June 21, 2025
In Sharjah, a quiet yet powerful transformation is taking place. As women across the UAE step into stronger economic roles, NAMA Women Advancement’s Financial Literacy Programme is helping them gain the knowledge and confidence they need to take control of their financial lives.
From Stress to Strategy: A New Outlook on Money
For Mariam Al Naqbi, a mother from Al Madam, a simple dinner-time conversation about saving money with her children became a turning point. What was once a source of stress became a tool for planning, learning, and dreaming. She’s one of nearly 200 women across Sharjah who recently joined NAMA’s financial literacy initiative.
Held in locations including Sharjah City, Kalba, Dibba Al Hisn, and Al Madam, the programme offered hands-on training in essential financial skills like budgeting, saving, and smart spending. The goal: to demystify personal finance and make financial empowerment a reality for everyday women.
Building Real-Life Financial Confidence
Led by expert financial consultant Salah Al Halyan, the sessions were designed to go beyond theory. Women were encouraged to apply what they learned—creating monthly budgets, understanding borrowing, and thinking critically about financial decisions.
For Latifa Al Mulla from Kalba, the course offered long-awaited clarity.
“I used to feel overwhelmed by monthly expenses. Now I see where the money goes—and I feel in control,” she said.
Others found the confidence to pursue long-postponed dreams. One participant from Dibba Al Hisn, who had put aside her idea of starting a small business, shared that the training helped her develop both the mindset and practical tools to move forward.
“Finance used to feel too complicated. Now I know how to start small and grow,” she said.
Empowerment Starts with Understanding
For NAMA, this programme is part of a broader mission: to equip women with the tools they need to build lasting stability and meaningful participation in the economy. The organisation believes that financial literacy is not just useful — it’s essential.
Women Leading UAE’s Financial Future
While NAMA’s programme focuses on personal empowerment, it also supports national goals. According to the UAE Ministry of Finance, women now make up 54.7% of the federal financial sector workforce and hold 42.8% of leadership roles. Overall, women represent more than 75% of the workforce in this field — a strong indicator of their growing influence.
And with 78% of Emirati youth being female, investing in young women’s financial education is not just smart—it’s critical to the UAE’s future.
A Vision of Equality, Led by NAMA
Under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of NAMA, the organisation continues to champion initiatives that support both personal growth and community resilience. The Financial Literacy Programme is one of many efforts to prepare women not just to participate in the economy, but to lead it.
For women like Mariam, Aisha, and others across Sharjah, the effects of this programme are already visible—in newly created savings plans, well-managed budgets, and a growing sense of control. This is more than financial training—it’s the foundation for a more confident and self-reliant future.
