There is a particular challenge in working in communications when Emirati Women’s Day comes around. You spend your working life finding the right words for your organisation. Then an occasion arrives that includes you, and writing about it feels unexpectedly personal.
When I read literature surrounding Emirati Women’s Day, which is being celebrated throughout the month of September, I feel proud. I also wonder where we fit among all those remarkable descriptions – pioneering, inspiring, extraordinary. They are generous words, and there are women whose achievements fully deserve them.
In the communications sector, especially that is within the public view, so much of the work depends on understanding people whose expertise is different from your own. Over time, these exchanges build knowledge and trust. There is something grounding about that process. It keeps you learning and adding to your achievements.
This is where Emirati Women’s Day has particular meaning for me. It creates an opportunity to pay closer attention to women’s contributions, to ask about their work and give their experiences a wider audience.
For a young woman considering her future, seeing another Emirati woman in a technical, commercial or leadership position can make a career feel within reach. Learning how she got there makes it more tangible still.
We owe the foundations of that confidence to a leadership that has invested in women’s education, trusted their abilities and supported their participation in the country’s development.
Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, holds a special place in this journey. Her enduring commitment to women has helped generations of Emirati families imagine wider possibilities for their daughters. The establishment of Emirati Women’s Day gave that commitment an annual place in our national life, inviting us to recognise women’s achievements and consider the opportunities ahead.
This year’s theme, “We Emerge Stronger and Better”, also asks something of us.
For me, this means using what we have learnt to help other women progress. It can be as simple as guiding someone through a demanding project, giving her room to contribute and acknowledge her work. In communication, we can also take greater care of the stories we share. When a woman explains how she handled a difficult project or took on a new responsibility, she gives someone at the beginning of her career practical guidance and the confidence to take a similar step.
Being part of the energy industry adds another dimension to these reflections. I work in a sector closely connected to the UAE’s development, and communicating its work carries responsibility. The words we choose influence how people understand our organisation, its decisions and its place in their lives.
I want to do that work well. I want my judgement to be trusted. And as I become more experienced, I want to help another woman feel comfortable bringing her judgement to the table. Those ambitions feel personal enough to share in this month when we are celebrating Emirati women.
If I were answering the questions I usually ask others on Emirati Women’s Day, I would want my answers to reflect how I feel: proud of what I have achieved, open about what I am still learning, and ambitious about what comes next.
I would probably edit the answer a few times. That part, I am fairly sure, comes with the job.
By Nada AlShamsi, Corporate Communications Manager, Emarat