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Dubai Press Club Located on the 22nd floor of Dubai Twin Towers, overlooking the Dubai creek, the plush interiors of the Dubai Press Club resemble a modern five-star leisure club with state-of-the art facilities. Established to foster interaction among journalists and media professionals from around the world, the Dubai Press Club hosts a number of media activities and events every month. Newsmakers and guest speakers are invited regularly to exchange ideas with media professionals in the region. Hi tech facilities such as net-terminals, auto-research library ensure that information is provided round-the-clock to the journalists. >> The Press Club also has a well-equipped conference hall that can seat around 100 people and offers instant translation facilities as well. Library and research facilities ensure that all background information on any subject can be gathered and all news feeds can be easily accessed here. The round-the-clock information desk provides up-to-date information on international events. Special meetings rooms have been created where interviews can be discreetly conducted in private. The Dubai Press Club is also a place where media professionals can congregate in a comfortable and informal atmosphere. There is also a pool table, video games and additional rows of television screens to view your favourite channels 24 hours a day, while the small but elegant cafeteria offers traditional and continental snacks. >> The Dubai Press Club offers four kinds of memberships: Practicing, Charter, Corporate and Visiting. Practicing members are UAE based editorial staff; Charter members are special invitees; Corporate memberships are for large organisations who wish to utilise the various facilities offered by the Press Club. Visiting memberships are for foreign journalists in Dubai for short periods. While the main benefit of a Membership is access to the Club and all its activities, there are also a host of other benefits including value add-ons with major consumer service organisations in Dubai.
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To help make the Press Club a centre of information for media representatives her dedicated team works day and night under her supervision and support. “The information centre not only provides information to local journalists but to foreign news agencies seeking information matters related to this region. They also help organise, plan itineraries for visiting journalists. Our role is very multi-dimensional and branches out into different categories,” she adds. While the on-going activities keep her busy throughout the day, Mona has higher aims and ambitions for the Press Club: “I want to see Dubai develop into the media hub of the Middle East. We are working on it. I am fully aware of the fact that whenever I represent UAE in any international media event, I am making a positive impact; first as a woman from the Arab world, and second as representative of this fast growing, young country which has a lot to offer,” she proudly adds.
On supporting women In a culture where women are still learning to stand up for themselves and getting accustomed in taking up responsible positions in large organisations, Mona Al Marri’s achievements make her the new role model not only for her own generation but for others to come.
“People ask me why I have employed more women at the Press Club and my answer is a simple one; women are more productive and creative. I support them and thankfully I am in a position to do so,” she explains. Speaking on the future of young UAE women starting a new career Mona says, “Women in the UAE are given tremendous opportunities and have the constant encouragement and support of our leader, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Never before there has been a leader in the Arab world who has stood behind the women’s revolution as he has. This is the reason why today we see more and more women in leading positions. He has always maintained that it is no longer essential for a company’s director to be a man. And this is the message that I would like to put forward and advice young women to take positive steps in their career and fight for their cause if they believe they have the abilities and have the talent to do so. Our country has invested money in educating us and it is time for us to give back.”
Aims and Ambitions The recent wave of enterprising young Arab women especially in the UAE gives a lot of encouragement to those women aspiring to make a place for themselves in their respective fields. For Mona, Lubna Al Qasimi of Tejari.com has always been a role model. “I like the way she professionally conducts business and I feel that she is a true role model for our new generation. As a student I would watch Lubna Al Qasimi as a guest speaker at the college and I hoped then that maybe someday I would be able to inspire other students through my achievements. And all that has come true,” she says. As well as being dedicated in accomplishing her current objectives, Mona believes in continuously upgrading and developing her skills:”I firmly believe that good education coupled with the desire to take the initiative and constantly developing your skills is what makes a person successful, especially a woman.” |
Her hard work and dedication has truly enabled the Dubai Press Club to make a positive impact on the international media scene. A Press Club Forum was recently established comprising 11 Press Clubs from around the world. “The Press Club presidents met in Dubai last April and agreed to create an international association and we have extended invitations to other countries to join in as well. This is a commendable effort and we are proud that in such a short time we have been able to gain the support of international media,” Mona informed.