Abu dhabi: The Women's Pavilion at Expo City Dubai has introduced Sama, a platform designed to support women at all career stages. This initiative offers various opportunities for ongoing learning, professional development, and employment support to enhance gender equity.
According to Emirates News Agency, Sama is a year-round platform symbolizing ambition and limitless growth, delivered in partnership with HSBC and supported by the Expo City Dubai Foundation. HSBC will provide funding and facilitate training with real workplace expectations to bridge the gap between learning and employment.
The launch of Sama coincides with the second edition of the Return to Work programme, aimed at empowering women to re-enter the workforce after a break. Maha Gorton, Head of Women's Pavilion at Expo City Dubai, emphasized the programme's success and its role in addressing career challenges faced by women. Sama seeks to build on this momentum by offering access to skills training, community support, and networking opportunities.
Sama will introduce new initiatives such as Sama Skills Sessions in early 2027, offering workshops on topics like CV preparation, AI, workplace technologies, and financial literacy. An annual Sama Employer Engagement gathering will address talent skill gaps and provide employer-returner referral pathways. A digital portal will also be available for continuous learning.
HSBC's ongoing support includes mock interviews, feedback, and networking workshops. David Ramos, Head of Philanthropy MENAT at HSBC, highlighted the bank's commitment to promoting gender diversity and supporting women's growth and leadership.
Sama builds on the success of the Return to Work pilot, with one-third of participants now in full-time employment and 10 percent pursuing entrepreneurship or freelance work. The initiative embodies the Women's Pavilion's belief in gender equity as a foundation for a prosperous and sustainable world, with plans to expand its impact in the UAE and regionally.
Women interested in Sama's offerings are encouraged to register. Registrations for the second cohort of the Return to Work programme are open from September 7 to 27, available via the Sama webpage.
Source: Emirates News Agency