Emirati women major driving force behind UAE’s notable achievements

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) has celebrated the achievements of its Emirati women workforce in a company town hall, under the 2023 Emirati Women’s Day theme of ‘We Collaborate for Tomorrow.’

Emirati women are crucial to the UAE national workforce across the Group, with Yahsat dedicated to further increasing their participation given their notable contributions in both technical and non-technical roles. Talented UAE women have repeatedly proven that they are vital to both ensuring the success of the company. Yahsat has paved the way for Emirati women to not only excel in technology sectors traditionally dominated by men, but also assume key leadership positions. Senior management roles at Yahsat occupied by women have steadily increased, with active plans to find more Emirati women to take up senior positions.

Ali Al Hashemi, Yahsat Group CEO, said: “The UAE’s achievements in the satellite and space segments over the past 50 years has been nothing short of extraordinary and Emirati women have been at the backbone of this country’s development and success in line with the leadership’s vision to empower women and achieve gender balance. This is especially true for Yahsat: I am proud of our Emirati women workforce who have proven that their skills, bold decision-making, and leadership qualities have made a positive impact in the satellite communications and space industry.”

Yahsat’s townhall recognized its Emirati Women’s remarkable accomplishments including that of Athari Almansoori, a Senior Engineer of Programme Engineering at Yahsat’s government arm, Yahsat Government Solutions, who has been tasked with leading the demanding and critical operations role of overseeing the Group’s multiple international projects. Other notable Yahsat women achievers include Aida Al Yaaqoubi, a Senior Engineer of Spacecraft Analysis and President of Yahsat’s Youth Council, Nada Obaid, a Senior Systems Engineer and a key member of Yahsat’s ongoing Thuraya 4-NGS satellite programme and Maryam Saeed Alsereidi, Vice President of Information Technology, who is leading the digital transformation of the Group.

Dubai CommerCity: Dubai CommerCity, the first and leading free zone dedicated exclusively to digital commerce in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, a joint venture between the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and Wasl Properties, has announced the launch of “Logi-Flow”, a move towards integrating block chain technology with the logistics operations of small and medium-sized companies. This integration aims to lower costs for these companies while enhancing the overall flexibility and efficiency of their logistics, particularly in digital trade.

This initiative aligns with Dubai CommerCity’s objectives to fulfill the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The objective is to strengthen Dubai’s status as a hub for the digital economy and to support national strategies related to the digital economy and future technologies. These endeavors are also closely connected to the Emirate’s process of digital transformation. This will be acknowledged through a distinctive digital system that enhances business operations and facilitates business processes, alongside the incorporation of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, such as block chain for small and medium-sized businesses.

Logi-Flow, a secure and measurable system, relies on a pay-as-you-go approach tied to transaction volume. It offers round-the-clock support without incurring IT service and maintenance costs, ensuring transparency throughout the entire order process, from creation to delivery.

Abdulrahman Shaheen, Senior Vice President for Property Management and Supply Chain, said:  “This step addresses challenges that companies might face across various stages of e-commerce operations, particularly during the initial setup. These challenges involve the costs of establishing a proprietary “block chain” platform, coupled with ongoing operational expenses due to continuous system operations. This can influence returns based on transaction volume. Additionally, the availability of specialized technological expertise in the market also plays a crucial role.”

“This platform will significantly contribute to the progress and expansion of the digital commerce sector in the upcoming phase. This is especially significant considering the projection that e-commerce retail sales in the UAE will account for 12.6% of total retail sales by 2026.” He added.

It is notable that Dubai CommerCity operates under the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, established in 2021 to provide support and enable operations in various free zones, including the Dubai Airport Free Zone, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai CommerCity. Its primary goal is to achieve integration among all economic zones and bolster their roles in supporting the economy. The ultimate objective is to establish an economic system that caters to all strategic sectors and enhances competitive capabilities within the Emirate of Dubai.