I have witnessed all kinds of business cycles during my 15 years in the UAE. Those were the days when prices of commercial properties and offices were skyrocketing. Areas around Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road crossed AED350 per square foot. The cost of setting up businesses was high when compared to other leading economies, especially for…
Understanding your self-worth | Shereen Hoban
Telling our friends or loved ones to value themselves is something that usually comes easily to us, so why is it so hard for us to apply the same logic to ourselves? Self-worth is something that cannot be undervalued. It’s fundamental to help us make the right decisions – whether that’s in our personal or…
Trade license vs. freelancer permit in the UAE
The UAE – with its entrepreneurial culture and a booming economy – is certainly a great place to start your own business. You do though need an appropriate license, and for that, you’ve two options. You can go for a trade license if you want to start up a company, or a freelancer permit if…
Career shift: Preparing for an empty nest
It was the summer of 2017 and I had spent 6 weeks in America visiting various Universities with my teenage son. The fact that I had a son old enough to be going to Uni was scary enough but even scarier was the fact that, at 37 years old, I had absolutely no idea what…
Determine workplace diversity and inclusivity
The million-dollar question, “is your company diverse and inclusive?” Ask this and I can bet you more times than not, the answer will be “yes, of course”. But what are those interview questions that help determine workplace diversity? Let’s face it, no one wants to admit they are having trouble recruiting or retaining numbers from…
How to get your mojo back after a career break
After a career break, one of the hurdles that many returning mums face is a lack of confidence. This could be down to several factors; uncertainty, fear, being out of employment for a number of years, or as is the case with many, a feeling of irrelevance and being out of date. Certainly, with my…
Looking to work part-time in the UAE?
Starting a business requires capital. And, unless you’ve got oodles of cash lying around, you’re going to need access to money which will support you through those first tough months until you start turning a profit. For many entrepreneurs, one straightforward option here is to ‘moonlight’ on the side of your main job until you…
3 stages of successful networking
We’re super happy with the feedback from our Women@Work ‘3 Stages of Successful Networking’ event this week. One of our lovely guests said; “The team provided relevant and valuable knowledge, which was, of course, based on their real-life experiences. It was well organised and brilliantly chaired with a lovely snack bar and all at a…
14 day Fear Detox action plan | Anna Roberts
Feeling focused on your business. Having the tools to get out of your comfort zone. And the most confident — and successful — the year of your life to start a fear detox action plan. Grab a copy of Anna Roberts Fear Detox: Your 14 Day Action Plan To Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone…
Arab women are transforming the start-up scene
It may surprise some to learn that one in three start-ups in the Arab World is founded or led by Arab women. That’s a higher percentage than in Silicon Valley. Women are becoming a force to be reckoned with on transforming the start-up scene across the Middle East. Because the tech industry is still relatively new…