News

The UAE’s First Women-Only Job Portal Officially Launches

The pioneering platform could revolutionize recruitment by catering exclusively to female professionals.

Published

1 year ago

January 16, 2024

the uae's first women-only job portal officially launches

The UAE’s first women-only employment portal, Women First Jobs, has officially launched, marking a significant milestone in enhancing female participation in the workforce of the United Arab Emirates. The innovative platform, founded by Priyanka Sengar, is poised to revolutionize the recruitment landscape by exclusively catering to female professionals seeking careers in the banking, fintech, edtech, hospitality, healthcare, food, logistics, and IT sectors.

The recruitment platform’s goals align with the vision set out by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council. The council’s initiatives include:

Achieving pay parity.
Advancing gender equality throughout recruitment and career progression.
Integrating gender balance perspectives.
Fostering transparency.

Women First Jobs will also assume a crucial role in supporting corporate returnship programs by providing mentorship and training to women re-entering the workforce after maternity breaks or career hiatuses. The initiatives underscore the platform’s unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive professional atmosphere for women at all career stages.

Also Read: Top 10 Best Freelance Platforms In The Middle East

Finally, Women First Jobs plans to allocate a substantial portion of its proceeds to global non-governmental organizations, with a primary focus on the development of women and children. The initiatives not only support localization efforts but also align with the mandates of GCC governments in areas such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

News

UAE’s Etihad Rail Launches In 2026 — What You Need To Know

A 1,200 km passenger network will transform public transport, with 11 connected cities, and high-speed trains cutting inter-emirate travel times.

Published

1 day ago

May 19, 2025

Nour Nasir

Etihad Rail

Etihad Rail has confirmed that its long-anticipated passenger train service will officially launch in 2026, ushering in a new era of high-speed, inter-emirate travel. The UAE’s national railway developer shared the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), as work continues on a 1,200 km passenger network set to connect 11 cities across all seven emirates.

The news marks a major leap in public transportation for the country, with passenger trains designed to reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. Travel times will be significantly reduced — Abu Dhabi to Dubai is expected to take just under an hour, while the journey to Fujairah will be cut to around 105 minutes. A separate high-speed line, capable of reaching 350 km/h, is also in the works to link Abu Dhabi and Dubai in just 30 minutes.

The backbone of the network was completed in 2023, when Etihad Rail launched its 900 km freight service linking key industrial and logistics hubs across the UAE, including ports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Fujairah. Now, the focus has shifted to passenger infrastructure.

The first station will be located in Sakamkam, Fujairah city centre, and a second is confirmed near University City in Sharjah. Dubai’s main station is expected to be adjacent to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station, while Abu Dhabi’s is anticipated along the corridor separating Mussafah Industrial Area and Mohammed Bin Zayed City.

Also Read: UGREEN Nexode Pro Review: Portable Yet Powerful Chargers

Once completed, the passenger network will link cities including Al Sila, Al Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Integration with Oman is also part of the long-term vision. A new cross-border project — Hafeet Rail — will span 303 km between Sohar and Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba area. Developed by Etihad Rail in collaboration with Oman Rail and Mubadala, the link is expected to deepen trade and tourism ties between the two countries.

Etihad Rail’s passenger trains will carry up to 400 passengers each and feature Wi-Fi, entertainment systems, charging points, and onboard food and beverage options to ensure a comfortable experience. To further simplify access, passengers will be able to pay with their nol cards, thanks to a partnership between Etihad Rail and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The collaboration aims to integrate fare payments and booking systems under one unified platform.