Starting a business is always as challenging as it is exciting. But for local women, balancing the demands of family and culture while getting a new venture on its feet can make it more of a struggle than for many.
To help them succeed, a guide to help boost businesses that Emirati women run from home has been published in Abu Dhabi.
Compiled by the General Women's Union (GWU), it collects the contact details of family businesses and women of different ages to support them in marketing their small enterprises. The aim of the guide is to bring products whose origin may lie in Emirati tradition, the needs of society or just the talent of the women themselves, to a much wider audience.
Many of the women gave up work when they had children then found it difficult to return, partly because of their social obligations.
"I created a business for work uniforms of people working at hospitals, schools and as maids," says Ayesha Al Muhairi, an Emirati from Abu Dhabi. "The demand increased by 90 per cent after the distribution of the guide, which had my name and business it.
"I was contacted by big institutions who asked us to supply them, and we were able to give them what they needed, down to the smallest details of the logo."
Mrs Al Muhairi started her business five years ago with the help of the GWU, which was established by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, wife of the late President Sheikh Zayed.
She sees a lot of potential in the local market because of the determination of Emirati women and the quality of the products they create. And, she says, she has a dream to "reach out not only to the customers of the Emirates but to the those in the Arabian Gulf as a whole".
Before the official guide, some of women relied only on word of mouth or even BlackBerry's Messenger service to attract custom. "After the distribution of the guide, it has became more efficient," says Ayesha Al Mazroui, another local woman, who makes what she describes as French perfumes, but with the addition of local Arabic essences such as oud.
Mrs Al Mazroui says it is important for society to support local women and to appreciate that their circumstances may be different because of the culture.
"It is the culture of Islam and the Emirates to take care of women at all stages of their lives. When she is young and has children that she needs to support, she needs to be in the house to raise them. At an older age going to a governmental job is tiring and may be unsuitable for her social obligations. Women here are never neglected. There is always the chance to give and do more, and get the appreciation for the work and products you provide to society."
"A mother, Emirati or not, is a job important for every society. Here it is cherished so much. That is why an initiative like this puts their efforts on a bigger map that gets recognised. From her house, she can be the mother and a businesswoman who also adds much value to the her society."
Emirati products, she says, are much more in tune with what is needed in local homes, rather than international brand names. Locally made products, such as cloth and perfumes, reflect both the old and modern. "The products you use are the spirit you surround yourself with."
Many of the businesses highlighted in the guide blend older Emirati traditions with modern tastes and trends. Talli-work - a form of needlework traditionally done at home - can be used to create items ranging from shoes to T-shirts, while designs woven as a style known as Al Sadu can be used to make handbags.
Reinventing these traditions for the 21st century can be culturally as well as economically viable. Talliwork, practised by Bedouin women across the Arabian Peninsula, was added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (Unesco) list of "intangible heritage" categories "in need of urgent safeguarding" in 2011.
For some families, the way their ancestors lived is still considered as the soul of the family. What might appear to an observer as a modern might have its roots something practised for many generations, Mrs Al Mazroui says. It is this desire for traditional items which helps many of the women's businesses do so well.
"We like to use thing from everyday life, from our environment, heritage and traditions," she says. "And we like to teach our children that. And they love it."
Fatima Al Rumaithi, the leader of the project at the GWU, agrees. "This idea is born from the vision that Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has for women of this country, for everyone to have the support needed to carry on what they choose. This is also a way to support some families and nurture their hobbies into something bigger," she says.
Since 1997 the Women's Union has organised exhibitions for women to display their products. But as demand has grown, so has the need for a comprehensive guide that puts all of the information in one place.
"The start of this project was for women who did not have big capital for their businesses, just a simple hobby for a small community," says Noura Al Suwaidi, the head of the women's union. "Now however, we are very proud at how those small ideas have been evolving into greater products and bigger projects, with a rising number of successful women who have been juggling family and business throughout the years."
Getting word out to friends and family was easy, says Mrs Al Rumaithi, but it became more difficult when trying to attract business from outside of those circles.
"It took us a while to gather everyone who has a small business and wanted to expand. By allowing those who wanted to appear in the guide to submit their details online, women can decide exactly how much information they want to provide about themselves," she says.
"Some ladies gave their full name, some had a name for their business. Some had their numbers to contact and some just gave a BlackBerry Pin or an email."
Divided into chapters, the guide - which is so far only available in Arabic - lists the details of business that include dukhoon perfumes, handicrafts, food items, clothes and abayas - but it is not just about tradition products. The enterprise of modern Emirati women also extends from catering and party-planning to beauty services.
balhashemi@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Generational responses to the pandemic
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Company%20Profile
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
