NAMA Women Advancement (NAMA), in collaboration with PwC Middle East, held a closed panel discussion at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) to drive structural reforms aimed at improving the long-term retention of Emirati women in the private sector. The session is part of an ongoing joint research initiative by NAMA and PwC Middle East, which examines Emirati women’s experiences in the private sector, identifies the challenges they face, and assesses how these factors influence their job satisfaction and career development.
Held under the theme “Beyond Recruitment: Strategies to Retain Emirati Female Talent in the Private Sector in the Emirate of Sharjah,” the panel gathered HR leaders, policymakers, and senior government and industry figures to translate the research findings into actionable, sector-wide recommendations.
Collective public–private sector collaboration
Participants included Majid Hamad Khalfan Al Marri, Director of the Sharjah Department of Human Resources; Aisha Jasim Al Mansoori, Director of the National Talent Recruitment Department at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation; Maryam Almarzouqi, Nafis Youth Council member and Director of HR and Emiratisation for the UAE at ACWA Power; Ghada Abdelkader, Senior VP at Crescent Enterprises–Invests; Sumaya Ali Al Zarooni, Director of HR Business Partnership, Human Resources & Organisational Development at Shurooq; Fadheela Al Marzouqi, Head of Human Resources at Sharjah Islamic Bank; and Sarah Al Musabi, researcher and public policy analyst at UAE University. The discussion was moderated by Zina Janabi, Middle East Inclusion & Diversity Director at PwC Middle East.
Commenting on the session, Mariam Al Hammadi, Director-General of NAMA, said, “Through its various initiatives, NAMA is keen on empowering women across all sectors and strengthening their decision-making roles, in line with our vision of supporting women’s economic and social participation. The private sector, by its nature, seeks profitability and competitive excellence, and we believe that women have the capability to contribute meaningfully to the growth of this sector through their diverse skills and expertise that enhance productivity and support innovation.”
Al Hammadi added that the strong turnout from public and private representatives reflects a national movement toward cultivating workplaces that recognise women’s contributions as fundamental to institutional progress and the UAE’s economic future.
Zina Janabi commented, “This collaboration with NAMA reinforces the importance of taking a holistic, data-driven look at what truly supports Emirati women to build meaningful, enduring careers in the private sector. The engagement we saw today from leaders across government and industry signals a strong appetite to move from dialogue to delivery. At PwC Middle East, we’re proud to contribute our insights and work alongside partners who share a commitment to advancing women’s participation and shaping workplaces where talent can grow.”
The closed panel opened with an overview of the joint NAMA–PwC Middle East research, followed by a presentation from Majid Hamad Al Marri on Sharjah’s ongoing Emiratisation initiatives. This was followed by a review of key achievements of the Nafis programme, delivered by Aisha Jassim Al Mansouri.
Discussions further highlighted the importance of coordinated frameworks between government entities, private-sector companies, and support organisations to track retention patterns, enhance workplace engagement, and build sustainable career development pathways for women in Sharjah’s private sector.
All insights and recommendations gathered during the session will be integrated into the final research report, which is scheduled for publication in March 2026.
(Inputs from WAM)
