Women get taste of business world

A legal firm taking part in an entrepreneurship programme for female Emirati graduates is expecting "outstanding success" from the women involved. A total of 17 graduates of UAE University are taking part in a three-week training programme run by the University of Dubai through the Tawteen Women in the Workplace initiative. The women were given free legal advice this week by DLA Piper, one of the world's largest law practices, on how to set up a business.

Two of the company's legal consultants spoke on topics such as the different legal classifications of companies and the regulations required by different emirates and free zones. Wafa' Tarnowska, the manager of DLA Piper Middle East's corporate social responsibility initiatives, said the company wanted to "empower local talents". "We have focused on women because women's empowerment is not a luxury but a fundamental requirement for developing society as a whole," she said.

"It has been an honour and a pleasure to be associated with such a talented group of enterprising local women. "We are there to encourage them in the implementation stage and are watching for some outstanding success stories." The Tawteen Women in the Workplace programme was launched by the Emirates Foundation in 2007. @Email:dbardsley@thenational.ae