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UAE public sector needs more expertise in economic legislation UAE public sector needs more expertise in economic legislation
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Lubna Qassim, a lawyer who left the private sector in the UK to help transform the economic laws in her native United Arab Emirates, says UAE recognises the need to reform to be a successful global player.Lubna Qassim, a lawyer who left the private sector in the UK to help transform the economic laws in her native United Arab Emirates, says UAE recognises the need to reform to be a successful global player.
Qassim says: "UAE is moving in the right direction and it has diversified its economy – creating jobs, reducing inflation and increasing GDP – whilst some of our neighbouring countries are in a turmoil, UAE continues to reform its institutions and health, education and legislative systems so it can be one of the top governments of the world."Qassim says: "UAE is moving in the right direction and it has diversified its economy – creating jobs, reducing inflation and increasing GDP – whilst some of our neighbouring countries are in a turmoil, UAE continues to reform its institutions and health, education and legislative systems so it can be one of the top governments of the world."
Qassim was director of the department of economic legislation at the UAE ministry of economy from late 2010 to June 2013 and is deciding where to go next. She worked for the UAE government in Dubai from 2007, as a legal advisor helping the country to reform its economic laws, in particular those affecting companies, foreign investment, small and medium enterprises and anti-fraud. She also worked for one year as a public sector consultant at the World Bank from late 2009. Qassim was director of the department of economic legislation at the UAE ministry of economy from late 2010 to June 2013 and is deciding where to go next. She visited the UK in October as part of a future international leaders programme organised by the Foreign Office.
She worked for the UAE government in Dubai from 2007, as a legal advisor helping the country to reform its economic laws, in particular those affecting companies, foreign investment, small and medium enterprises and anti-fraud. She also worked for one year as a public sector consultant at the World Bank from late 2009.
Among her successes Qassim oversaw a bankruptcy law designed to support struggling companies and a law which eased ownership rules for international companies in certain industries.Among her successes Qassim oversaw a bankruptcy law designed to support struggling companies and a law which eased ownership rules for international companies in certain industries.
Qassim trained as a lawyer at Brunel University in the UK, and worked for several years for Clifford Chance, in London and Dubai. She immensely enjoyed her role, despite the intense pressure and long hours.Qassim trained as a lawyer at Brunel University in the UK, and worked for several years for Clifford Chance, in London and Dubai. She immensely enjoyed her role, despite the intense pressure and long hours.
She was headhunted by the UAE government in 2007. "The job opportunity offered to me then was a long-term dream, but I thought it should really come in my 50s or 60s," says Qassim, 36. "It was a very difficult dilemma."She was headhunted by the UAE government in 2007. "The job opportunity offered to me then was a long-term dream, but I thought it should really come in my 50s or 60s," says Qassim, 36. "It was a very difficult dilemma."
After eight months of deliberation, one refusal and much persistence from Dubai, Qassim finally acquiesced, and made her way back to her home country. The position was vacant for the three years prior to her appointment, because UAE did not have enough people with both economic and legislative skills to help advance its laws.After eight months of deliberation, one refusal and much persistence from Dubai, Qassim finally acquiesced, and made her way back to her home country. The position was vacant for the three years prior to her appointment, because UAE did not have enough people with both economic and legislative skills to help advance its laws.
"Three months into the job and I never looked back," she says. "UAE at the time desperately needed to reform its economic laws. It was my way of giving back to my society, my country. That's the passion which drives me.""Three months into the job and I never looked back," she says. "UAE at the time desperately needed to reform its economic laws. It was my way of giving back to my society, my country. That's the passion which drives me."
Qassim, 36, was the only woman working in her sphere. "It's not a minority, I'm the only one!" she says. "Not only did I have to deal with the gender issue, but also the challenge of age. I was working with very much older men, who had been in government for many years. It was very difficult, psychologically, for male colleagues to take orders not only from a woman but from someone so young."Qassim, 36, was the only woman working in her sphere. "It's not a minority, I'm the only one!" she says. "Not only did I have to deal with the gender issue, but also the challenge of age. I was working with very much older men, who had been in government for many years. It was very difficult, psychologically, for male colleagues to take orders not only from a woman but from someone so young."
Promoting women in leadership roles is high on the political agenda in UAE, says Qassim, but the country still has some way to go to improve how women in senior positions are treated by their peers. "I would not call it discrimination," she says. "I would call it lack of experience. We are talking about men who have never worked with women at this level."Promoting women in leadership roles is high on the political agenda in UAE, says Qassim, but the country still has some way to go to improve how women in senior positions are treated by their peers. "I would not call it discrimination," she says. "I would call it lack of experience. We are talking about men who have never worked with women at this level."
UAE is very young – only gaining independence from the UK in 1971 – and Qassim is part of the third generation of her country. She sees great things for the country's future.UAE is very young – only gaining independence from the UK in 1971 – and Qassim is part of the third generation of her country. She sees great things for the country's future.
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