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Figure of the Month: Raja Al Gurg, the Mother of Pearl among Businesswomen |
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 | By Marah Bukai
Al Waref Exclussive
The Emirati businesswoman Mrs. Raja Al Gurg, has been selected by Al Waref Institute for Humanitarian Studies in Washington, as the Figure of the Month of September. Mrs. Al Gurg was recognized by the Forbes International Magazine as the 4th most powerful woman among 50 Strongest Arab Business Women in 2006 (a quantum jump from the 36th position in the year 2004).
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Raja Al Gurg is the managing director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, a family business involved in trading, manufacturing, retail, franchising and real estate. She joined the group in 1989 as a member of the board of directors and now oversees the day-to-day operation and running of the business in the UAE.
Having received a degree in English Literature from Kuwait University in 1977, she began her career as headmistress of Zabeel Secondary School for Girls in Dubai in 1978. Al Gurg is a board member of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and a member of the Dubai Economic Council. She serves as president of the Dubai Chambers of Commerce & Industry businesswomen's committee, and is a member of the board of directors of the Dubai Women Association and the Arab International Women's Forum. She is also Dubai Hub Executive of MENA Businesswomen Network.
As the head of the Easa Al Gurg Group of companies, Raja Al Gurg is one of the leading business figures in the United Arab Emirates. She is responsible for 29 companies with over 3000 employees. She is the President of the Federation of the UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry Business Women's Committee, as well as President of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Women's Committee. In 2003, Mrs. Al Gurg was awarded the "Woman of the Year" prize by the Datamatix Company.
Mrs. Al Gurg won the "Best Principal" award during the time she spent as headmistress of the Zabeel Secondary School of Dubai, between 1978 and 1989. She is a member of the National Advisory Council for the College of Business Sciences at Zayed University.
Nationally and internationally she has been honoured and conferred with several awards and certifications, most noteworthy among them being her recognition in the year 2006 by the Forbes International Magazine as the 4th most powerful woman among 50 Strongest Arab Business Women (a quantum jump from the 36th position in the year 2004).
Commenting on the role of Arab women, she said: "In the past 30 years a steady transformation has taken place where more and more Arab women are taking on more professional roles. It is important to highlight that women are just as capable of succeeding in the business world as men, and that Arab women are as just competent as their Western counterparts."
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