Latest news with #KhaledAlKhawaldeh
Al Etihad
21-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Emirati women take the lead in UAE's evolving industrial sector
21 May 2025 03:26 Khaled Al Khawaldeh (Abu Dhabi) Emirati women took centre stage in a show of leadership and capability at the Make it in the Emirates conference on Tuesday, underscoring their pivotal role in driving the country's industrial growth. Among the standout voices was Mariam Al Jaberi, Head of Production at Strata Manufacturing, who shared her inspiring journey from technician to industry leader. Speaking to Aletihad after the panel discussion of influential female industrialists hosted by the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX), Al Jaberi reflected on her 14-year journey at the Al-Ain based aircraft component producer - one of the UAE's flagship manufacturing success stories. "I started in Strata in 2011 as a technician working on aircraft parts for the Airbus A330," she said. "Strata helped me by providing the right training - one year and a half of theory and practical work, completing 1,700 hours to become a qualified technician. Today, I lead all the business units, fabrication, shared services, and assembly."Al Jaberi's story is emblematic of a broader transformation in the UAE's industrial sector, where many Emirati women are not only participating but leading teams. The ADEX-hosted session brought together a distinguished group of women leaders from across the industrial ecosystem, highlighting the UAE's commitment to gender inclusion as a driver of economic Al Jaberi, the inclusion of women at every level of the company is not symbolic but strategic. "In Strata, we have a mix of both genders but over 78% of our staff are women. You'll find Emirati women everywhere - planning, lab, inspection, quality, HR, IT, even project managers, and even on the shop floor," she said. "Today, our CEO is Sara Al Memari. Our HR manager is also a woman. We've gone from zero to leadership. Women can be everywhere and at Strata, they already are."Strata's expansion mirrors this internal growth, with Al Jaberi noting that the production facility that began with only one line has now grown to 30. The company now supplies parts to global aerospace giants like Boeing and Airbus - an achievement that Al Jaberi said is a testament to the quality and innovation coming from its UAE-based operations."We are delivering to the US and France - some of the biggest customers in the world. Why do they come to Strata? There is something unique here. It's not just about the product. It's about passion and precision," she said. "Building aircraft parts requires attention to detail, and women excel in that. It's one of the reasons we thrive."The panel discussion echoed this sentiment, with senior figures - such as Dr. Alyazia Al Kuwaiti of Mubadala and Fatima Al Hammadi of KEZAD - emphasising how national strategies are deliberately focused on empowering Emirati women across advanced his opening remarks, Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), lauded the importance of ensuring women were the cornerstone of the national industrial strategy. "Empowering Emirati women in the industrial sector is both a national responsibility and a strategic priority," he said. "The success stories we see today reflect an ecosystem that recognises their potential and equips them with the tools to thrive."ADEX, through its financing and strategic initiatives, aims to play a key role in expanding opportunities for Emirati manufacturers - especially those led by women - to access global markets. Looking ahead, Al Jaberi is confident that the UAE's ambitions in manufacturing have no ceiling. Make it in the Emirates Continue full coverage "Why not have a fully UAE-made aircraft one day?" she said.
Al Etihad
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Digital media allows Arab authors to expand reach beyond the region: Expert
27 Apr 2025 23:42 Khaled Al Khawaldeh (Abu Dhabi) In a world where traditional print publications are constantly under pressure to stay relevant and compete with fast and plentiful online media, it is easy for those in the publication industry to see modern technology as an enemy. However, a top media expert stressed that this is not the case. Speaking on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) on Sunday, Ibrahim Nasser Al Mulaifi, author and editor in chief of influential Kuwaiti magazine Al Arabi, said digital media was, in fact, a great ally — allowing the industry to reach audiences beyond the logistical boundaries that inhibited them years ago. 'The online space is what opened up audiences for us from Australia and America. You cannot imagine the size of the diaspora there,' he said during a talk at the book fair on Sunday. 'Those populations there, many of them young, have a very high level of nostalgia and commitment to the Arab world. Through our online platforms, we were able to offer them something that they can use.' Speaking about the experience at the helm of Al Arabi, Mulaifi made the case for increased digitisation – claiming it was a chance to both unify the Arab world and reach out to the broader global community. In a wide-ranging talk, Mulaifi spoke of his travels to Sri Lanka, Cuba, and other parts of Asia and urged the writers and readers of the Arab world to think deeper about the region's cultural preservation and enlightenment. 'Asia has everything, whether it's the diversity of its people or its cultures, it has everything,' he said. 'The Arab world has always looked to the west, to Europe. [For] the Asians like Japan, the Asian tigers — while their development came from early learnings from the Europeans, they succeeded in taking those learnings and creating something that works for them.' The region, however, is yet to make a similar model, he said.
Al Etihad
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi International Book Fair: A convergence of art and culture
27 Apr 2025 23:46 Khaled Al Khawaldeh (Abu Dhabi)Greeted with the soft sound of live piano and the gentle aroma of sizzling vegetables, visitors to the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair on Sunday received much more than literary more than 2,000 events, the Abu Dhabi book fair is an annual celebration of the emirate's dedication to fostering art and culture and inspiring the next generation of talent. While the focus is on sharing and exhibiting literary works from across the world, the fair offers much Sunday, actor, producer and author Mena Masoud gave guests a culinary course on the sidelines of the book fair. During a live cooking session, he took the crowd on a journey through a diverse range of Arabian-inspired vegetarian the packed hall at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), a group of children from the UAE and China were receiving rewards for their participation in the 'China in the eyes of the UAE' programme. The programme designed as a cultural exchange initiative saw children learn about the elaborate world of Chinese linguistic characters and exchange ideas about their respective at the Abu Dhabi Media Network stand, children sat and watched Majid TV while their parents browsed through sections of historic newspapers and archival materials nearby. These included works by renowned polymath Ibn Sina and old cartographic maps and copies of the Quran and holy Ayoub, a resident artist, sat quietly, painting a portrait of a man wearing traditional Emirati clothing while guests learned about the upcoming Zayed National Museum and the legacy of the UAE and its founding fathers. Running until May 5, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is set to be a highlight on the capital's calendar as the many events of the week get underway.
Al Etihad
21-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
94% of UAE businesses see AI as key driver of growth
22 Apr 2025 00:31 Khaled Al Khawaldeh (Abu Dhabi) A new survey shows near-universal optimism about artificial intelligence among UAE businesses, with 94% of enterprises saying they believe AI will be a key driver of future growth, and 47% expecting significant returns on their investments within one to two YouGov survey, commissioned by enterprise solutions firm, SAP, also found that 97% of UAE IT decision-makers are confident in using AI-driven insights to guide critical business decisions. With 72% of respondents saying they were 'very confident,' which Marwan Zeineddine, Managing Director of SAP UAE, said reflected a growing trust in AI's ability to support strategic planning.'AI is already delivering tangible business value, and the UAE market is clearly ready to embrace its potential,' Zeineddine said. 'The survey shows that businesses recognise AI as a key driver of growth, but unlocking its full value requires the right strategies.' According to the survey, 76% of UAE companies are already using industry-specific AI solutions tailored to their operations, a statistic which reflects the evolving nature of AI from a hype-led trend to a digital reality within the workplace. A total of 58% of survey respondents said they were planning to invest in data consolidation and quality improvement initiatives over the next 12 months, a prerequisite for effective AI application. The results were released in conjunction with the SAP NOW AI Tour, held on April 16 at the Dubai Expo Centre ahead of Dubai AI Week which will bring together over 180 speakers across more than 150 sessions to discuss AI best practice. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, opened AI Retreat on Monday declaring that the country would continue its journey to become a world-leading AI centric economy. 'Every single company that's going to be in our digital economy, moving forward, needs to be an AI-first company,' Olama said. In a wide-ranging speech, Olama made the case for the responsible and productive implementation of AI, calling on all segments of society both public and private to work to ensure their work is focused on improving people's lives first and foremost. 'For those of you who have flown from around the world and have come to the UAE, you might have used the smart gates in Dubai airport, and that is an exceptional use of artificial intelligence that improves quality of life,' he said. 'That is the AI we want in the UAE, and that is the AI we think is done right, it's AI that is frictionless, it's AI that you don't feel is AI, and it's Ai that improves your quality of life overall.' Olama also highlighted that 325 companies had been awarded Dubai's AI Seal, a new certification that distinguishes firms offering secure and responsible AI solutions. 'We want to know who's really building best-in-class AI in the UAE, and who's simply repackaging open-source models,' he said, underscoring the need for transparency and quality in AI innovation.
Al Etihad
20-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Emirates retains spot as region's most valuable airline brand: Report
20 Apr 2025 23:56 Khaled Al Khawaldeh (Abu Dhabi) Emirates retained its position as the most valuable airline brand outside the US and within the region, according to consultancy firm Brand Finance's latest power ranking. Dubai's flagship carrier also remains in the fourth spot globally. The annual ranking evaluates the value of an airline's name, logo, and brand identity, with a high valuation suggesting strong presence, recognisability and customer perception in the brand valuation was up 37% year on year, reaching $8.4 billion ahead of US-based Southwest Airlines and trailing Delta, United, and Southwest Airlines. 'The Dubai-based carrier continues to reinforce its image as a luxury airline through award-winning in-flight service, extensive route expansion, and high-profile sponsorship campaigns,' the report said. 'Emirates' ongoing recognition as the best airline in the Middle East further bolsters its brand equity on the global stage.' Regionally, the airline beat Qatar Airways, which ranked 8th; Saudia at 32nd; and Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways at 39th. With two brands on the list, the UAE captured 7% of the total $132.6 billion value of the top 50 global brands, behind only the US and two UAE carriers have long sought to bolster their international brand image through a range of sponsorship deals, marketing campaigns, and philanthropic investments. The Emirates logo currently appears on several major football team jerseys, including AC Milan, Arsenal, and Real Madrid. Since 2015, the airline has also been the title partner for the FA cup – the UK's premiere knockout football cup competition. The airline has also sought to boost its brand image across the sporting world with major deals in tennis, horse racing, golf, cricket, cycling, sailing and even Australian rules football. In 2024, the airline added basketball to its growing portfolio, becoming the official global airline partner of the NBA in a deal that will place the Emirates logo on all referee jerseys and see the NBA in-season tournament renamed the Emirates NBA Cup. Meanwhile, Etihad Airways has maintained a strong portfolio of sponsorships and partnerships, including the continued jersey and stadium naming rights to Manchester City FC. The airline is also the name sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and maintains the naming rights to Etihad Arena, which has become a global destination for combat sports.
