ABU DHABI BUSINESSWOMEN COUNCIL Services & Initiatives

ABU DHABI BUSINESSWOMEN COUNCIL Services & Initiatives

Contact Details: Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council (ADBWC), Head Office, Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building, P. O. Box 662 Abu Dhabi Networking Nos.: +971 (2) 6177526 / 6177529 / 6177495 E-mail: info@adbusinesswomen.ae Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council (ADBWC), Al Ain Branch Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building, Al Ain Branch Networking Nos.: +971 (3) 7076653/ 7076654 E-mail: bwc.alain@adcci.gov.ae ABU DHABI BUSINESSWOMEN COUNCIL Services & Initiatives

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Subject Page Introduction 7 Evolution 9 Honorary Chairwomanship 9 ADBWC s Objectives and Mandate 11 ADBWC s Executive Board 13 ADBWC s Business Domains 14 Vision, Mission, Values 15 An Outline of the ADBWC s Strategic Five-Year Plan 2015-2019 17 Services, Projects and Initiatives Being Provided by the ADBWC 24 5

Introduction Under the Honorary Chairwomanship of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak (May Allah safeguard her), the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council (ADBWC) came into existence in 2001 pursuant to the Abu Dhabi Camber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) Board of Directors Decision No. 62 of 2001, so as to stress the importance of the role being played by women as a strategic partner in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi s comprehensive development. Thanks to the kind directives and assiduous follow-up of Her Highness, the ADBWC has managed to make numerous achievements and thus maintained the leading role of businesswomen in the private sector. In line with the ADBWC s keenness to realize HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, ABWC Honorary Chairwoman s vision represented in (enhancing the ability of UAE women to actively take part in various areas of development driven by HH s belief that sustainable socio-economic development in the UAE entails fair and square participation between businesswomen and businessmen, while having integrated roles, raising women s aptitudes, upgrading their skills, boosting their involvement and enabling them to both perform their active part in society and contribute to the process of economic development), the ADBWC has been working to translate such vision by adopting an ambitious 5-year plan. It aims at women s remarkable involvement in entrepreneurship, ensuring their increasing sustainable presence in accordance with the latest developments and the best practices, optimally capitalizing the energy of Emirati women working at home in all realms and consequently ensuring their integration into the emirate s local economy, along with economic empowerment guaranteeing women s active contribution to in all sectors of private business. The ADBWC has also adopted a package of services, projects and initiatives as part of its strategic plan which supports the empowerment of women, female entrepreneurs and creative ladies and brings to bear their role in the private sector, while helping their businesses grow sustainable. 7

Evolution Set up pursuant to the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) Board of Directors Decision No. 62 of 2001, the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council (ADBWC) is subordinate to the ADCCI organisational structure. Honorary Chairwomanship of the ADBWC The ADBWC has since its inception been privileged by the honorary chairwomanship of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Higher Council for Motherhood and Childhood. 9

ADBWC s Objectives The ADBWC aims at: Reactivating the role and involvement of businesswomen, female entrepreneurs and creative ladies in the private sector and helping maintain their businesses sustainability and viability; Providing the required consultancy for removing difficulties being faced by businesswomen and female entrepreneurs and for helping develop and sustain their businesses; Disseminating and promoting a culture of women s entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation in a competitive business environment; Supporting the establishment of integrated, innovative business incubators and encouraging,, adopting and developing women s creative ideas, together with providing the necessary environment for sustainability; Enhancing the role of scientific research and development (R&D) in the field of entrepreneurship; Making available such programmes supportive of women s empowerment through streamlining their skills and aptitudes as training and development in the field of entrepreneurship; Making suggestions about upgrading legislations, policies and procedures regulating the economic action in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in a manner boosting women s involvement in the private sector; Regulating career ladies practice within home-based licences and integrating them into the private-business system; and Contributing to the increase of UAE women s involvement in labour market s jobs in the private sector. 11

Vision To lead the development of women s role in the private sector and to enable them to be a key partner in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi s sustainable economic development. Mission The ADBWC helps encourage and support women to have access to the business market through small- and medium-sized and micro enterprises, continuing with these and upgrading existing ones through top-quality and high-efficiency services, including training, development, consultancy, professional guidance, incubating businesses and adopting innovative, creative ideas, while assisting in financing such projects and facilitating procedures by means of an elite of experts and professionals and according to state-of-the-art approaches and techniques for purposes of enhancing the role of businesswomen in the emirate-based private sector. Values Excellence and leadership Stakeholders-focused Active partnerships Social responsibility Esprit de corps (Teamwork spirit) Flexibility and transparency Learning and corporate development 13

ADBWC s Areas of Work Business Domains Awareness and dissemination of a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation Specialized training and development Incubation and enhancement of innovative entrepreneurship Providing professional consultancy Vocational mentoring during execution of project Helping obtain financing Facilitating procedures for obtaining licences Making arrangements for domestic and outbound delegations Organizing economic conferences and forums Encouraging creativity and innovation Target Categories Businesswomen registered with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) ADBWC-affiliated businesswomen and entrepreneurs Businesswomen included in Mubdi ah Licence Programme Women working in the private sector Women desirous of engaging in private business Female graduates seeking jobs Women willing to improve their economic conditions The ADBWC s Executive Board (EB) Through its office based at the ADCCI s headquarters, the ADBWC is operating under the umbrella of the ADCCI and is run by an executive board which is appointed pursuant to a decision issued by the ADCCI s Board of Directors every four years. According to Decision No. 59 issued by the ADCCI s Board Chairman in December 2014 Concerning the Formation of the ADBWC and the ADBWC s Executive Board, the EB is represented by: 14 15

16 Her Excellency Mariam Mohamed Abdullah Al Rumaithi HE Rafi a Helal Bin Durri Al Qubaissi HE Mouza Saeed Bin Ahmed Al Otaiba HE Reed Hamad Khamees Al Shriani Al Dhaheri HE Dalal Saeed Muhair Saeed Al Qubaissi Mrs. Huda Abdul-Rahman Mohamed Al Mattroushi Mrs. Aisha Ali Khalfan Al Dhaheri Mrs. Alya Abdullah Mohamed Ali Al Mazrouei Mrs. Salma Uqaidah Ali Al Muhairi Mrs. Fatima Khamees Al-Fandi Al Mazrouei Chairperson Vice-chairperson Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member 17

An Outline of the ADBWC s Strategic Five- Year Plan 2015-2019 Firstly, ADBWC s Strategic Objectives 2015-2019 Women s notable participation in entrepreneurship, ensuring their growing presence and the sustainability of such presence according to the latest developments and best practices. Optimally capitalizing on the potential of UAE women doing home-based business in its various fields would ensure relevant integration into the emirate s domestic economy. Economic empowerment guaranteeing women s active contribution to all sectors of private business and supporting sustainable economic development in the emirate. Accumulative cognitive experience within the ADBWC ensures on-going development of its business and services in conformity with the latest competitive developments on the labour market. Secondly, Strategic Objectives, Their Key Indicators, Strategic Programmes and Projects First Strategic Objective Women s notable participation in entrepreneurship, ensuring their growing presence and the sustainability of such presence according to the latest developments and best practices. Strategic Programmes Promoting a culture of women s entrepreneurship in a competitive business environment Enhancing a culture of creativity and innovation in women s entrepreneurship Boosting women s role and participation in the private sector, keeping the sustainability of both their business and continuity with such business Setting up integrated, innovative business incubators in support of incubators role in backing up the concept of innovative entrepreneurship Projects and Initiatives Establishing an e-portal, including an on-line guide to investment opportunities in entrepreneurship and training women on how to invest in and make use of such opportunities. Organizing extensive awareness campaigns on the dissemination and enhancement of entrepreneurship-specific culture in accordance with the best practices locally, regionally and internationally, while having the same subsumed under a number of activities as training programmes for specialized development, along with nurturing women s abilities, aptitudes 18 19

and skills in the field of entrepreneurship, forums, seminars and exhibitions. Her Highness Sheikhah Fatima Bint Mubarak s Award for Innovative Entrepreneurship. An innovative entrepreneurship club which aims at raising awareness about a culture of creativity and innovation in entrepreneurship, as well as at encouraging women to generate creative ideas which are to be developed, implemented and followed up. Conducting an extensive study in the field of innovation on entrepreneurship and making use of relevant findings and recommendations in upgrading the services being delivered by the ADBWC. Conducting a survey on the realistic situation of businesswomen, entrepreneurs and female workers in the private sector and identifying their needs and pinpointing the challenges being faced by them with an aim of developing policies and services which would help their businesses be sustainable and viable. Setting up an accurately comprehensive on-line database about businesswomen who are engaged in commercial activities in the private sector and about career ladies in the private sector s companies and businesses. Programme on certified entrepreneurship licence for training businesswomen, female entrepreneurs and workers as part of domestic licences on developing and keeping their businesses sustainability and viability. Preparing the national strategy on women s economic empowerment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in partnership with public and private organizations. Setting up the integrated and innovative business incubators. Projects and Initiatives Preparing a study on policies and legislations regulating women s work in the private sector, identifying the challenges being encountered by them and suggesting policies and legislations regulating and enabling the sustainability of women s business in the private sector. A training and development programme for women as part of Mubdi ah Licence so that they can be integrated into the system of private business. Compiling a study on outlets and ways through which to support marketing of women s products as part of home-specific licences and entrepreneurs in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Second Strategic Objective Optimally capitalizing on the potential of UAE women doing home-based business in its various fields would ensure relevant integration into the emirate s domestic economy. Strategic Programmes Regulating career ladies practice as part of household licences and integrating the same into the system of private business. 20 21

Third Strategic Objective Economic empowerment guaranteeing women s active contribution to all sectors of private business. Strategic Programmes Contributing to the increase of UAE women s participation in jobs of the labour market in the private sector Projects and Initiatives Preparing a study on policies and legislations regulating women s work in the private sector, identifying the challenges being encountered by them and suggesting policies and legislations regulating and enabling the sustainability of women s business in the private sector. Strategic Programmes Building and Developing the ADBWC s Capacities and Enablers Projects and Initiatives Preparing and continuously developing policies, manuals and methodologies regulating the ADBWC s business. Nurturing the competencies and skills of human resources working for the ADBWC in a manner proportionate to the ADBWC s Strategic Five-Year Plan. Introducing an organisational and functional structure for the ADBWC in accordance with both the ADBWC s new main processes and strategic guidelines. Considering a survey of jobs available in the private sector and commensurate with the needs of women who are willing to work in jobs of the private sector. Preparing a professional programme for nurturing women s capacities and aptitudes, training and developing them and enabling them to work in the private sector according to the outputs of the survey. Fourth Strategic Objective Accumulative cognitive experience within the ADBWC ensures on-going development of its business and services in conformity with the latest competitive developments on the labour market. 22 23

Preparing a risk register in order to survey all risks resultant from the ADBWC s business (strategically, financially, administratively and technically etc.) Preparing a business continuity (sustainability) plan. Earning the ISO 9001 and other relevant certifications. Preparing a manual introducing and classifying strategic and operational services being provided by the ADBWC to target categories. Preparing a system of strategic partnership at the local, regional and international levels as part of a clear action methodology and reactivating the same to support the ADBWC s Strategic Five-Year Plan. Compiling a documentary book every 10 years on the ADBWC s march. Services, Projects and Initiatives Being Provided by the ADBWC As part of its strategic five-year plan, relevant strategic objectives and programmes, the ADBWC offers a package of projects, initiatives and services, which would help achieve both the Council s strategic objectives and the strategic plan s key performance indicators (KPIs). This is with an aim of backing up women s active participation in entrepreneurship and enhancing their involvement in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi s sustainable economic development. Services, initiatives and projects being introduced by the ADBWC are represented in the following: Mubdi ah Programme, Consultancy services, Integrated innovative business incubator, Awareness, culture-disseminating and entrepreneurial services Organizing economic conferences and forums, Making arrangements for internal and out-bound delegations, Innovative entrepreneurship club, and Research and development (R&D). 24 25

Firstly, Programme Mubdi ah Mubdi ah Programme was established in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi pursuant to Decision No. 6 taken at Session 39/2005, issued by the Executive Council at its session held on 26 September 2005, and inclusive of (allowing UAE women-nationals to exercise some home-based business activities. The programme is operating under the umbrella of the ADBWC through which a trade licence is initiated via approving the issuance of a Mubdi ah licence. Afterwards, the licence-related procedures are completed with competent entities. Regulating UAE women s practice of trading activities via home in a legal manner. Creating a mechanism that would help UAE women, who are practising business activities via home, turn into engaging in outdoors businesses. Raising awareness of the right way through which a number of female categories can manage to be involved in commercial business based at home in order for them to improve their financial conditions. Examples of such categories are: working families, female graduates, housewives, divorcees and widows. Objectives of the Mubdi ah Programme The programme is intended to: Support and back up female national s ideas and initiatives for investing in private businesses; Provide action mechanisms which enhance the windows of success for women nationals, e.g. training, marketing and technical support; Bring to bear the women-national s contribution to activities of the economic sector, as well as to business and trade fields through giving them a favourable chance to engage properly in commercial activities; Regulate the process of practising the commercial activities via home in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi; and Open up new areas and roles for female citizens, urging them to be creative and to develop their capabilities. 26 27

Business Activities within Mubdi ah Programme 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 28 Calligraphic and drawing shop - Mubdi ah, Handicrafts and hand-made environmental pieces - Mubdi ah, Interior design (decoration) works- Mubdi ah, Knitting and embroidery, Typewriting and photocopying services - Mubdi ah, Retail of coffee beans - Mubdi ah, Retail of spices, condiments and items of spice business -Mubdi ah, Retail of dates - Mubdi ah, Retail of oud, incense and nutmeg - Mubdi ah, Retail of cosmetics and relevant accessories - Mubdi ah, Ladies beauty and personal care centre - Mubdi ah, Parties and entertainment events providers - Mubdi ah, Dressmaking and tailoring - Mubdi ah, Arrangement of natural and artificial flowers - Mubdi ah, Henna patterns - Mubdi ah, Training on works of beauty salons - Mubdi ah, Retail of Arab apparel and garments - Mubdi ah, Social consultancy - Mubdi ah, Legal translation services - Mubdi ah, Retail of perfumes - Mubdi ah, and Women s ready-made garments business. 29

Secondly, Consultancy Service Consultancy service provided by the ADBWC is represented in consultations of various fields and delivered in a scientifically professional manner which is regulated and rendered by an elite of specialists in accordance with the service s type and classification. This service is intended to: Support the stability of businesswomen and female entrepreneurs in the private sector and contribute to the sustainability of their businesses; Be instrumental in upgrading existing projects which are owned by businesswomen and female entrepreneurs; Help develop projects as part of (Mubdi ah) domestic licences and enable them to be integrated into the private sector; Review feasibility studies for new businesses; and Contribute to raising awareness about business activities-regulating laws and legislations in the private sector. Consultancy Service-Delivering Mechanism: 45-minute-long office consultancy by means of setting prior appointments in coordination with the ADBWC s Office. 30-minute-long telephone consultancy which is fulfilled through reserving an appointment in advance with the ADBWC s Office. Electronic consultancy via the consultancy service-specific e-mail. Locations for Obtaining the Service: ADBWC s Office, 15th Floor, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) ADBWC s Office, ADCCI Branch s premises in Al Ain Areas of Consultancy Service: Legal consultancy Financial consultancy Consultancy on economic feasibility studies Consultancy for streamlining the existing businesses Consultancy on incubating businesses within the integrated innovative business incubator Consultancy on innovation and creativity in the field of business 30 31

Thirdly, Integrated Innovative Business Incubator The Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council (ADBWC) has adopted setting up an integrated innovative business incubator as part of its Strategic Five-Year Plan 2015-2019. It is an umbrella through which sponsorship, support and back-up are provided for initiatives and projects of technical, scientific and services innovation and creativity. Incubator s Objectives: 1. To enable women to identify their latent creative potential and abilities and to translate their ideas into productive projects and superior services; 2. To provide an integrated package of technical support, back-up and consultancy services to upgrade projects, raise their growth rates and improve their economic efficiency; 3. To provide new jobs for female entrepreneurs and small investors in order to work in the private sector; 4. To support innovative ambitious initiatives and ideas; to provide a proper business environment for them during the early years of the project s life and to expand their windows of success and sustainability; 5. To give advice, guidance and assistance in the preparation of projects feasibility studies; 6. To Prepare studies and research in cooperation with universities and to employ them in upgrading projects; 7. To provide an innovation-motivating environment and to introduce new methods of providing services, nurturing the economy and enhancing competitiveness in the business sector; 8. To prepare, qualify, train and foster the skills of young female investors and entrepreneurs and to enable them to run their own businesses efficiently and effectively; 9. To help provide necessary finance for starting a business via networking with banks, funds and financing corporations; 10. To nurture young people s skills, opening up new investment-related horizons for them and adopting innovative and creative projects; and 11. To make available a database in support of those associated with the incubator, urging them to provide investment ideas and opportunities, in addition to data reinforcing the development and sustainability of their projects. Areas of Incubation Women-owned businesses in the founding phase, Ladies and students innovative and creative ideas and initiatives which require support, sponsorship and upgrading, Micro-businesses owned by businesswomen and entrepreneurs as part of the Mubdi ah licence and which are in need of development, growth and creating sales outlets, Projects of female graduates who are willing to engage in business, 32 33

UAE women s initiatives entailing technical and financial support plus economic feasibility studies in the founding, upgrading or expansion phases, and Initiatives which preserve traditional professions and occupations and conventional legacies requiring support, sponsorship, upgrading and marketing. Terms and Conditions for Joining the Incubator A would-be affiliate to the incubator should be a UAE national; and She should be 18 years old. Admission Prerequisites for Affiliation to the Incubator Filling out an application form for joining the incubator plus providing the applicationsupporting documents. Passing the personal assessment and project concept s evaluation phase. Fourthly, Awareness and Dissemination of Entrepreneurship Culture The ADBWC offers a number of services for spreading the a culture of entrepreneurship through annual awareness campaigns organized by the ADBWC and aiming at: Enlightening women on the latest developments and requirements for doing private sector s business; Providing a database on investment areas and opportunities available to women; Boosting the skills of women and training them in the field of entrepreneurship; and Urging women to excel in the field of entrepreneurship. Awareness campaigns include a number of events and activities: Economic seminars and forums, Training and development programmes, Marketing exhibitions, Dialogue sessions, and Lectures at universities and colleges. 34 35

Fifthly, Organising Economic Conferences and Forums The ADBWC annually organizes a number of economic conferences and forums, which highlight priority issues on the local, regional and international economic arena and ones which are of interest to businesswomen and female entrepreneurs and helping them to be briefed upon the latest developments in the field of entrepreneurship. Sixthly, Making Arrangements for Internal and Out-bound Delegations Seventhly, Innovative Entrepreneurship Club In line with the ADBWC s care for promoting a culture of creativity and innovation in women s entrepreneurship, the Council has adopted the establishment of an Innovative Entrepreneurship Club with an objective of: Disseminating women s awareness about the culture of creativity and Innovation in entrepreneurship; and Nurturing women s aptitudes to generate innovative ideas in the field of entrepreneurship and offering incentives required for them in a way supportive of their upgrading and sustainability. Yearly, the ADBWC organizes a number of out-bound delegations in conformity with the Council s executive plan and according to the findings of analytical studies being conducted by it for the purpose of supporting areas of joint cooperation between the ADBWC and other similar councils at the regional and international levels. Visiting, In-bound delegations are received by the ADBWC as part of those received by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) or other ones who visit the Council within its own annual plan. 36 37

Eighthly, Research and Development (R&D) As part of its Strategic Five-Year Plan, the ADBWC is preparing and compiling a number of researches and studies designed to analyze the status quo of businesswomen, female entrepreneurs and creative ladies, while providing streamlining solutions so as to enhance women s role and involvement in the private sector and maintaining their businesses sustainability and their continuity with them. The most important studies and researches that will be prepared by the ADBWC include: A survey on the realistic situation of businesswomen, female entrepreneurs and women-workers in the private sector in order to both identify their needs and pinpoint challenges being faced with an aim of upgrading policies and services which would help sustain their businesses; Preparing an extensive study in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship and making use of the findings of such study and its recommendations in upgrading the services being delivered by the ADBWC; Compiling a study on outlets and ways through which to support the marketing of women s products subsumed under all types of licences, including the home-specific licence in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Conducting a study on policies and legislations regulating women s business within the private sector and identifying challenges being encountered by them, along with suggesting policies and legislations regulating and enabling the sustainability of women s business within the private sector; and Preparing a study to survey employment opportunities available in the private sector and commensurate with the needs of women willing to assume private sector s jobs. 38