Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council (ADBWC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in Abu Dhabi.
Etihad will consider members of the organization to be preferred suppliers when it comes to procurement and through its Business Connect program will offer generous Etihad Guest Miles benefits when booking travel.
Dr Nadia Bastaki, Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer, Etihad, said that, “As the UAE’s national airline, it is an honor for us to collaborate with Abu Dhabi’s Businesswomen’s Council to empower the thousands of female-owned businesses operating from our home, Abu Dhabi. It is crucial that we support women in our community and empower them to pursue their dreams. Our purpose is to give flight to ambition, and by being part of their journey, we can celebrate their success and inspire more women to become entrepreneurs. At Etihad, giving back to our community is critical and part of our social responsibility.”
Shaikha Al Nuwais, Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen’s Council, stated that, “This cooperation agreement with Etihad Airways aligns with our goal of empowering women in the business ecosystem and enhancing their presence in the rapidly developing aviation sector.”
“We are committed to empowering and supporting the private sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and to enhancing the presence of businesswomen and female investors in the aviation sector. The aviation sector is witnessing remarkable development at local and global levels, which is in line with our aspirations towards empowering women in the business ecosystem and improving their skills and experience so that they can keep up with all economic, digital, and technological developments in various sectors,” Al Nuwais added.
