Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ABUDHABI4048
2005-09-25 14:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

WOMEN'S STOCK MARKET TIPS EVENT DRAWS A

Tags:  KDEM MEPI ECON TC 
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Diana T Fritz 08/28/2006 03:56:02 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 04048

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: AMB
 INFO: PAO ECON POL DCM

DISSEMINATION: AMB
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MSISON
DRAFTED: ECON:EWILLIAMS POL:R
CLEARED: ECON:OJOHN PAO:HOLSIN-WINDECKER

VZCZCADI093
RR RUEHC RUEHZM
DE RUEHAD #4048 2681420
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251420Z SEP 05
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1706
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004048 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM MEPI ECON TC
SUBJECT: WOMEN'S STOCK MARKET TIPS EVENT DRAWS A
CROWD

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004048

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM MEPI ECON TC
SUBJECT: WOMEN'S STOCK MARKET TIPS EVENT DRAWS A
CROWD


1. SUMMARY: EMBASSY ABU DHABI AND MEPI REGIONAL
OFFICE HOSTED A WOMEN'S EVENT FEATURING A PROMINENT
LOCAL SPEAKER GIVING STOCK MARKET TIPS IN ARABIC.
THE EVENT, HOSTED AT THE AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE, DREW
A WIDE VARIETY OF UAE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN, ALL OF WHOM
ASKED DETAILED AND INFORMED QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER.
THE WOMEN WIDELY PRAISED THE EVENT, AND WERE
COMFORTABLE IN THE ALL-FEMALE AUDIENCE. END SUMMARY.

WHY STOCK TIPS?
--------------

2. THE UAE HAS TWO FORMAL STOCK EXCHANGES (ONE EACH
IN ABU DHABI AND DUBAI) WITH APPROXIMATELY 80 TOTAL
COMPANIES LISTED. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE
MARKET HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY, AND RECEIVED
INORDINATE INTEREST FROM UAE AND GCC CITIZENS. AS
THE MARKET HAS EXPERIENCED RAPID GROWTH, MANY WOMEN
ARE INTERESTED IN INVESTING, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE
NERVOUS ABOUT HOW TO DO SO SAFELY AND SMARTLY.

ACTIVE AND ENGAGED AUDIENCE
--------------

3. EMBASSY ABU DHABI INVITED A PROMINENT LOCAL
SPEAKER, JORDANIAN FINANCIAL EXPERT ZIAD AL-DABBAS
WHO HAS LIVED IN THE UAE FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS AND
HAS SERVED ON THE UAE SECURITIES AND COMMODITIES
EXCHANGE. AL-DABBAS CURRENTLY WRITES SEVERAL HIGH-
PROFILE STOCK COLUMNS IN EACH OF THE ARABIC DAILY
NEWSPAPERS, AND HE IS WIDELY REGARDED AS A LOCAL
EXPERT ON THE STOCK MARKET.


4. THE EVENT DREW A WIDE RANGE OF LOCAL WOMEN,
INCLUDING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FROM THE UNIVERSITIES,
BANKING SECTOR, POLICE FORCE, AND MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS AND MORE SENIOR INTERLOCUTORS SUCH AS THE
UNDER SECRETARY AT THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND
PLANNING. ALL OF THE WOMEN WERE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN
THE HOUR-PLUS LECTURE, CONTINUALLY INTERRUPTING THE
SPEAKER, ASKING DETAILED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE LOCAL STOCK MARKET, AND PUSHING FOR THE
LECTURE TO CONTINUE. MANY OF THE ATTENDEES REMAINED
LONG AFTER THE SCHEDULED END OF THE EVENT, AND
CONTINUED TO ENGAGE THE SPEAKER WITH QUESTIONS.
OVERALL, THE EVENT WAS A MAJOR SUCCESS DEMONSTRATING
THE INTEREST AND ENGAGEMENT OF MANY WOMEN,
PARTICULARLY IN AN ALL-FEMALE AUDIENCE (MANY UAE
WOMEN DECLINE INVITATIONS TO MIXED-GENDER FUNCTIONS
IN THIS STILL-CONSERVATIVE SOCIETY).


5. COMMENT: THE EMBASSY CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS
NETWORK OF UAE WOMEN CONTACTS, AND ENGAGE WITH THEM
ON SEVERAL ISSUES THAT WILL ENHANCE THEIR EMPOWERMENT
IN THE SOCIETY. UAE WOMEN ARE INCREASINGLY SEEKING
FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE, AND THIS SESSION WAS AN
INTRODUCTORY STEP TOWARDS ACHIEVING THIS GOAL. END
COMMENT.

SISON