H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother Of The Nation, Reinforces The Critical Role Of Women At ADNOC In Delivering Growth And Progress For The UAE

On the occasion of the UAE’s 5th annual Emirati Women’s Day, H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, sent a message of support to the Women of ADNOC, reinforcing their critical role in enabling the growth and progress for the UAE. In a speech delivered on her behalf by Dr. Maitha bint Salem al Shamsi, Minister of State and Special Representative for Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Sheikha Fatima said that Emirati women are the solid foundation of the country and essential to its future prosperity. In this capacity Emirati women have the unwavering support of the UAE leadership to ensure they have the skills and education to fulfill their potential and contribute to the success of future generations. H.H. Sheikha Fatima added that while Emirati women have already attained remarkable accomplishments in diverse fields across the UAE, more effort is needed to protect and enhance the progress that has been made, following the example of the UAE’s wise leadership and in keeping with the resilience, dedication and hard work that characterizes the UAE people. H.H. Sheikha Fatima concluded that the UAE’s laws and regulations focus on empowering women to achieve their full potential, achieve their ambitions and contribute to the aspirations of the country, while maintaining a balance between home and work life.

In line with the vision laid out by H.H. Sheikha Fatima, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) today reaffirmed its resolve to drive gender diversity, promote tolerance and inclusivity and empower women’s central role in contributing to the UAE’s prosperity as part of the company’s 2030 growth strategy. The company reinforced its commitment to gender diversity by announcing a new pledge: to include female representation on every Group Company board over which it has a controlling interest by the end of 2022.

Speaking at the company’s main Emirati Women’s Day event – aligned to this year’s official theme “Women, Icons of Tolerance”- H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, highlighted the steadfast support of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation – as well as that of the UAE Leadership – who inspire Emirati women to be key partners in the long-term growth and prosperity of the nation. H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber was joined by several special guests, including H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance, and H.E. Dr. Maitha bint Salem al Shamsi, Minister of State and Special Representative for Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, as well as ADNOC senior management and more than 700 men and women across the company’s operations.

At the event H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan noted: “On Emirati Women’s Day we honor Sheikha Fatima’s unwavering efforts in supporting the empowerment of women in line with our leadership’s vision and directives to enable everyone – both men and women – to contribute fully to the growth and progress of the nation.”

Following HH statement delivered by H.E Dr. Maitha Bint Salem al Shamsi, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said: “ADNOC Group is proud to recognize Emirati Women’s Day by celebrating our female colleagues and the roles they play both at ADNOC and within UAE society. Emirati women work across all areas of ADNOC’s operations, from rigs, refineries and labs to research centers and corporate offices. Women’s professional – and personal – contributions and achievements serve as testament to the vision of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, aimed at ensuring Emirati women are empowered to play their essential role in contributing the UAE’s economic prosperity.

“It is in this spirit that I am pleased to announce that in addition to the company’s existing gender equality pledges, ADNOC commits to including female representation on every Group Company board over which it has a controlling interest by the end of 2022.  This new pledge aligns with the UAE’s efforts to fulfil the UN’s sustainable development goal of gender equality (SDG5) and is supported by multiple international studies that conclude that diversity in boardroom positively affects firm value and that diversity throughout the workplace makes for happier, healthier and more profitable businesses.”

ADNOC has exceeded or made significant progress against the three gender-diversity pledges it set in 2016: By 2020, (1) appoint at least one female CEO at one of its Group Companies; (2) ensure 15% of ADNOC’s senior managers are women; and (3) increase the number of Emirati women recruits to 30%.

ADNOC’s first two female CEOs – Fatema Al Nuaimi, CEO of ADNOC LNG and Chairperson of the ADNOC Gender Balance Committee, and Tayba Al Hashemi, CEO of Al Yasat Petroleum – have served in their chief executive positions since April 2018. ADNOC is on track to achieve the target of ensuring 15% of senior managers are women by the end of this year, one year ahead of schedule. Strong headway continues to be made in the company’s recruitment efforts, as well, with Emirati women increasingly filling critical roles, not only in our corporate offices, but in technical operations at sites such as Al Rumaitha oil field, Zirku Island and Das Island.

In the Middle East, approximately 5% of employees in the oil and gas sector are female. At ADNOC, that number is 11%, of which 71% are Emiratis. As a result of ADNOC’s proactive efforts in gender balance and diversity, approximately 600 women now work across ADNOC’s operational sites, 132 of which hold technical positions, including at Rumaitha field, the first ADNOC site to be managed by a female workforce.

To further enhance female representation across the Group, ADNOC established a Gender Balance Committee, which is responsible for putting in place a number of concrete initiatives to advance women’s career growth across the Group, including a comprehensive Gender Policy Framework, enhanced Human Capital policies, accommodation and welfare offerings, and a Technical Development Program specifically designed for female site operators and technicians. In 2018, ADNOC’s Gender Balance Committee established a rigorous Women’s Leadership Development Program, which aims to accelerate women’s leadership experience, skills and prospects through a wide range of executive coaching, mentoring, learning and immersion workshops. To date, 293 employees have completed ADNOC’s Women Leadership Development Program, with additional curricula being integrated into the program in the months ahead.

In closing, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber added: “As the UAE’s primary socio-economic driver, we will continue to enable our female colleagues to grow, develop and excel in their careers with ADNOC Group, and we will continue to support and empower their success.”