Dubai Quality Group conducts awareness programs for Emirates Businesswomen Award

Dubai Quality Group conducts awareness programs for Emirates Businesswomen Award

Presentations target student communities and private sector companies

February 13, 2003

Dubai Quality Group, which has launched the Emirates Businesswomen Award in association with Shell, has intensified its efforts to create greater awareness of the award by conducing presentations for a cross-section of women groups. The award is to be presented in Dubai in April 2003.

Some 40 students studying executive masters in business administration at Sharjah University were recently briefed on the key features of the award and its criteria at a presentation conducted by Badriya Al Tamimi, Manager of Dubai Quality Group. Subsequent presentations will be held for employees and businesswomen at the HSBC Bank, Bait Al Arab and Khalil Al Sayegh Jewellers, with a special focus on the private sector.

"The Emirates Businesswomen's Award fulfils a long-felt need for an award that would single out businesswomen for their extraordinary achievements," said Ms. Al Tamimi. "The fact that almost 50 per cent of the UAE'S workforce is female demands that there should be initiatives to assess the extraordinary success of some women. The award was preceded by a lot of groundwork to lay down the right criteria and guidelines. We came up with a formula that takes into account factors like visionary leadership, future goals, professional achievements, career achievements and community contribution before selecting the ideal businesswoman."

Ms. Al Tamimi highlighted the eligibility for the award and said that both UAE nationals as well as expatriates holding valid UAE residence visas could apply for the award. The Award is open to business owners as well as professionals. Women owning small businesses as well as running big corporations are eligible to apply. The awards will be given in two categories.

"It is crucial that objectivity and clear-cut assessment guidelines are followed in selecting the winners of such a major award," said Ms. Al Tamimi. "Dubai Quality Group, driven by its objective to leave the selection to experts has appointed Sikologia Consultants, a consulting firm headed by a UAE National woman, Dr. Nadia Buhannad, to oversee the assessment and selection process. This gives the award a high degree of credibility. We would like to urge all women who feel they have made a mark in their field of activity to bold come forward and apply for this award."

"The Dubai Quality Group's decision to launch the Emirates Businesswomen's Award is inspired by its quest for excellence at all levels," said Al Tamimi. We are confident the award will accelerate the march of more women into business and corporate arena and give more recognition to women's achievements and abilities."

Qatari authorities adopt tough measures for users of illegal software

Recent raid leads to confiscation of several PCs with pirated software

February 15, 2003

Doha - In keeping with its strategy of implementing intellectual property laws, the Qatari authorities have recently announced their plans to intensify the campaign against companies and individuals using illegal software in Qatar. Aimed at restricting the growing pirated software industry, this initiative also endeavors to strengthen the national economy of the country. Qatar Police in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Trade have recently raided a company and seized 35 PCs loaded with pirated software including MS Windows, Office, Symantec, Adobe and AutoDesk.

This tough action follows the passing of a special law for the protection of intellectual property and authors' rights in Qatar. The law, which is being strictly implemented, aims at protecting the software manufacturers and acts as an incentive to attract other developers into the country.
"The Ministry for Economy and Trade has always supported various initiatives against software piracy, because we are fully aware of the negative effects piracy has on different market segments in the country," said Abdullah Qayed, Head of the office for the protection of intellectual property and authors' rights at the Ministry. "The Ministry works in collaboration with Business Software Alliance (BSA) Middle East by following up the complaints received from different software companies or individuals."

The Qatari move is in line with the efforts made by GCC countries to protect their national economies by establishing the legal concepts of intellectual property and by combating piracy in general and software piracy in particular. Governments in the region have realized that combating piracy is necessary as it helps ensure smooth development and growth of the software industry. These steps will gain the confidence of BSA's regional and international members and encourage them to offer the most advanced products to consumers in the region. BSA has called upon companies and individuals who are mislead and sold PCs loaded with pirated software to call on the specially created hotlines in order to protect their rights and avoid any damage to their PCs and businesses.