Arab Lab & Instrumentation 2003 attracts more than 6500 visitors from
47 countriesUAE women surge ahead to establish their reputation in information
technology
Emirates Businesswomen Award to recognize and encourage women's leading
role in IT and business in the countryFebruary 06, ?2003
The crucial importance of Information Technology and the flexibility it
provides has made it a popular career choice for UAE women. A large
pool of educated women qualified for careers in IT has begun to emerge in
the country, with female students outnumbering men at the local
universities and colleges.Official statistics show that 72 per cent of students enrolling for
higher education in the UAE are women. In addition, women comprise 42 per cent
of the students at the faculty of Natural Sciences, which includes
computer science and engineering. At the Higher Colleges of Technology, the
proportion of female students is three times higher than that of men."The new millennium is all about information technology and the
Internet and there is no better option for UAE women than IT, because it offers
them the freedom to work from home and requires minimum interaction
with others," said Aisha Butti Bin Bishr, Web Content Developer, Department
of Tourism & Commerce Marketing in Dubai. "IT has tremendously
increased women's chances of entering the workplace, since the knowledge of IT
equips women to take up positions in different fields and use their creativity
productively. It also widens one's horizons, as this is a dynamic, fast
changing world offering a host of opportunities and new avenues."The United Arab Emirates is one of the most technologically modern
countries and also the most wired state in the Arab world. Recent studies show
that Internet penetration in the country is more than 25 per cent, which is
significantly higher than the figure in the neighboring Gulf States.
UAE was also reportedly the first country in the region to allow cyber
caf?s, which both men and women can use."The rapid growth of Information technology in the UAE has come at a
significant time when women in the country - both nationals and expatriates - have
begun to explore a variety of opportunities for personal and
professional development," said Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, Emirates
Environmental Group . "The continuous and strong support offered to women IT
professionals by the government, the relative ease with which IT can be exploited,
the anytime anywhere access to business critical systems and solutions and
the continuous innovation and development within the IT industry
itself, have all combined to make this an excellent medium of growth for women.
It is to the credit of UAE women that they have fully capitalized on
these opportunities to create a significant and fast growing niche for
themselves in the information technology industry."Whether in IT or other fields, UAE women's progress has been
commendable. The availability of higher education has given women in the UAE the
much-needed passport to choosing careers of their choice. With literacy rates of
around 90 per cent, UAE women are poised to take an increasing role in society
and business. A number of women have risen to become owners of
successful enterprises or decision makers in corporate circles.While the government has provided the much needed incentives and
encouragement to businesswomen, very little has been done to publicly recognize the
achievements of exceptional women. A new initiative launched by the Dubai Quality
Group in association with Shell Middle East is set to make the first effort
to fill the vacuum through the institution of the Emirates Businesswomen
Award."Over the past few years we have been noticing evidence of an exciting
transformation that shows women in the UAE surging forward to achieve
what they want by sheer determination and strength of character," said
Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Manager External Affairs, Shell Companies in Dubai and
Northern Emirates. "Businesswoman may be a relatively a new term here, but
judging by recent trends we shall certainly see more of businesswomen in the
UAE in the near future. It is precisely to make this concept a reality that
Shell is supporting this admirable initiative from Dubai Quality Group
to recognize women's contribution in the business, professional and
commercial arena. The award will also enable the creation of role models, who will
further encourage women to pursue their professions actively."The award, to be given away in April 2003, will follow elaborate
screening and judging procedures, based on five basic parameters of visionary
leadership, future goals, professional achievements, career achievements and
community contribution.The Emirates Businesswomen Award will be given away in two categories,
open to business owners as well as professionals. The main categories
are Business Owners or Investors and Professionals. The award is open to
local women as well as expatriates. The deadline for submitting entries is
February 28, 2003.
The Emirates Businesswomen Award has been instituted by Dubai Quality
Group- Professional Women's Subgroup and Royal Dutch Shell to honor business &
professional women who have made a significant contribution to business
development in the UAE. Launched under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed
Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation
and Chairman of Emirates Airline, the award seeks to recognize the success
achieved by women residents in the UAE in the world of business either
as businesswomen or a professional, with the objective of providing a
toll for women to self assess their performance & that of their businesses
in a highly structured excellence performance Framework.
The Emirates Businesswomen Award is divided into four categories & is
open to business owners as well as professionals. The main categories are
locally based Smaller Enterprises with less than 25 employees and Larger
Enterprises employing more than 25 persons. In each category there are two
sub-categories: Business Owners/Investors and Professionals. The Award is open to UAE
nationals as well as expatriates holding UAE residence visas. Stringent
parameters have been laid down to judge the entries. The last date for submitting
entries is February 28, 2003 with the winners to be announced in April
2003. All applications must be forwarded to the following address:
Dubai Quality Group, P.O. Box 9278, Dubai, UAE. Email: www.dqg.orgArab Lab & Instrumentation 2003 attracts more than 6500 visitors from
47 countriesShowcasing the latest technologies in instrumentation, the exhibition
achieved better results than any other event in its
20-year historyFebruary 6, 2003
Attracting over 6500 visitors from 47 countries worldwide, Arab Lab &
Instrumentation 2003, the Middle East's annual international
trade fair dedicated to laboratory and instrumentation industry
concluded yesterday (Thursday, February 6, 2003). The show
attracted major organizations and distributor sectors, senior
representatives from health ministries of various GCC countries
as well as healthcare professionals from the private sector."This years exhibition was the most successful in its 20-year history,
said David Domoney, Managing Director, International
Conferences & Exhibitions (IC&E)." "The show was visited by practicing
laboratory and instrumentation technicians from all
over the world in the medical, research, forensics, food, sewage,
veterinary and the energy industry. Visitors were able
to view under one roof the very latest technology and instruments
launched and demonstrated by international manufacturers,"
he added.Dubai Municipality's Central Laboratory Department made their debut at
the exhibition by introducing new services for the
government and private sectors. The lab provides testing services for
food, environment, construction material, gold and
jewelry, toys and cosmetics. They also provide product certifications
in an effort to improve product quality to provide
a safer life in Dubai.'Bareeq', a new standard for good jewellery trading practice was
launched by the lab to ensure good quality gold is being
sold to customers in Dubai. The lab also introduced the 'thermal
insulation brick system' that will help save electrical
consumption by 40 per cent. By the end of the year, Dubai Municipality
will be opening a new cosmetics lab and a home appliances
lab.Making a profound presence at the French pavilion, Quantel, Europe's
leader in solid state pulsed lasers launched the BRILLIANT
series oscillators. Quantel's BRILLIANT concept is built around a
temperature-controlled light alloy block. The optical components
alignment in this instrument is stable and preserved under
environmental complexity. BRILLIANT requires no maintenance and
can be used to analyse drugs, steal and gas. Quantel has also revealed
a complete ready-to-use laser system specifically
designed for dermatologists. The system can be used for permanent hair
removal, the removal of wrinkles and even skin rejuvenation.GBX, a manufacturer of scientific instrumentation dedicated to material
characterisation introduced for he first time in
the Middle East the Digidrop, a contact angle meter by sessile drop
method for the petrochemical industry.The high calibre and diverse profile of exhibitors also included
MAXMAT, Cecil Instruments Ltd., Shimadzu Corporation, Al
Mazroui Medical & Chemical Supplies, UBI France, SGE International Pty
Ltd. Australia, Beckman Coulter, Bioscientia and ThermoFinnigan."Exhibitors were overwhelmed and highly delighted with all the results
and business that was achieved at the show and they
are eagerly looking forward to ArabLab 2004, where the first Arab Lab
conference will be held. Sponsored by the Government
of Dubai, Department of Health and Medical Services and the Dubai
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the conference will be
built as the biggest event focusing on medical laboratory," added
Domoney.
The theme of the conference will be 'the global view of laboratory
medicine'. One thousand delegates are expected to attend
this conference including medical technologists and clinical chemists
throughout the region. Having already received unanimous
support for this event, exhibitors have already confirmed their
participation for ArabLab 2004.International companies also conducted a series of seminars during the
show covering diverse topics in medical instrumentation,
food analysis, prenatal screening, applications of pulsed solid-state
lasers, metrology, setting standards for high purity
gases and high dynamic temperature control systems.Organized by International Conferences & Exhibitions (IC&E), Arab Lab &
Instrumentation is supported by the Department of
Economic Development, Government of Dubai, Department of Health and
Medical Services, Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Chamber
of Commerce and Industry.Arab-Lab & Instrumentation is the only international trade fair
dedicated for laboratory equipment and instrumentation in
the Middle East. The exhibition is a 'focused' event for manufacturers
and suppliers of laboratory equipment and services
attracting over 300 exhibitions from 31 countries.
