Advocate of women empowerment
Dr Raja Al Gurg strives to provide equal opportunities for her peers
The council is finalising a plan to organise events during Expo 2020 to attract businesswomen from participating countries to Dubai
Dr Raja Al Gurg, President of the Dubai Business Women Council
The UAE leadership believes in women’s vital contribution to the society and offers them equal opportunities and facilities to enhance their role in building the country’s economy, says a leading women entrepreneur.
Dr Raja Al Gurg, president of the Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC), said the UAE Cabinet’s endorsement of a bill that ensures equal pay for men and women is an indication of the support that is provided to Emirati women.
She attributed Emirati women’s accomplishments in various sectors to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who believes that women occupy an important role in developing Dubai’s economy.
Al Gurg, who is also a managing director and member of the board of directors of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, shared some details of the DBWC’s strategy in the next five years to promote women’s role in economic activities. The strategy, which will be launched soon and implemented during 2018-22, is expected to balance the needs of its members with the government’s strategic plans of UAE Vision 2021 and the Dubai Plan 2021.
Al Gurg identified three key pillars of the council’s new strategy. The first pillar includes expanding into global markets to attract businesswomen who can contribute to the development of Dubai’s business community. This objective can be achieved by organising trade missions to foreign markets and by participating in global exhibitions and conferences such as Expo 2020.
The second pillar includes developing the content of the council’s workshops to include up-todate topics such as AI and blockchain technology. The third pillar includes developing the council’s network of relationships Dr Raja Al Gurg is also a managing director and member of the board of directors of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group LLC. She joined the group in 1989 as a member of the board of directors.
“At first, I never thought I wanted to go into business. But when I took a role in my father’s company, I had to prove that I could be successful, regardless of the fact that I am a woman or chosen by my father. It is crucial that all women push their own boundaries and have the will to succeed,” Al Gurg said.
Al Gurg has carved a niche for herself in the region due to her support and encouragement of Arab women entrepreneurs. She is also vice-chairperson of the board of directors of Dubai Healthcare City Authority, board member of the Dubai Chamber Of Commerce & Industry and Dubai Women’s Association. She is the first Emirati woman on the board of HSBC Bank Middle East Limited and is also on the advisory board of Coutts Bank, the wealth division of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
in order to benefit its members.
Al Gurg indicated that the council aims to increase the number of its members by 60 per cent by year-end.
“The DWBC’s membership is expected to exceed the 900-member mark in 2018,” she said.
Al Gurg said the DBWC is working on a strategic plan to highlight the role of Emirati businesswomen in the UAE’s economic vision at Expo 2020.
“The council is finalising a plan
to organise a variety of events and activities during Expo 2020 in order to attract businesswomen from participating countries to Dubai and assist them in opening businesses in the emirate,” Al Gurg told Khaleej Times.
She said the council would organise activities spanning the six month duration of Expo 2020, which will focus on attracting businesswomen who work in specific sectors that are in line with the country’s future strategic plans. The council will organise economic delegations and business meetings to attract foreign businesswomen by highlighting the various benefits provided to working women in the emirate’s business community, she said.
Al Gurg said the council would focus on attracting prominent female Emirati entrepreneurs who manage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and have proven their ability to succeed in the emirate’s competitive business environment.
She said the council is reviewing its schedule of future events and activities and it will add strategic topics and themes that aim to increase the competitiveness of its members and help them develop their skills and expertise.
“The council is working on expanding its local and global network of contacts and relationships to enhance the skills and expertise of its members. This goal can achieved by hosting foreign delegations and organising trade missions,” she said.
Al Gurg also highlighted the council’s support for the Dubai Chamber’s bid to host the 12th World Chambers Congress in 2021. She said Dubai has the capability and the cultural diversity to host a congress that upholds Dubai’s prominent global status.
“The congress will allow the DBWC to organise meetings and activities with representatives of more than 14,000 chambers of commerce, which will help the council expand its network of contacts and shine a light on the services it provides,” she said.