Falling on 28th August this year, Emirati Women’s Day is upon us. In its fifth year, the day dedicated to Emirati women, was first established in 2015 by HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation. The date was chosen to coincide with the establishment of the General Women's Union on August 28, 1975. Emirati Women’s Day is a celebration of the leading women of the UAE and highlights their accomplishments including their careers, entrepreneurialism and contribution to humanitarian causes, to name a few.
This year, these are just 5 of the many Emirati women we are inspired by.
Nadia Khalil Al Sayegh
Having spent 20 years being employed at the UAE’s Ministry of Social Affairs, Nadia Khalil Al Sayegh spent her time visiting and working with less fortunate families who had more children than they could care for and children with special needs. Understanding that there was an urgent need for better services to cater to those with special needs, she established Senses in 2004. Senses is a Dubai based, not for profit, centre where support is provided to hundreds of young people with disabilities as well as their families. Since then, Nadia has been awarded on a regional scale for her contribution to humanitarian causes.
Amna Al Haddad
Amna Al Haddad is the first athlete to have competed in CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting sporting events in a hijab, in the Middle East. Al Haddad made history when she became the first Emirati, Arab female and GCC national in the Reebok Crossfit Games and has since been featured in global campaigns for Nike. Amna now spends much of her time motivating and inspiring others and will be doing a talk on Emirati Women’s Day where she will be on the panel for the celebratory edition of Flow Talk Series.
Leila Al Marashi
Leila Al Marashi is a designer, a business woman, artist and a voice for Emirati women. The CEO of Cado Gifting, she is yet to launch her app, which caters to all things gifting, next month. The Emirati entrepreneur first launched her very own label, Sugar Vintage in 2008, which is an established and sought after clothing line in the region. Staying abreast of current affairs, Al Marashi advocates for sustainability and has previously presented at the Emirates Environmental Group Conference & Emirates Green Council. She will also be part of the Flow Talk Series on Emirati Women’s Day.
Basma Abu Ghazaleh
If you’re an avid fashion lover based in the Arab region, you will most likely have come across Basma Abu Ghazaleh’s homegrown label, KAGE. A favorite amongst the fashionistas of the region, the brand celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year. Basma established KAGE after realizing that there was a gap in the market for mid-level luxury clothing brands in the region and was inspired by Dubai for her debut collection. The creative director of KAGE, Abu Ghazaleh’s unique label has been worn by the likes of Olivia Culpo, Chiara Ferragni and Camila Coelho.
Amna Al Owais
Amna Al Owais is beyond inspiring when it comes to her legal career. She is currently the Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts, where managing operations and delivering public services are just a small part of her responsibilities. Ever since she joined the DIFC Courts, Amna has been a vital player in the establishment’s progression and development, as she led their pro bono programme (a regional first) when it launched. The International Bar Association has also recognized her as one of the world’s top young lawyers, and Arabian Business listed her among the ‘Top 30 Most Influential Women in the Arab World’.
