Emirates NBD Launches 'Women Returnship' initiative to support Women returning to Workforce

An initiative taken by the pilot of Emirates NBD’s 'Women Returnship' programme was launched to support those women who want to restart their careers after a break. It was launched on 8 March to commemorate Women's Day. Emirates NBD is a leading banking organisation in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Turkey) region which is the first UAE-based company to start this initiative.

The theme of this year's International Women's Day was 'DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.' The programme by the Emirates NBD will hence offer opportunities in the workplace for those women who have gone through a break of more than two years. This initiative which was initially launched as a pilot offers’s specific role in technology and digitalization.

To support them in returning to the workforce after a long gap, the female workers will be provided with appropriate mentoring, guidance and flexible work schedules. Before being extended to all the bank's international offices, it will be available to all eligible women in the UAE.

Eman Abdulrazzaq, Group Chief Human Resource Officer, Emirates NBD expressed his views on this initiative and stated that they are extremely dedicated to creating an inclusive culture where every woman can grow and flourish. He wants to bring back women into the workforce and honour their talent and potential for the company's growth. He further added that he is extremely happy to start this programme and make it UAE's first-ever organisation to make it.

Before launching this particular initiative, the Emirates NBD has already kept a female workforce participation rate of about 40%. They are also the first ever UAE-based organisation to provide flexible working hours. In addition to this, the bank also extended its maternity and paternity leave options.