Dubai Quality Group (DQG), organisers of the annual Emirates Businesswomen Award (EBWA), along with main sponsor Shell, have urged businesswomen and women professionals of all nationalities to submit their entries for the fourth edition of the Award that will be held in May 2006.
Dubai Quality Group today (Wednesday, December 7, 2005), conducted a workshop at Hotel Millennium in Sharjah, to provide an overview on the Emirates Businesswomen Award 2006 to potential applicants to make them conversant with the award’s goals and objectives, and the methods of qualification and application for the award. A similar workshop was also conducted in Knowledge Village, Dubai on December 5th.
In addition to explaining the criterion and categories of the awards to the attendees, the workshop also gave participants an overview of the major benefits of winning the Emirates Businesswomen Award, such as the opportunity to network with women achievers from various fields, thus enabling them to broaden their horizons as well as their circle of business contacts.
Abdul Qader Obaid Ali, Chairman, Dubai Quality Group, said, “Duly recognising the contribution of women in the business sector will go a long way in motivating more women to explore their entrepreneurial and managerial talents. The Emirates Businesswomen Award has become one of the most prestigious awards for women, and it is encouraging to see a major surge in participation with each edition of the award.”
Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Head of External Affairs and HSSE (Health, Safety, Security and Environment), Shell, said, “Each year EBWA has grown in popularity and scope, as an increasing number of women in the UAE are entering the professional sphere and exploring their entrepreneurial skills. Participating in the award itself will present numerous opportunities for these women to showcase their abilities and benefit from their interaction with fellow participants. We are certain that EBWA 2006 will see a tremendous increase in participation and Shell is pleased to offer every possible assistance to the applicants.”
Addressing the attendees at the workshop, Samia Al Yousif, Manager of Dubai Quality Group, said, “Since its inception, Dubai Quality Group had a vision to emerge as an organisation that was the authority for quality initiatives in Dubai. When Shell offered to patron Emirates Businesswomen Award, DQG immediately accepted this and began working hard to target the businesswomen, not only in Dubai, but also in the rest of the Emirates. The number of applicants for EBWA has been increasing significantly each year and the winners have become shining stars in UAE’s business community.”
“This year we want as many women as possible to send in their applications. We would like to emphasise that in awards such as these, participation itself could prove very beneficial,” added Al Yousif.
Aisha Hamid Al Mazroua, Member of Sharjah Businesswomen Council, in her keynote address said, “Men and women coming together and acknowledging the contribution of women towards the country’s economic progress is the basis for the Emirates Businesswomen Award. Today, we can proudly say that there is no sphere that women have not excelled in, be it medicine, engineering, aeronautics, research, academics, sport, business, law or media.”
“Women as professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders in the UAE, have amazed us with their creativity, innovation, business acumen and dedication; and these are the women we wish to pay tribute to, through the Emirates Businesswomen Award,” added Al Mazroua.
Judith Barton, Chief Assessor for the award and Managing Consultant of The Development Partnership, made a presentation on the objectives, requirements, categories, criterion and benefits of the Emirates Businesswomen Award 2006.
Providing an overview on the origin of the Award, Al Mahmoudi said, “The Emirates Businesswomen Award was established in 2003 by Shell, in cooperation with the Dubai Quality Group in order to recognise and celebrate the vital role that women in the UAE play in both the business and professional spheres. The award also served as a platform for women to inspire and encourage others, including future generations of women, to achieve their full potential.”
The Emirates Businesswomen Award 2006 has two categories, Business Owners and Professionals. The criterion for the Award include Leadership; Future Goals and Financial Performance; Business, Professional and Career Achievements; Community Contributions; and Participation and Innovation.
Shell and DQG will conduct these awards awareness workshops across the UAE till February 2006. The deadline for applications is March 4th and the moderation panel will draw up a shortlist of applicants by the end of March. The final assessment by the Jury will be done by May 2006 in time for the grand award ceremony to be held in May.
Shell’s support of the Emirates Businesswomen Award is driven by its global corporate philosophy that gives priority to the empowerment of women. The award is particularly relevant in the UAE, a country that epitomises the region’s entrepreneurial spirit that is manifest in its thriving economy and booming business enterprises.
