Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) attaches great importance to women’s empowerment, and provides a conducive and positive work environment that supports female employees and helps them balance their personal and professional lives. This gives them full confidence to harness their potentials to achieve success, excellence and contribute to building the nation and preparing future generations.
“In the year of Zayed, we remember the late Sheikh Zayed’s efforts in women empowerment. Our celebration of International Women's Day during the Year of Zayed reminds us of the efforts of women empowerment in the UAE, which were initiated by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was a strong supporter of women in all areas. Our wise leadership, represented by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, are continuing the late Sheikh Zayed’s journey. They are contributing to creating an environment that empowers women and helps them use their creative abilities. This allowed Emirati women to occupy the highest positions in all sectors, and contribute efficiently to all the UAE’s development efforts,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
“While we appreciate and acknowledge the effective role of women in building and developing society and serving the country and contributing to its development, we emphasise the key role that DEWA plays in empowering women in the workplace, so that they empower society as a whole. We are fully committed to supporting women, at the highest levels of excellence,” added Al Tayer.
Secure and stable work environment for women
“On International Women’s Day, we extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to the wise leadership of the UAE, and the female leaders in the UAE, ‘the Mother of the Nation,’ Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women’s Establishment and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, for their efforts in supporting and encouraging women and providing them with all the necessary tools to succeed. I also thank DEWA's leadership, headed by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, for the unlimited support of the Women's Committee since its inception. DEWA provides its female staff with a secure, stable and developed working environment that helps them unleash their potentials,” said Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Government Communications and Chairperson of the Women's Committee at DEWA.
A stable working environment reflects positively on women’s social lives
Amal Koshak, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at DEWA, explained that DEWA provides all the necessary support to its female employees, and works to ensure a happy, stimulating, safe and stable working environment for them, which reflects positively on their professional and personal lives. DEWA is committed to work on the self-development, psychological, and vocational skills of its female employees, to help them use opportunities, and succeed in leadership, management and technical positions.
79% of DEWA’s female workforce are Emirati Nationals
“DEWA employs 1,894 female staff across all its divisions, 788 of whom work in engineering and other technical domains. 78.9% of DEWA’s female workforce are Emirati Nationals. Female staff were given over 38,000 training opportunities in the past three years in addition to 149 scholarships. Up to the end of last year, 249 female fresh graduates trained in DEWA as of the end of 2017. In 2017, DEWA’s female staff headed 13 out of DEWA’s 27 social initiatives,” said Maryam Al-Mutaiwei, Vice President of Human Resources.
“On International Women's Day, I congratulate all the Emirati women who have made great efforts in the path of excellence and success, thanks to the support of our wise leadership. In the Year of Zayed, we remember the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who prioritised women and enhanced their role in the society, making them a strategic partner in the development process, and laying the foundation for enabling them to compete in all fields. This approach is also adopted by our wise leadership, which provides an environment that contributes to enhancing women’s roles to help them achieve their potentials and build future generations. This allows them to achieve accomplishments, and successes and fulfil their mission,” said Fatima Deemas, Senior Manager of Internal Communications and Vice Chairperson of DEWA’s Women’s Committee.
Training female employees
“DEWA provides courses and training programmes for employees, in general, and for female employees, in particular. DEWA’s training programmes and scholarships have contributed to providing staff with the skills and experience to do their jobs, shape their scientific orientations, and help them in their careers, to contribute to achieving DEWA’s vision and ambitious plans,” said Fatima Al Marzooqi, Senior Manager of Learning and Development at DEWA.
Nurseries to support working mothers
DEWA is one of the first government institutions to establish nurseries to support working mothers. Today, it has the largest number of nurseries compared to other government institutions in Dubai, with a capacity of 175 children.
Exchange of experiences with local and international organisations
The work done by DEWA Women’s Committee does not only comprise of organising internal activities, but also involves the exchange of skills and experiences with a number of local and international organisations that also work to empower women. The committee works to strengthen its relations with other female organisations, and organisations that support children and families, to achieve social development. DEWA Women’s Committee strives to enhance communication and cooperation with private organisations that specialise in social educational, and charitable work to enhance their contribution, and role in supporting the community, through the empowerment of women.
Distinguished events
DEWA Women’s Committee is keen to participate in various local and international events, and organises lectures and workshops related to health, safety, the environment, sustainability, family life, the art of dealing with people, self-development, family management, organising social gatherings and meaningful recreational programmes.
Media Office Dubai/Gulf base