children?s Centers (SCC) overseeing development of children with talent and a desire to realize their potential.

Serving on the board of Rubu Qarn (RQ), a foundation that was established for the purpose of creating UAE future leaders and innovators,Her Excellency also chairs the Pink Caravan Ride for Breast Cancer prevention and awareness.

Reem has a bachelor ?s degree in interior design from the American University of Sharjah and is a board member at UAE Girls Guide (UAEGG).

Reem BinKaram, Director of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA) on Emirati Women?s Day 2021

Reem BinKaram, Director of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA), underscored that the UAE?s female citizens have created an honourable model of partnership and self-development, which has seen them work hard to acquire the necessary skill sets to partake equally in realising the UAE?s vision and ambitions, and enable national progress. She also noted that Emirati women have done pioneering work across vital sectors, particularly as entrepreneurs and humanitarians. ?Looking back, Emirati women should be proud of what they have accomplished, for themselves and our great nation over the past 50 years. Today is a day to celebrate our leadership?s support, which the nation?s exemplary women leveraged to capitalise on the myriad opportunities they are offered. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, ?Mother of the Nation?and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of NAMA, for their consistent support, which has enabled Emirati women to shine at every level ? local, regional and global,?BinKaram added.

Mashael Al Al i Mashael Al Ali is the co-founder of the first business incubator in Dubai as part of recent regulations introduced by Dubai.

Mashael Al Ali (standing), Fatima AlShaikh (sitting)

Fat ima Al Shaikh Fatima AlShaikh is the co-founder of the membership-based co-working space that strives to promote design and innovation by encouraging creative entrepreneurs to chase their dreams and transform their ideas into unique projects.

Sal ma Al Mar r i An award-winning multimedia artist, Salma Al Marri?s work combines Arab art and culture with Western influences.

HHSheikha Lat ifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makt oum Her Highness is the Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and is alsoa member of Dubai Council, contributing to the vision for Dubai?s Next 50 years.

Daughter of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,has played a pivotal role in the resurgence of Dubai?s creative and cultural sector. For this purpose, Her Highness was also named winner of the First Arab Lady of the Year award in March 2021.

Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan bin Mohammed bin Hasher Al Maktoum belongs to one of the significant UAE?s ruling Al Maktoum family, to which the rulers of Dubai belong and led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the United Arab Emirates Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.

Recognized as an inspirational female trailblazer in the UAE aviation industry, Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum became the first woman to be appointed as First Lieutenant Pilot at Dubai Police in 2019.

Sheikha Mozah began her career as a Commercial First Officer Pilot at Emirates Airlines a year after successfully completing the ATPL (A) First Officer Programme at CAE Oxford Aviation Academy in 2016.

In 2019, she established and also currently chairs the Women in Aviation Association (SHEHANA).

Sheikha Mozah presented a working paper concerning Women Empowerment in the Aviation Industry at the 40th session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly.

Sheikha Mozah Al Makt oum

According to mozahalmaktoum.com: ?Dubai?s Crown Prince, (His Highness) Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, expressed great pride in his cousin, so he posted a photograph of himself and Sheikha Mozah on his Instagram account, congratulating her on her pioneering accomplishment of becoming the first member of the royal family to fly as a qualified commercial pilot for Emirates Airlines.?

?I hopethat my journey can serveas inspiration and encouragement to all young females searching for a path."- Sheikha Mozah

In July 2020, Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi was named Minister of Culture and Youth. She has previously served as Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, act as the key link between the Cabinet and the Federal National Council.

HE Nour a Al Kaabi

According to the UAE Cabinet website: ?Al Kaabi is Chairwoman of the Media Zone Authority - Abu Dhabi (MZA) and twofour54. She is also a board member of the UAE?s National Media Council, Abu Dhabi Media, Image Nation, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the United Arab Emirates University. H.E. Noura Al Kaabi holds B.A. in MIS from UAE University in 2001 and has also completed the Executive Leadership Programme from London Business School in 2011.?

Dr Amal Al Qubaisi is the first woman to be designated to the Federal National Council in 2006. During the Global Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, she said that women are essential in the pursuit of peace in the Middle East, ?? we live in one of the most conflicted regions in the world.

Hope is our secret. We should work together not alone, male and female, youth and all generations, and with all the different sectors, our scientists and thinkers.?

As she continues to be a source of inspirational leadership across the Middle East and beyond, Dr Amal Al Qubaisi also made history by becoming the first woman in the Arab world to also be elected as speaker of a national councilin 2015.

Dr Amal Al Qubaisi

Sheikha Hind bint Maj id Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), on Emirati Women?s Day

Sheikha Hind bint Majid Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), said Emirati Women?s Day this year marks a special celebration of honourable achievements of UAE?s female citizenry in realising the nation?s developmental goals over the past 50 years, As the nation consolidates its vision for sustainable and diversified progress for the next five decades, their evolving responsibility as equal partners in development only increases, given their proven track record of success in the UAE?s history. ?Emirati women have always gained strength and inspiration from the forward-looking vision of our wise leadership in the UAE and Sharjah. It is due to the patronage and strategic support of Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and Founder and Royal Patron of Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), that women have always succeeded in Sharjah, especially in their professional endeavours. In the empowerment and continued success of female entrepreneurs and businesswomen across the UAE, I see the fruits of the consistent efforts made since the formation of the Union,? she added.

HEHal a Badr i

Hala Badri is the Director General of the Culture and Arts Authority and was appointed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

With a diverse experience in oil and gas sector as well as entrepreneurship, sustainability, communications and media fields, Her Excellency has been a source of inspiration to women, both Emirati and non-Emirati, in the UAE. HE Hala Badri is on several board of directors that include Dubai Future Council on Media; International Media Investment Group; The Galilee Center for Child Culture; Dubai Women?s Establishment; Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA).

Ranked by Amwal Magazine among the top 50 most influential Arab women in the GCC economy, Her Excellency holds an Executive Master in E-Business from Zayed University and a Higher Diploma in Communication Technology (Journalism) from the Higher Colleges of Technology.

Image: mediaoffice.ae

Sheikha Jawaher Bint Abdul l ah Al Qasimi, Dir ect or of FUNN - Sha rja h Med ia Arts for Youth a nd Child ren a nd Sha rja h Interna tiona l Film Festiva l (SIFF)

Khawl a Al Mehair i EVP of Stra teg y a nd Government Communica tions Dub a i Electricity a nd Wa ter Authority (DEWA)

Hanady Al hashmi, is the first Emira ti Woma n to rea ch the top of the hig hest pea k in North America ?

Dena li, a nd Tima Derya n.

HEHessa Bint Essa Buhumaid

Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid is a Cabinet member in the UAE Government and the Minister of Community Development. She was instrumental in successfully rolling out four policies in one year that were highly beneficial to UAE residents: the National Family Policy, National Policy for People of Determination, Child Rights Law ?Wadeema?, and the National Policy for Senior Emiratis.

Through her chairmanship of the Community & International Games Heritage Committee, H.E. also attained remarkable achievements in the Special Olympics MENA Regional Games 2018 in preparation for the World Games Special Olympics ?

Abu Dhabi 2019. She also oversaw hosting participating delegations and expanding volunteering activities.

Prior to this, she was Assistant Director General for Government Services in the Prime Minister ?s Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future. H.E. oversaw the Emirates Government Services Excellence Program aiming to raise the efficiency of government services delivery.

She is a graduate of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Young Leadership Program and a two-time winner of Sheikh Rashid Award for Scientific Excellence.

Sou r ce: h t t ps:/ / globalw om en sf or u m du

Sal ama Mohamed Peacefull, Founder and Creative Director

The beauty of self-love is Salama?s story.Find ing self-love ca n b e a long a nd wind ing roa d , which is something Sa la ma Moha med knows a ll too well. Tod a y the UN High Profile Amba ssa dor consid ers herself truly b lessed , with a n inspired community of over 14 million followers a cross YouTub e, Insta g ra m, Fa ceb ook a nd TikTok ,who ha ve joined her journey, a nd now with the la unch of her skinca re b ra nd Pea cefull in June 2021, Sa la ma sha res with pa ssion a nd d etermina tion, tha t a ll should love the skin they a re in.

Born a nd ra ised in the UAE, Sa la ma is a proud Emira ti who pa ssiona tely ta lks a b out the importa nce of self-love.For Sa la ma , skinca re isn?t just a pa ssion, it?s d eeply persona l. Ha ving vitilig o a nd sensitive skin herself a s well a s ha ving ma ny fa mily memb ers with eczema a nd psoria sis, she knows a ll too well wha t it?s like not to b e a t pea ce with your skin. After d iscovering her own skinca re solution in the hea ling powers of a ctive ing red ients, Sa la ma felt a d eep d esire to help others a nd set out to find innova tive a nd effective solutions, to ma ke sure tha t everyone feels comforta b le a nd confid ent in their skin, a moment tha t ma rked the la unch of her persona l online profile a nd skinca re b ra nd , Pea cefull.

Counting your b lessing s is something often forg otten, a nd Sa la ma is consta ntly tha nkful for a ll tha t ha s come her wa y. Ha ving b uilt a n enterprise over med ia , e-commerce a nd now skinca re, she cites her experiences a nd journey a s pivota l to her success. In 2012, Sa la ma spent two a nd a ha lf yea rs in Pa lo Alto, Ca lifornia , the home to ma rket d isruptors. This time in the entrepreneuria l hub a nd a mong st the Sta nford community ma rked the moment where she kicked off her journey to open her persona l socia l med ia a ccount a nd spa rk conversa tions a round skin a nd self-worth. With contra cts spa nning multiple b ra nd s includ ing Clinique a nd La Roche-Posa y in the reg ion a nd b eyond , she sha red her self-love journey throug hout the yea rs.

The a nnouncement of Pea cefull wa s a na tura l extension of Sa la ma ?s journey to d a te a nd the rea liza tion of a lifelong d rea m, to b uild a line from the reg ion, for the reg ion a nd therea fter to crea te prod uct ra ng es specifica lly ma d e for communities tha t a re inclusive of a ll g end ers, in which they sell.

Ana nke exclusively cha ts with Sa la ma on the specia l occa sion of Emira ti Women?s Da y.

Tell u s abou t you r self an d you r jou r n ey t h at led you t o w h er e you ar e t oday?

I?ve been blessed with vitiligo and sensitive skin from early on, so I?ve always searched for skin care products that would provide my skin with what it needed, but couldn?t find ones that hit the mark for me. Eventually, through my search, I stumbled on Korean skincare and discovered the healing powers of active ingredients through the 10-step skincare routine and I have not looked back since! I swear by it, it completely changed my skin and my relationship with skincare.

This ultimately led to me creating Peacefull, which you can say started out of necessity because I needed products that would help my sensitive skin. After finding Korean skincare and active ingredients, I wanted to share formulas that work with my community because I truly believe we all deserve good skincare!

You r qu ot e "Being comfortable in your skin is one of the greatest forms of self-love" is ver y in t er est in g, can you please elabor at e on t h at ?

For me, this is getting to a place of pure and unbridled acceptance. To be able tofeel blessed with our individuality and different skin types. Going through my own skincare journey has allowed me to become more confident with all the things that make me unique and with this, I realized I had a community that I owed it to, to be my most authentic and vulnerable self when it came to discussing skin and beauty. This is why

with the campaign for Peacefull, I decided not to retouch the images - I wanted people to see unfiltered images for what they are - beautiful.

Com in g t o Peacef u ll, w e?d f ir st lik e t o k n ow abou t t h e n am e. Wh y t h is par t icu lar w or d?

I?ve always said that being at peace in your skin is the highest form of self-love and I?m not sure if you know but Salama, my name, means peace and safety, so there was such a direct link that it just felt right. And we specifically spell with a double ?l?to emphasize how Peacefull our products are and make you feel!

Peacef u ll epit om izes im por t an t su bject s in clu din g bein g com f or t able in on e?s sk in an d self -w or t h . Can you t ell u s m or e abou t t h e br an d an d t h e pr odu ct ?

Peacefull is a skincare brand from the region for the region! We are an inclusive brand made for everyone, all genders, all nationalities, all skin types, and sensitive skin for those aged 18 and above.

Our products are special and heroes in their own special way. Each product was formulated uniquely with hybrid formulas (you won?t find anything like them in the market!) and brings with it a special benefit and its place in the skincare routine. For example, our mugwort clay mask is a face wash that gives you the benefits of wearing a clay mask but with hydration, so you are not stripping your natural skin moisture. And don?t get me started on the toner, it?s one of a kind! It?s actually a hybrid between a toner and an essence. Crazy, we know!

And I can?t forget the ever glow moisturizer which is the product you?ve always wanted in your life. It doesn?t leave you feeling like a glazed donut.

There is no stickiness, oiliness or greasiness and yet it plumps your skin and gives you the natural, healthy glow that you deserve.

Wit h so m u ch com m er cializat ion an d com m odif icat ion of beau t y an d t h e aest h et ics, br an ds lik e Peacef u ll play a pivot al r ole in ch an gin g t he n egat ive n ar r at ive. Wh at k in d of ch an ge do you aspir e to in it iat e/ t r igger ?

With Peacefull, our message isn?t just one of self-love but also highlighting the importance of openness, tolerance, inclusivity and hospitality. Everyone on our campaign is a testament to this! We want toembrace the world and everyonefor who they truly are! Our brand is as inclusive as this region is and we aim is to represent everyone and bring them into a Peacefull space every single day.

Au gu st is t h e m on t h w h en w e celebr at e Em ir at i Wom en?s Day. Can you sh ar e you r t h ou gh t s abou t t h e UAE an d w h at t h is celebr at ion m ean s t o you ?

We live in a country where anything is possible! One that is not afraid of putting itself out there as the first; the innovator.

As an Emirati woman, I?m blessed and thankful every day to come from and live in a place that teaches us not to be afraid to dream big, aim high and that one?s limitations are only set by their imagination.

As you know, the hardest path is the road not travelled, the one you have to create for others to follow along the way. So when you?re surrounded by leaders and people who are growing and striving to become better every single day, there?s a domino effect and it trickles down to the very way you live your life. Even when they reach the top, they remind you that excellence is an ever-growing, ever-evolving construct, so it inspires us to work at being the best we can be. To work harder, dream bigger and not be afraid to try new, unexplored and unexpected things.

We w ou ld lik e you t o en d t h is in t er view w it h a m essage f or all ou r r eader s.

The first step to self-love and being at peace is all about perspective. Switching your outlook on skin and accepting your unique qualities and ultimately making it your superpower can be hard but is possible. Surround yourself with love and positivity. Your skin is a blessing! Don?t be hard on yourself or your skin, love and nurture it.

For more information, visitpeacefull.com.

please

R E I M EL H O U N I

Reim El Houni?s ca reer includ es working with TV sta tions like the BBC to b eing a n Executive Prod ucer a nd Hea d of Events a t Dub a i O ne. Reim la unched her own prod uction compa ny Ti22 Films in Ja nua ry 2011, which ha s won 25 New York Festiva l Awa rd s & a Ca nnes Corpora te Med ia a nd TV Awa rd . Reim ha s worked with some of the g lob es la rg est multina tiona ls such a s Ama zon, Reeb ok, Swa rovski, LG Electronics, to na me a few, a nd b roa d ca sters such a s Na tiona l Geog ra phic, Discovery Cha nnel, a nd ma ny more.

Reim ha s served on the Jury of the New York Festiva l for seven yea rs a nd is a spea ker, mod era tor a nd pa nelist. Reim found ed d ub a i O N d ema nd in 2014, where the world of b ra nd ed content a nd influencer ma rketing collid e, which ha s evolved into a vid eo b a sed persona l b ra nd ing memb ership community for b usiness owners a nd thoug ht lea d ers. Reims pa ssion for vid eo ha s led to the b irth of three more vid eo concepts ? Fusion Dig ita l Content, Dyna mite Anima tions a nd the DIY Vid eo Aca d emy. She a lso supports org a niza tions a s a med ia consulta nt a nd vid eo stra teg ist, d eveloping workshops a nd tra ining for tea ms.

Reim is a Vid eo Content Crea tion Coa ch who b elieves tha t the era of vid eo is NO W! Her la test cha lleng e is Executive Prod ucing the d a ily live TV show for Expo 2020!

Ana nke cha ts exclusively with Reim, celebra ting Emira ti Women?s Da y a nd wha t it mea ns to be a pa rt of UAE?s lega cy of inclusion a nd diversity being a non-Emira ti resident a nd a powerhouse.

1.Tell u s abou t you r self an d you r jou r n ey t h at led you t o w h er e you ar e t oday? ?

Ambition is the path to success, Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in??

Bill Bradley. That quote sums up my journey.I have always been ambitious and a big believer of having big goals and when you have big goals then the only thing you can do is keep working hard and be persistent till you achieve them.I knew at a very young age that media was my calling. I was very passionate about TV and communicating through visuals and I always found out of the box ways to keep my career moving forward.

I remember my first internship at the age of 16 at MBC and being excited and in awe of a live studio environment.I started as a production runner and researcher at BBC Education when I was only 18 years old, that was the first time I saw my name in the credits of a TV show and it excited me that I knew that was what I would continue to do for my career.From that point I worked my way up the ladder in this industry till my move to Dubai in 2007 where I eventually became Executive Producer and Head of Events at Dubai One. By 2010 I was ready for a new chapter and after working on Mission Impossible 4, I realized everything is possible and started my own company Ti22 Films in January 2011.Over 10 years later and we are going strong with over 25 International Awards and with a few other sister brands as well including our popular video branding membership, dubai ON demand, Fusion Digital Content where the world of Social Media comes together and Dynamite

Animations.

2.Tell is abou t you r or gan izat ion , w h at is t h e in spir at ion beh in d it ?

Honestly it started from a place of wanting to create emotive, high quality, emotional and impactful films that stood out.

Quality, Accolades, Achievement are all important to the brand, however a key part of the inspiration is Tony Robbins!Because I personally am a big fan, I try and instill as many learnings as possible so the organization and the team can benefit.

Again bringing us back to thinking big, not limiting yourself and staying in a positive state. With our Video Branding Community dubai ON demand, its about creating an environment that provides accountability, support and ultimately transformation for business owners and consultants who are ready to take their personal brand to the next level. That has also been a very rewarding journey supporting entrepreneurs push themselves out of their comfort level.

3.Wh at h ave been biggest m ilest on es?

som e

of

t he

Definitely the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign I produced in 2008 for Breast Friends, actually before Ti22 Films was formed.The campaign won 2 Golds and

2 Silver World medals at the New York Festival.On winning the awards, having the realization that my work can compete on a global level and win was a big milestone.Other milestones include starting the DIY Video Academy during the pandemic which essentially is what helped us pull through.Also securing the contract to produce a daily show at Expo, which we are all happy to see come to fruition.

4.If you cou ld t ell u s abou t som e of t h e ch allen ges an d t h e jou r n ey of over com in g t h em ?

One of the key challenges I have faced in the past is being surrounded by doubters.Those who don?t believe in you and your success. I have learnt to think big regardless, plan what you will achieve and how you will do it and ignore anyone and everyone, and I do mean everyone, who isn?t ready to support you.

When I started my business I had very few friends who ran businesses and I found it to be a very lonely experience.I also found that my old work colleagues couldn?t relate to my challenges anymore.Thanks to an amazing networking organization called BNI, I was able to build a network of friends, colleagues, supporters which really made a difference.

5.Wh at ar e you r view s on gen der equ alit y an d t h e im por t an ce of in clu sion as w ell as diver sit y as f ar as r u n n in g an d especially m an agin g a com pan y is con cer n ed?

I am in what is considered a male dominated industry.I have had several challenges along the way which has made me emphasize the importance of

gender equality in our day-to-day.I am a strong believer you need the best person for the job or the best fit for the team, everything else is secondary.

6.Wh y in you r opin ion is diver sit y im por t an t as f ar as a bu sin ess is con cer n ed?

I think its so important to have different voices and perspectives otherwise everything starts to sound and feel the same.Also we are in an industry which has typically been male oriented, so by allowing females a seat at the table, we really are shifting perceptions.

7.Au gu st is t h e m on t h w h en w e celebr at e Em ir at i Wom en?s Day, can you sh ar e you r t h ou gh t s abou t t h e UAE an d w h at t h is celebr at ion m ean s t o you ?

The UAE is home, it is where I have chosen to develop roots and I feel blessed and fortunate to be living in a country that is progressive, innovative, and has taken measures to ensure we stay safe.

8.We w ou ld lik e you t o en d t h is in t er view w it h a m essage f or all ou r r eader s.

Always have faith.Always believe in yourself. But above all be ready to take massive action to bring your dreams into the realm of reality.

Visit TI22 Films:www.ti22films.com https://www.instagram.com/ti22films/

Thea C. My hr vol d Found er of GetBee. Interna tiona l spea ker, Linked In Power Profile a nd Expo2020 Glob a l Innova tor

Celebrating building a land of hope and opportunity for many - a place where we celebrate and welcome diversity and inclusion. I?m proud to have called the UAE my home for so many years and giving me the launchpad to build a global business and impact through my work with GetBEE. We?ve been able to attract global and international talents and really appreciate the support and dedication of the leadership in supporting female leaders, innovation and building an inclusive society.

Saba Kar imKhan Author, a wa rd -winning filmma ker a nd ed uca tor Saba Karim Khan isanauthor, award-winning filmmaker and educator, whose writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Independent, Wasafiri, Huff Post, Verso, Think Progress, DAWN,etc. Her debut novel, Skyfall, was recently released by Bloomsbury and her documentary film, Concrete Dreams: Some Roads Lead Home, produced by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), has been officially selected and won awards at global film festivals in Paris, Berlin, Toronto, USA and India. She has read Social Anthropology at the University of Oxford and works at NYU Abu Dhabi.

Before joining the Academy, she worked as Country Marketing and Public Affairs Head at Citigroup. Born in Karachi, she now lives in Abu Dhabi with her husband and two daughters.

Saba Karim Khan can be contacted at sabakarimkhan.com and via Twitter @SabaKarim.

Saba Kar im Kh an ch at s w it h An an k e, m ar k in g Em ir at i Wom en?s Day an d w h at it m ean s t o h er as a n on -Em ir at i r esiden t an d best -sellin g, Abu Dh abi based au t h or .

?I wonder how long you?ll fear our ambition??

Au gu st is t h e m on t h w h en w e celebr at e Em ir at i Wom en?s Day, can you sh ar e you r t h ou gh t s abou t t h e UAE an d w h at t h is celebr at ion m ean s t o you ?

The 2021 Emirati Women?s Day theme is: ?Women: Ambitions & Inspiration for the Next 50 Years?. When it comes to women, ?ambition? is often a whisper word ? antithetical to the nature of a ?good girl?, ?good woman?, ?good other ?. A woman with ambitions is likely a ?Troublemaker ?. In such a context, I find the theme for this year ?s Emirati Women?s Day particularly significant, a momentous transition in mindset, the inception of a movement to unchain women of the social expectations we bind them with? most of all, of martyring their ambitions if they are to be good mothers, good wives, good daughters. I hope this Emirati Women?s Day debunks this ?martyrdom myth? and Olympics of sacrifice, the burden of which women have had to bear for far too long.

Drive, dreams, desires are rarely a bad thing? it?s time we stopped viewing women?s ambitions as a threatening force. If anything, they hold potential to shift the fabric of society and allow us to make giant strides? be that as star homemakers, professional stalwarts, or empathetic, inspirational human beings. The time to celebrate women?s ambitions has arrived and it is here to stay.

Happy Emirati Women?s Day! And to many more.

Com m en t on UAE's vision as f ar as it s vision f or diver sit y, in clu sion an d t oler an ce is con cer n ed Living in the UAE feels experimental, deeply evocative and enriching. So much is waiting to be discovered, it broadens your vantage point significantly, widens the breadth of perspectives. The country offers a rare metaphor to illustrate how peace co-existence is possible ?it lies at the cross-roads of so much: nationalities, languages, food, travel, arts and culture, permeating through its borders, comingling, transmuting. Our world is desperate for the sort of syncretism that the UAE encapsulates, and I am delighted that occasions such as Emirati Women?s Day offer us a chance to celebrate? and show the world, the beautiful diversity andquiet confidencethat is symbolic of this country, its cultural tapestry, the people, and their way of life.

Huda Kat t an With a net worth of $490 million, Huda Kattan moved to Dubai UAE in 2006. With a degree in finance, she also trained to become a makeup artist in Hollywood.

It was in 2010, Huda started her digital journey when she began to blog and became an global influencer. In 2013, the UAE-based, Huda Beauty empire was launched when the dynamo identified a gap in the market for false lashes. Her beauty empire now showcases an array of products in more than 1500 stores worldwide.

According to Forbes: ?Today, Huda Beauty sells more than 140 products from eyeshadow pallets to lip gloss, bringing in about $200 million in annual sales. Private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners acquired a small minority stake in 2017 in a deal that valued the company at $1.2 billion. An influencer who claims to having never spent money on advertising, Kattan now has about 50 million Instagram followers.?

Mona At aya

A trailblazer whose name is proudly emblazoned in the history as one responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of Mumzworld, Mona Ataya is the founding partner and CEO of the company.

Identifying a gap in the market for a bilingual online shopping and information portal focusing mother and child, Mona Ataya established Mumzworld.com becoming an inspirational entrepreneur and role model across the Middle East and beyond.

Mona was also part of a group of entrepreneurs who founded market leader in online recruitment in the Middle East, Bayt.com.

According toArabian Business: ?Under Mona?s leadership, Mumzworld has undergone tremendous growth and successfully established itself as the regional leader in this vertical space. With 6 rounds of funding, great investors on board and a solid business plan, Mumzworld has become the number 1 funded Women-Led e-commerce Company in the Middle East. We expect to hear a lot from this brand in the years to come.?

Monica Mal hot r a

Monica Ma lhotra is the found er a nd CEO of The Ga g g ler.Monica is a pa ssiona te entrepreneur a lwa ys looking for wa ys to crea te something with a positive impa ct. This pa ssion ha s led her to sta rt-up b usinesses in ed uca tion a nd more recently in online pub lishing .

Tell u s abou t you r self an d you r jou r n ey t h at led you t o w h er e you ar e t oday?

My name is Monica Malhotra and I am currently founder and CEO of TheGaggler.com, a digital lifestyle platform for today?s women living in the Middle East. My journey started in the UAE ? I grew up in Sharjah and Dubai and graduated high school in Sharjah ? the quintessential ?Dubai Kid?. After studying and working in various corporate roles in the UK and US, I returned to the UAE in 2009 and my journey took a turn towards entrepreneurship.

I had a passionate urge to create something different in the Early Years Education space in the UAE and I brought with me the New York-based edutainment franchise called Kidville. In 2010, I opened my first location in Dubai and spent eight years growing the business and opened 3 more locations before exiting the business in 2018.

After exiting the education business, I began to think about what my next move would be. I have always been and continue to be a voracious reader and researcher on women?s issues, personal care and wellness. I have always been passionate about helping others whether its sharing recommendations that have worked for me or my family, or providing an alternative view on a situation to help other ?s identify their resolution. And so, it was important for me that whatever my next move was, it would need to touch upon these areas in some way. And that?s when the initial concept of The Gaggler was born.

Tell is abou t you r or gan izat ion , w h at is t h e in spir at ion beh in d it ?

The Gaggler is an online publishing

platform to provide women living in the Middle East with access to relevant content to support their day-to-day life, share diverse points of expert advice and discover inspirational personal stories that serve to educate, empower and enable positive change. The platform features actionable advice from product reviews, expert advice or life hacks that our readers can use to the best versions of themselves from the inside, out. Our aim is to enrich women?s thoughts, offer diverse perspectives and ideas, and create awareness about insightful topics specific to women in the areas of holistic personal care and wellness.

The inspiration for The Gaggler came from my own personal journey. There are many times, when I read an article on The Gaggler and I think to myself ?Wow, I wish I had thought to ask that question?, or ?I wish I had that advice when I was in my 20s? or my 30s (depending on the concern)!?So for there to be an inclusive and accessible platform for all women to voice their concerns, gain inspiration from authentic personal stories, tap into expert advice given by other women who have overcome similar challenges and created opportunities to help others from this? .this is what The Gaggler is about.

The Gaggler is a collective of women ? those who seek answers and those who have answers, so that each woman has a chance at taking what advice resonates and serves her and begin her journey of being the best version of herself.

Wh at h ave been som e of t h e biggest m ilest on es?

Launching The Gaggler is definitely one of my most valued milestone.In my last venture, I had the benefit of leveraging a ?franchise playbook? to launch the

business and that certainly helped me avoid obvious mistakes and scale up quickly.I have always wanted to create a business that I was not only passionate about but also wanted to build it from the ground up and with The Gaggler I certainly have had this experience.There was no playbook or footprint to model The Gaggler on. It has been an iterative process ? you try something and when it doesn?t provide the desired result you tweak it and try again, until you have something you are happy with. It is this iterative process that defines The Gaggler platform as you see it today.

If you cou ld t ell u s abou t som e of t h e ch allen ges an d t h e jou r n ey of over com in g t h em ?

Failure is a part of an entrepreneur ?s journey. The key is what you do with the learnings from that failure. Do you give up? Or do you pivot and try again? When The Gaggler was launched in January 2019, it was a very different model from the platform you see today and the first 8-9 months of the business were hectic and we weren?t seeing the response we expected.

But by constantly assessing what?s working, what?s not, and analyzing our data, as a team we were able to make the necessary changes and, in some cases, outright stop doing some things.

Sometimes entrepreneurs nurture their business as a mother does a baby and whilst nurturing is important, as an entrepreneur you need to be able to step back to look at the full picture and accept where you made a mistake, in order to grow and have a chance at success. The only thing that?s constant in start-up life is change itself.

Wh at ar e you r view s on gen der equ alit y an d t h e im por t an ce of in clu sion as w ell as diver sit y as f ar as r u n n in g an d especially m an agin g a com pan y is con cer n ed?

To me, gender equality is a fundamental human right and in order to achieve this state we all ? girls and boys, women and men ? need to come together if we are to have a world that is prosperous, sustainable and at peace. Gender equality in business for me is about women being where men are, and doing what men do ? make decisions, access finance and lead businesses. There has been progress made, but still more work needs to be done for women to be seen and heard at all levels, on a consistent basis.

Incorporating the concepts of diversity and inclusion in the workplace is very important to leverage and unlock the talent and potential of a business?s employees and bring about overall success. You cannot have success by just focusing on either diversity or inclusion ? both are important ingredients for lasting, positive impact. For example, a business that has equal representation of women and men, all nationalities and ethnicities, but only the viewpoints of some of these groups is valued or has authority, may be diverse but not inclusive. You need both. A diverse and inclusive business is one that makes everyone, at all levels, in all job types, feel equally involved in and supported in the workplace.

Au gu st is t h e m on t h w h en w e celebr at e Em ir at i Wom en?s Day, can you sh ar e you r t h ou gh t s abou t t h e UAE an d w h at t h is celebr at ion m ean s t o you ?

Having grown up in the UAE and returning with my own family almost 11 years ago, I have seen the UAE continue to be committed and make huge strides in improving the representation of women in both the public and private sector and progressing gender equality as part of its national agenda. Personally, I find this is to be an exciting and inspirational time to be a woman in the UAE. The UAE has some notable Emirati women who I have a lot of respect for because they have made great strides in pushing boundaries within their own cultural context in order to pave the way for the younger generation. At the end of the day, a progressive change for any segment of women ? Emirati or not - is a progressive change for all womankind in the UAE. As a woman, this Emirati Women?s Day, I applaud the Emirati women who have trailblazed, set their own path and overcome many challenges, and in so doing, created more opportunities for those who come after.

We w ou ld lik e you t o en d t h is in t er view w it h a m essage f or all ou r r eader s.

If the world seems loud and crazy to you right now, and all you can hear are many external voices telling you how to live your life, close your eyes and look within.

Search for your inner voice and listen carefully, for you will find your next step there.

Nat asha Inman Na ta sha Inma n, Found er of Sta te of REM,moved to Dub a i in ea rly 2020 with b ig d rea ms. An a vid menta l hea lth a d voca te, a nd a cha rtered a ccounta nt b y profession, Na ta sha never ha d ?sta rting a b usiness? a s pa rt of her five-yea r pla n. The pa nd emic lockd own cha ng ed tha t. It wa s d uring this time tha t she emb ra ced her pa ssion for ma king a d ifference. A yea r la ter, in Ma y 2021, Sta te of REM wa s b orn. Sta te of REM is a ll a b out investing in yourself. It is a luxury lifestyle b ra nd tha t offers comforta b le a nd versa tile pieces for a ll-d a y, everyd a y use.

Tell u s abou t you r self an d you r jou r n ey t h at led you t o w h er e you ar e t oday?

I'm from a city in the North of England called Leeds. I graduated University with a degree in Mathematics and fell quite naturally into the corporate world as a Chartered Accountant and have worked in finance for 10 years. At the age of 29, I felt I was seeking something more from life and a change of scenery which is why in February 2020 I moved to Dubai, but then the pandemic hit?

I found lockdown and the pandemic mentally very tough, like so many others did. I was struggling to look after myself properly as all I did was work and I struggled to sleep. This prompted me to discover new ways I could care for myself and adopt a positive mindset.

I treated myself to a silk pillowcase, some posh pyjamas and started being kind to myself.

Despite struggling mentally, one silver lining of the pandemic was that it allowed me to discover my inner entrepreneur and gave me a chance to channel my energy into something I was truly passionate about. I wanted to create a sleepwear range that gave people a unique and magical feeling when they wore it.

Having suffered from poor mental health in the past, I try to be an advocate as much as possible in encouraging people to invest in their own mental well-being. I wanted a brand where I could combine my passion for posh pyjamas and also help raise awareness for the importance of good mental health and contribute to a positive change in the world.

This is how the State of REM brand began.

Tell is abou t you r or gan izat ion , w h at is t h e in spir at ion beh in d it ?

Unless you?re familiar with the science of sleep, you may be wondering what ?State of REM? actually means. REM sleep is the

deepest phase of sleep where you?re in an optimal state of revitalisation and when most of your dreams occur. State of REM is creating a community of like minded women who are commited to being kind to themselves and investing in rest as well as selling luxury loungewear and sleepwear to inspire women to do just that!

Wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do.

We wanted a name that would represent one of the most important forms of self-care, sleep. We can?t sell bottled up REM sleep but we can help create a sleep-haven with our luxury sleepwear range. Creating this brand has given us the platform to help raise awareness of the importance of good mental health and contribute to a positive change in the world. This is why we have partnered up with a mental health charity in the region, Al Jalila Foundation, to donate proceed from every order towards mental health support and research.

Wh at h ave been som e of t h e biggest m ilest on es?

We launched the brand in May 2021 and one of our biggest achievements after three months is to say we are due to donate 2,500 AED to Al Jalila Foundation which has come from all our orders in the first 3 months, each donating 15 AED per order. This is something we are really proud of and hope to continue to contribute in a positive way as we grow.

If you cou ld t ell u s abou t som e of t h e ch allen ges an d t h e jou r n ey of over com in g t h em ?

Where do I start! This process has taught me so many lessons which I am grateful for so even though we have had challenges along the way, they have all led us to bigger opportunities and that is how I see these, they are part of the journey and I welcome any challenge that comes our way.

One of the biggest challenges has been finding a manufacturer who was in line with our vision of sustainability and who was in the region. Everything we sell is produced in UAE, from the sleepwear to the gift boxes so it?s been really important we find somewhere who can work with us to understand our vision and produce high quality products in high quality materials.

Our first biggest challenge was when we had to push our launch date back due to our first manufacturer delivering our products two months later than we agreed, this was tough as we had a lot of things in place which needed cancelling / moving but as I mentioned this forced us to look for better and we have now found a great manufacturer who is line with our vision and produces the highest quality products for us.

Wh at ar e you r view s on gen der equ alit y an d t h e im por t an ce of in clu sion as w ell as diver sit y as f ar as r u n n in g an d especially m an agin g a com pan y is con cer n ed?

I think it?s great to see there is a growing trend of larger corporate businesses setting the trend and adopting a better culture that facilitates a more equal working environment.

I think the pandemic has made a lot of people and businesses take a step back and gather a new perspective on life and the world. I can see a lot of positive change on the horizon.

I am a huge advocate of having a diverse working environment, I believe different people from different backgrounds brings an added dimension and a better collaborative approach to projects. It?s something that is vital when building a brand you want to be accessible to the globe.

With the multinational society and abundance of talent we have the in the UAE - we?re quite lucky it?s fairly easy to build a diverse team quite quickly, I can?t wait to start building a team

from different walks of life to start growing my brand.

Wh y in you r opin ion is diver sit y im por t an t as f ar as a bu sin ess is con cer n ed?

Diversity and inclusion are both essential to business success due to the healthy variety of people from different background and cultures, contributing a balance of opinions.

Having a working environment filled with people from different walks of life means there will be an increase in innovation and creative ideas. When I start to build a team at State of REM I would hope this type of environment will promote a happy and fulfilling culture for all our employees.

Au gu st is t h e m on t h w h en w e celebr at e Em ir at i Wom en?s Day, can you sh ar e you r t h ou gh t s abou t t h e UAE an d w h at t h is celebr at ion m ean s t o you ?

It?s wonderful to see that Sheikha Fatima announced that this years theme is to be ?Women: Ambitious and Inspirational for the next 50 Years?and I think its so powerful that we pay tribute to the leadership, support and empowerment of women. It?s going to be a very inspirational day looking back at the reposonsibilities, accomplishments and achievements of Emirati women over the last 20 years and look forward to the next 50 years. It is these women, who make it possible for women like me to start my own brand in the region so I personally have a lot to thank them for.

We w ou ld lik e you t o en d t h is in t er view w it h a m essage f or all ou r r eader s.

Enjoy the little things, for one day you might look back and realize they were the big things.

El inor Dav ies- Far n Found er of O lew

1. Tell u s abou t you r self an d you r jou r n ey t h at led you t o w h er e you ar e t oday?

After years of straightening my hair, due to the pressure to conform and hating what I thought it looked like naturally, in 2012 I decided to ditch the straighteners, and begin the journey to embrace my natural hair. My natural hair journey involved experimentation with a range of products, eachfailing to produce the results I desired.

Olew was born out of the frustration at the lack of natural hair care products available for my mane. Combined with my extensive research into the harmful chemicals and preservatives that are a mainstay of many of the products available on the market.

I used to straighten my hair twice a day, I used to hate my natural curls. Looking back, I had no confidence growing up because I was so obsessed with my hair being straight. I never thought it looked pretty. Then one day during a month-long tour of Spain during the university summer holidays in 2012, I ditched the straighteners. It was a revelation. I thought to myself "what have I been doing all my life?

I?m never doing this again."

But my hair was damaged from years of treatments and so I started mixing up my own treatments after months of classes and research to find the right product to help with growth and repair, and thats when Olew was born.

Anther catalyst for me was when a colleague saw me when I worked in my corporate job, with my hair scraped back into a plait one day and said: 'Oh that looks so much more professional, you should do that more often'," "And I thought how dare you, how dare you judge my professionalism based on my hair."

Friends had already been asking what I used on my hair and I had been handing out

bottles of my homemade products for a few years. In 2018 I decided to see I could make a business out of it.

I printed the list of ingredients out onmyown printer and stuck the labels on by hand. It was all a bit rudimentary and incredulous that people sentmeorders over a very basic Paypal link. But they did so, slowly at first and then in their droves.

"It was like an adventure," My tiny flat in London was rammed with boxes whichmeandmypartner would eat supper off.

"They served as my motivation to work harder as they were a reminder of my dreams and what I have always wanted to do, which is run my own business."

Things have changed massively since those early days. I now haveanew website, gained a business partner - a certified chemist with over 25 years of experience in the cosmetic industry - to help make and bottle the products and I am now setting up a hub in the Middle East to cope with demand.

But one thing hasn't changed: the original recipe, is identical to the first attempts inmykitchen. Each ingredient has been carefully selected to be naturally hydrating for curly hair but also environmentally friendly too. The Olew range now includes hair gel, hair cream, shampoo and conditioner as well as the original oil.

2. Tell is abou t you r or gan izat ion , w h at is t h e in spir at ion beh in d it ?

Olew is a vegan friendly, natural haircare product brand, made with no harmful chemicals such as parabens or sulphates.

Olew is aimed at an ever-growing segment of young women and men, embracing their natural curly hair. Olew promotes a stress-free hair maintenance routine, giving our customers confidence that our ethically sourced and high-quality ingredients not only

last longer but provide superior results to high street counterparts.

The continually expanding product range presently includes Olew Original - an all in one natural nourishing and hydrating hair oil, the Olew Curl Cream - which smooths curls and minimises frizz, the recently launched Olew Curl Defining Gel ? infused with maca extract to stimulate hair growth and boost curls, as well as the Olew Cleansing Shampoo - to nourish and cleanse the scalp and the Olew Clarifying Conditioner which naturally moisturises and repairsdry and damaged hair.

The range is due to expand this month to include the new Olew hair healing remedy ? to provide intense hair moisture for better curl health, and the new Olew Oud range featuring our best selling Olew Original and Olew Curl Cream with Oud infused scented fragrance and Arabic packaging to celebrate and appeal to our burgeoning customer base in the Middle East. We will also be launching the Olew Black masculine range of products, with a simple black livery to broaden the appeal of our products based on customer feedback of sharing their products with spouses.

3. Wh at h ave been som e of t h e biggest m ilest on es?

Being included in Glamour magazine, andVogue and our curl cream selling every 30 seconds during lockdown. Also chosen to be global and online retail start up of the year this year.

Also, being able to say that I started a business with a £100 and I now pay myself the same as I did when I was a corporate account executive for BMW Group UK. 4. If you cou ld t ell u s abou t som e of t h e ch allen ges an d t h e jou r n ey of over com in g t h em ?

The personal challenges, my own impostersyndrome and listening to bad advice

is something that has been a challenge for me and continues to be so, although not so much anymore. I am learning to follow my own gut and heart as that has always proven to work this far!

5.Wh at ar e you r view s on gen der equ alit y an d t h e im por t an ce of in clu sion as w ell as diver sit y as f ar as r u n n in g an d especially m an agin g a com pan y is con cer n ed? ·In 2021 it would be ignorant to assume that gender equality and diversity do not factor into running a business. Olew is a woman-owned, woman-led business and we take huge pride in that. ·We endeavour to educate others but also learn from the companies before us.

6. Wh y in you r opin ion im por t an t as f ar as a con cer n ed?

is diver sit y bu sin ess is

·Inclusion and representation is paramount especially in response to a social media-based brand, where seeing oneself reflected in images and videos used online can have a huge impact on self-worth and mental health. ·We are constantly striving to include, learn from and share the views of cultures and genders other than our own. ·Noone is ever 'finished' and it takes constant commitment to diversity to do the work other businesses may not.

7. Au gu st is t h e m on t h w h en w e celebr at e Em ir at i Wom en?s Day, can you sh ar e you r t h ou gh t s abou t t h e UAE an d w h at t h is celebr at ion m ean s t o you ?

I said earlier on an interview with Richard Fitizgerald, CEO of LovinDubai that the UAE is full of wonderful possibilities, where your dreams can become a reality. I am so happy to have found women in the UAE who also want to embrace their natural hair and use Olew. I feel incredibly blessed that with the negatives

of lockdown we found an Olew community within the UAE while we were still only UK based. The UAE has given us the opportunity to create a hub across the World and expand Olew into a Global enterprise.

I am so happy to be able to spend this years Emirati Women's day in the UAE and I love the theme of this year: Women: Ambitions & Inspiration for Next 50 Years. It is so important that we celebrate women across the region and that we as women take this opportunity to lift each other up and work together to ensure that the next 50 years we all fulfil our own ambitions. We are always stronger together and if anyone women who is reading this would like to chat or I can help in anyway please get in touch!

Pur va Gr ov er Purva Grover is a best-selling author, international journalist & editor, TEDx Speaker, award-winning playwright & stage director, published poetess, spoken word artist, and creative entrepreneur.

She is the founder-editor of The Indian Trumpet, a quarterly digital magazine for Indian expats, and works as the assistant editor with a UAE national daily, and editor, for a magazine for young adults.

She is backed with a post-graduate degree in mass communication and literature. She resides in Dubai, UAE. She made her debut as an author with The Trees Told Me So (December 2017, Niyogi Books). Her second title, It was the year 2020 (February, 2021, Kindle India) was instantly recognised for its profound pandemic prose. Her third title, She (August 2021, Ukiyoto) is currently making waves for its honest, relatable and fun approach on the topic of womanhood.

Born & brought up in colourful-chaotic India, she writes in English.

In June 2021, she was granted the UAE Golden Visa for ten years (the first culture visa in the world) under the category: Class of Creators from the People of Culture and Art as a writer.

In the capacity of director-founder of the Dubai Written Words Society, she conducts fortnightly writing workshops, author interaction events, open mic sessions, etc. for the writing fraternity in UAE. In 2020, she wrote and directed a play for Short + Sweet Theatre Sharjah, the largest festival of 10- minute plays in the world, and won the Best Writer and Overall production Award. In April 2017, she was selected as one of the five local writers in the UAE to write and direct a theatrical production for a show called Queens of Drama, which focused on women-centric themes. In August 2017, she won the best director & playwright award at Short & Sweet Kolkata (India). In Dubai, in 2016, she hadwon the Judges?Choice Award as part of the same festival. Her writings and productions have beenrecognised for the bold content and unique directorial approach.

She has also participated and completed the NaNoWriMo challenge three years in succession, 2014, 2015, 2016; and lately in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

She is addicted to the idea of penning down tales to discover her favourite word. Her current favourite word is Meraki (Greek): To do something with soul, creativity or love; when you leave a piece of yourself in your work.

Social Han dles & Con t act Det ails (Hyper lin k ed) Website:http://www.purvagrover.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/purva-grover-ba71233a/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groverpurva/Twitter:https://twitter.com/purvagrover Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/purvagr/E-mail:grover.purva@gmail.com Mobile: +971556825081 (Han dles) Facebook: @purvagr

@groverpurva

Twitter:

@purvagrover

Instagram: