Fatma Salem, 23, works in the traditionally male-dominated logistics and operations sector.
Operating forklifts and heavy machinery at Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Ms Salem's journey is still an unusual one for women, but serves as an example of how the UAE is boosting the number of women in the industrial sector.
Ms Salem's role involves manoeuvring tonnes of heavy materials, sometimes in challenging weather, to arrange and transport goods efficiently.
It was a bit risky at first but one gets used to it with the continuous training and support
Fatma Salem
She also operates the vacuum unloader at Jebel Ali Port, a crucial piece of equipment to help move goods from bulk carriers into storage containers.
In an exclusive interview with The National for International Women's Day, Ms Salem shares an insight into her unconventional career path.
Originally a student of therapeutic radiology at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai, the Covid-19 pandemic prompted a pivotal shift in her aspirations.
“When I went back to college in the summer of 2022, I wanted to change my major to business administration but that didn’t work out,” she said.
Her journey into the aluminium industry began in August 2022, thanks to an EGA training programme for high-school graduates looking to go into technical roles.
“My sister’s friend told me about this specific course because she was aware of how this field interests me,” Ms Salem said.
More than 5,000 UAE citizens have graduated from EGA programmes since they were set up in 1982, with many going on to enjoy long and successful careers. Last year alone, EGA recruited more than 220 Emiratis, including 100 women.
Ms Salem's eagerness to learn and her many questions about the aluminium industry led her to join EGA as an employee in November 2022, after completing her training.
“During the course I asked about everything I could possibly think of related to the field and to operating heavy machinery,” she said.
Her training was comprehensive, covering not only the operational details of her role but also fundamental subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, 'housekeeping' and public safety.
“I later found out how crucial the comprehensive training was. For example, the part about housekeeping taught me about what malfunctions to expect and how to deal with them,” she said.
“It was a bit risky at first but one gets used to it with the continuous training and support.”
Despite initial scepticism from her community and the challenges of her job, Ms Salem's determination was unwavering.
“When it all started I loved the place and was happy about being surrounded by the sea, then the details of the actual job frightened me a little," she said.
“Some family members and friends were not opposing but were a little worried at first.”
But encouragement from her colleagues and supervisors helped her overcome her fears, embarking on a path largely untrodden by Emirati women.
“When my family and friends saw how happy I was, they showed full support,” she said.
In December, Ms Salem achieved another milestone by obtaining her pay loader licence.
She said her story is not merely one of personal achievement but also serves to inspire other Emirati women to pursue diverse and challenging careers.
"I want to tell them not to feel frustrated by any challenges they may face," she said.
“They must remember they have a supportive leadership and a country that is committed to empowering its female and male citizens.”
Ms Salem continues to enhance her skills through additional training courses, and is studying business quality at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University.
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
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