A general view of the Dar Al Khaleej office building.

Hani Okal, Staff Reporter

Under the theme “Emirati Women…Status and Empowerment”, the Al Khaleej Research Unit at Dar Al Khaleej for Press, Publishing and Advertising in Sharjah will hold at its headquarters the 19th edition of its annual conference on Saturday, April 27, 2019 in the presence of officials, dignitaries, academics and university students.

Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Tolerance, will deliver the conference’s opening speech that will be followed by a speech by Khalid Abdullah Omran Taryam, Chairman of Dar Al Khaleej, and then a speech by Aysha Abdullah Omran Taryam, Editor in Chief of Gulf Today.

This will be followed by honouring winners of the 16th edition of Taryam & Abdullah Omran Journalism Award in its six fields: reportage, dialogue, essay, column, photography and electronic journalism. The last field has been created as an alternative to the press caricature.

The first session of the conference will discuss policy components of the Emirati women’s empowerment politically, economically, culturally, occupationally and others. Dr Maitha Bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State, will present a research paper on the theme, while the session will be moderated by Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City (Shams).

Tools for empowering Emirati women (legislation, laws, education, media, etc.) are the theme of the second session. Dr Maryam Lootah, Professor of Political Science at the UAE University, will present a research paper focusing on women and their status in the UAE, as well as the tools that consolidate their contribution locally and internationally.

The second session will be moderated by Dr Khalifa Rashid Al Sha’ali, Director of the University College of Mother and Family Sciences in Ajman.

The third session will be moderated by Dr Sulaiman Al Jassim, a researcher and academic. It will focus on the women’s role in the international events, during which Afra Al-Basti, Federal National Council Member, will present a research paper on Emirati women and their career, and expansion of their presence and roles on internationally.

The roundtable session’s theme will be “Women and Industrial Revolution”. It will introduce prospects of Emirati women and the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution facing them. It will further thrash out the tools women rely on in their diverse jobs, the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on them, the need to acquire knowledge, localisation and empowerment of Emirati competence to get the best possible services through harnessing modern technology.

The session will be moderated by Dr Yousef Al Hassan, Emirati writer and thinker, while the speakers will be: Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation; Dr Ali Fakhro, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Arab Unity Studies; Hissa Tahlok, Undersecretary of the Social Development Division at the Ministry of Community Development; Dr Fatima Al Shamsi, Deputy Executive Director of Administrative Affairs at Sorbonne University-Abu Dhabi; Dr Aysha Al Sayyar, former Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, and Eng. Ghalia Al Mannai, Director of Information Technology Department, General Women’s Union.

Commenting on this edition’s theme, Khalid Abdullah Omran Taryam, Chairman of Dar Al Khaleej, said, “The conference’s theme this year focuses on the empowerment of Emirati women, which stems from the responsible and important role played by them locally and internationally. It further comes to highlight their roles and status of balancing their ambitions between the necessities of family and requirements of career life.”

He pointed out that the interest in the Emirati women stems from the confidence of the wise leadership that they are half of the society and its main engine in the process of development with their diligence, perseverance and determination.

He continued, “Women add value to society and are living their best time in the UAE, which enables them to reach the highest levels through the laws and legislations that ensure equality of opportunities for the Emirati community. Moreover, it harnesses strategies and enhanced initiatives aimed at protecting them and improving their various roles, because their empowerment gives strength to the community.”