Maryam Al Hashemi keeps UAE’s diamond industry shining bright

DUBAI // When people hear what Maryam Al Hashemi’s job is, their eyes light up.

As the director of the UAE Kimberley Process, the 36-year-old manages the office that checks all the rough diamonds entering the UAE to ensure they are ethically sourced.

To many, it is an enviable task.

“Once they hear what I do their eyes start to sparkle and they start saving money so I can get them a good discount on diamonds,” the mother-of-two jokes. “And when men hear it they say, ‘We will not introduce you to our wives’.”

Despite her seemingly glamorous job, Ms Al Hashemi says the role is a serious one.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was created by the United Nations General Assembly to stop the trade in conflict diamonds and to ensure diamonds do not come from conflict or human rights abuses.

The KPCS came into force in 2003, when participating countries started to implement its rules. The KPCS was adopted in the UAE in that same year by the Ministry of Economy, making the UAE the first Arab country to introduce it, and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority the only entry and exit point for rough diamonds in the country.

Ms Al Hashemi began work in the newly-formed DMCC in 2003 after completing her Higher Colleges of Technology diploma at Dubai Women’s College. She is now one of its longest-serving employees.

Climbing the career ladder has not been without challenges.

“It was not just plain sailing when we opened the doors to the KPCS in the UAE, as the Kimberley Process itself had just been introduced to the world,” she said. “But everybody faces challenges. This is how you learn, how new opportunities arise and how you ultimately break through the mould to achieve your goals. As with any-thing new to a marketplace or industry, prudent leadership, smart services and ease of doing business have contributed to facilitating trade and to position the UAE among the top 10 leading diamond centres in the world within the first three years of operation, but we did not stop there. Today Dubai has positioned itself as one of the three largest diamond trading hubs in the world.”

Being a woman helped rather than hindered her success.

“I have always tried to capitalise on the support of Dubai’s leadership for women who want to make a difference, by creating my own path, which is driven by the passion for success and achievement.

“As the first Emirati woman to represent the UAE diamond sector I have played a vital role in building relationships between government entities and the diamond trading community.”

The vision of Sheikh Zayed, the founding President of the UAE, who believed in empowering women, had helped women across the Emirates to achieve their goals, she said.

“I meet people from all around the world and they are all amazed at how the country promotes UAE women, and they admire and respect that,” she said.

“UAE women are already strong role models and ambassadors across both public and private sectors.

“I believe these successful women will inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps and to branch out as far as technology and infrastructure will allow.”

Despite the progress, Ms Al Hashemi believes further steps could be taken to help women advance in the workplace.

“Working mothers who are truly passionate about their positions should be given the privilege of flexible work hours as it would enable them to return to their families not so late during the day,” she said. “It would make a big difference.”

This is something she herself can relate to. Maintaining a work-life balance became difficult when she had a family.

“There aren’t always enough hours in the day,” she admitted. “It is a balancing act.”

Ms Al Hashemi, who is from Dubai, still wants to achieve more.

“A key aspiration for me is to make the UAE the major diamond trading centre in the world. I don’t want to aspire to anything less than first place.”

Ms Al Hashemi’s advice to other women striving for a prominent place in the business world is to never give up.

“Do not let energy go to waste by getting disappointed if you do not achieve your goals immediately,” she said.

“Determination and persistence will pay off.”

jbell@thenational.ae