ISSUE 5 WINTER 2017 A PUBLICATION BY AL FAHIM GROUP FIVE EMIRATI BUSINESSWOMEN From humble beginnings to building some of Abu Dhabi’s leading family businesses ABU DHABI IN 2017 Why Abu Dhabi’s cultural scene is heating up MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS Autonomous driving may soon become a reality GC OVERLAND BRAND215-x275.pdf 2:01 16/16/8 1 PM Winter 2017 contents SHE’S MERCEDES FIVE BUSINESSWOMEN CELEBRATING STRONG WOMEN EMIRATI BUSINESSWOMEN SHAPING LEADERS IN THE UAE WITH A CLASSIC THE FUTURE ACROSS VARIOUS BENZ TOUCH INDUSTRIES IN THE UAE 04 07 SUMMER 2016 TAWASUL 03 Winter 2017 Winter 2017 contents contents ABU DHABI ART 2016 FAIRMONT BAB AL BAHR TOP 10 SPAS MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE A CHEF’S TABLE UNLIKE ANY OTHER THE WORLD’S BEST SPAS TO UNWIND THE MOST INTELLIGENT EXECUTIVE CAPITAL’S ART FAIR IN 2016 FEATURES MOUTHWATERING AND RELAX SEDAN HAS ARRIVED CREATIONS 16 19 04 TAWASUL SUMMER 2016 12 39 SUMMER 2016 TAWASUL 05 LEADERS | WOMEN IN BUSINESS “FATIMA ABDUL JALIL AL FAHIM AND HANADI MOHAMMED AL FAHIM, BOTH EMIRATI BUSINESSWOMEN WHO PLAYED A MAIN ROLE IN INSPIR- ING WOMEN AT THE SHE’S MERCEDES NETWORKING EVENT IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.” CELEBRATING THE UAE’S WOMEN LEADERS THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF INFLUENTIAL EMIRATI WOMEN ACROSS VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY IN THE UAE. TAWASUL LOOKS AT SOME OF THOSE EXAMPLES AND ONE KEY INITIATIVE THAT STANDS OUT. 04 TAWASUL WINTER 2017 WINTER 2017 TAWASUL 05 LEADERS | WOMEN IN BUSINESS is also the chairwoman of the Emirates Media Measurement Company. Al Kaabi additionally serves as a director and board member on various companies and organizations in the emirate that include Abu Dhabi Media Company and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Com- merce. Al Kaabi’s career demonstrates a commitment to the cultivation of Arab talent and the facilitation of organic growth of the Arab media industry. She holds a degree in Management Informa- tion Systems from United Arab Emirates University. AMAL AL QUBAISI was the first woman to become the head of the U.A.E.’s Federal National Council. She holds a doctorate PREVIOUSLY HELD ACROSS CONTI- in Architectural Engineering from the NENTS, SHE’S MERCEDES TOOK PLACE in Ireland, and upon her return to the Mohammed shattered a glass ceiling University of Sheffield and in her career, IN THE CAPITAL FOR THE FIRST TIME U.A.E., she joined a government hospital by becoming the chief executive officer she has focused on education and the in Dubai. It was then that she noticed a of Dubai developer, Wasl. The recipi- youth. The doctor has worked with UN- shortage of female surgeons, and stigma ent of the Emaar Women Award in 2014 ESCO on the preservation of more than surrounding women being examined by has more than 12 years of experience in 350 historical sites in the U.A.E. She HE UAE HAS SET THE STANDARD WHEN male doctors. Kazim temporarily left the industry. She is also on the board has also served as director of the Abu T IT COMES TO WOMEN EMPOWERMENT home again and moved to the United of Emaar Industries and Investments, Dhabi Education Council. Between 2000 IN THE WORKPLACE. Here are some Kingdom to obtain formal training in the investment arm of the renowned and 2006, al Qubaisi was an assistant examples of businesswomen who’ve surgery before returning to Dubai to property company. Mohammed earned professor at U.A.E. University, where managed to shine and set a strong ex- specialize in breast cancer surgery in a master’s degree from Heriot-Watt she taught architecture. She has held ample within their respective industries. 1998. University in Strategic Project Manage- various other positions at influential And while those industries are quite dif- The doctor has said that she ment, and has certificates in accounting organizations and companies across the ferent, the women share in common the founded her NGO as she noticed a lack and financial business management. country, including as president of the fact that they had to surpass stereotypes of research coming out of the Arab world The businesswoman’s experience with Education, Youth, Media and Culture in male-dominated fields to make a on breast cancer, even though women Dubai real estate started in 2001, when Committee as well as a member of the name for themselves. tend to contract the disease at a younger she joined a local developer. There, she Health, Labour and Social Affairs Com- GHADA AL-ROUSI IS A PILOT and Second Of- age in the U.A.E., when compared to gained hands-on experience in almost mittee. ficer with Sharjah-based budget airline women in the western world. Kazim all aspects of the business, before later Al Qubaisi is presently the only Air Arabia, making her one of the focuses on raising awareness and edu- joining Wasl in 2007. Mohammed has person in the world to have conducted first female pilots in the U.A.E., after cating people on these trends. While said in interviews that she has benefitted doctoral research in the conservation of Mariam al Mansouri. This is quite a feat pit, and that as such, they can provide alone. With time, she recently said in an she has said she did not face challenges from the U.A.E.’s promotion and cultiva- architectural heritage in the U.A.E. considering only three percent of com- a long-term solution to the industry’s interview with the National newspaper, becoming a surgeon within her immedi- tion of female talent. But there are many other great mercial pilots in the world are women, at shortage of pilots. Hailing from Sharjah, they came to accept and be proud of her ate surroundings, considering she comes NOURA AL KAABI HAS MADE A NAME IN THE MEDIA examples such as Fatima Abdul Jalil a time when Boeing forecasts that within Al-Rousi was the first local woman to ambitions. from a family of doctors, she has noted INDUSTRY as the chief executive officer of Al Fahim and Hanadi Mohammed Al Fa- 20 years, more than half a million com- graduate from Sharjah International HOURIYA KAZIM IS A SURGEON and founder of that cultural challenges for women exist tax-free media zone, twofour54. Forbes him, both Emirati businesswomen who mercial pilots will be needed to keep the Airport’s Alpha Aviation School, and the Well Woman Clinic in Dubai and more broadly in the medical industry in magazine has ranked her one of the most played a main role in inspiring women at aviation industry afloat. hopes to one day become a captain. non-governmental organization, Breast the Arab world. powerful Arab women, while Foreign the She’s Mercedes networking event in Al-Rousi, who is in her early twen- She was just 18 when she decided she Friends. She is the first female Emirati ZAINAB MOHAMMED IS A REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVE. Policy magazine has placed her among November last year. ties, has argued that women should wanted to become a pilot, and initially surgeon to specialize in breast surgery. Given that the property industry in the top 100 global thinkers. A champion From entrepreneurs to fashion move out of the cabin and into the cock- her family worried about her desire to fly The doctor attended medical school the U.A.E. is male-dominated, Zainab for the region’s film industry, al Kaabi designers, an exclusive list of strong, 06 TAWASUL WINTER 2017 WINTER 2017 TAWASUL 07 LEADERS | WOMEN IN BUSINESS self-made women in the region were celebrated at the She’s Mercedes event, which was hosted by Mercedes-Benz and Emirates Motor Company (EMC) – Mercedes-Benz authorized distributors in Abu Dhabi and the flagship company of Al Fahim Group. The event also saw the unveiling of the sleek and modern Mercedes-Benz - New GLC Coupé for the first time in the UAE. Fatima Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Super- visory Board Member and Founder of F7 Design, welcomed guests at the event saying: “We are truly proud to be bring- ing such an inspirational event, estab- lished by Mercedes-Benz and Emirates Motor Company, to the forefront of doubted his own invention, she took Q&A with Sara Madani, designer and some of the UAE’s strongest, leading charge by taking the Motorwagen for an owner of Rouge Couture abayas; fashion ladies. It is nothing short of amazing to incredible 106-kilometer historic drive designer and self-made woman Mariam see so much real talent connecting with that paved the way for the start of the Yehia, designer and owner of Mrs. one another and building the founda- success of the Mercedes brand. Keepa; and Sara AbuDawood who took tions of the She’s Mercedes community She’s Mercedes is an international jewelry designing to a new level with her in the region. platform bringing together self-made chic but bold brand Yataghan.” “This event is extremely important and self-reliant women from the region The topics ranged from the benefits to me – both on a personal level as a to empower and lead a revolution of and challenges of working with a part- designer and as a supervisory board growth, inspiration and knowledge ner; to how to create noise in the market member at Al Fahim Group. I am de- sharing through exclusive invites and and unconventional finance planning; lighted to represent the family and the speeches of key industry professionals. and the edge brought by knowing your group›s efforts in empowering woman to Previously held across various conti- audience inside out when trying to break AL-ROUSI WAS JUST 18 WHEN reach their full potential in the business nents, the Abu Dhabi event was the through.