Welcome to the NOORA diaries.
NOORA – Aurora50’s dynamic network connecting and empowering corporate women across the GCC – offers its members a unique experience.
Throughout their year-long membership, NOORA members gather at least every two months for enriching workshops, networking opportunities and discussions.
This blog post will serve as a window into their journey, a rolling diary capturing the highlights, insights and inspiring moments from each NOORA gathering. Join us throughout the year.
Find out more about NOORA at aurora50.com/noora – we offer corporate packages and individual places for corporate GCC women. There are at least six face-to-face meet-ups per year.
Gemma McFall of Recovery Lab, the Middle East’s only pain reprocessing therapist, talked to NOORA members about anxiety and chronic pain and how all pain begins in the brain.
Although stress is a “good thing” and “we need some level of stress in order to drive us”, she added: “Ongoing stress becomes chronic stress and then chronic stress very quickly turns into anxiety.”
But because pain is a learned response, it can also be “unlearned”.
Ms McFall presented a four-step ‘freedom from pain’ model:
You can find Ms McFall’s free assessment quiz at https://gemmamcfall.com.
Our co-founder, HH Sheikha Shamma bint Khalifa bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, hosted our second annual NOORA Iftar with over 60 honoured guests.
The event included a traditional dua and Maghreb prayer, followed by delicious food and relaxed networking. Our newest member, Adn Al Qadi, the Centre Head for 3Dimensions Physical Performance LLC and Dietician for Global Medical Solutions, winner of our NOORA competition, was one of the attendees.
Announcing the NOORA winner! Congratulations to Adn Al Qadi, the Centre Head for 3Dimensions Physical Performance and Dietician for Global Medical Solutions.
We welcomed Adn at our flagship Iftar at the Palace in March.
Adn says: “A huge thank you for recognising my passion for learning, growth and giving back. I’m excited to connect with and be inspired by such a powerful network of women.”
We wanted to do something special for the incredible women in the business community as we celebrate the Year Of Community and International Women’s Day, so we gifted a year-long membership to the woman who persuaded us she most deserved to join NOORA.
NOORA is a powerful community of like-minded corporate women who lift each other up, grow together and light the way for future leaders.
We believe every woman deserves a strong inner circle to navigate the challenges of leadership. Because let’s face it – it can get lonely at the top. NOORA is here to change that, and now Adn gets the chance to find her inner circle too.
Our NOORA community experienced something truly special at Dubai Logistics City. We weren’t just touring Aramex’s regional headquarters – we were immersed in powerful conversations that left us inspired and energised about the future of workplace inclusion.
The magic began when Roxane Deschambault, Aramex’s Global Learning & Development Director, opened our hearts and minds with her expertise on psychological safety. “Rewarded vulnerability” was the phrase that resonated throughout the room as she painted a vision of workplaces where everyone feels safe to learn, contribute, and challenge conventional thinking.
But the journey didn’t stop there. The male allyship panel blew us away with its candour and commitment. Senior leaders Nicolas Sibuet, Mike Rich and Nizar Zouhairi didn’t just talk about supporting women: they challenged all of us to move beyond mentoring to active sponsorship. Their message was clear: women shouldn’t have to change who they are to succeed, and the younger generation of men is already showing us what true partnership looks like, both at work and home.
The day concluded with a celebration of Aurora50’s partnership with Aramex, which they beautifully described as “an important step in our journey towards female celebration.”
We held a relaxed, outdoor meet-up for our NOORA women’s community in the serene gardens of University of Birmingham Dubai, blending meaningful face-to-face networking with an insightful workshop on navigating the return to work after extended leave.
We delved into managing the emotional conversations that often arise during this transition, creating a safe space for open dialogue and shared experiences. A huge thank you to coach Bibi Sheikh for guiding us with wisdom and warmth. As she beautifully said, “Thank you for your vulnerability, honesty, time and support for each other.” 🌱
It is several months since the 2023/24 cohort of NOORA left but its members remain deeply connected and supportive of each other. This footage, taken by NOORA leader Tijana Pejak Krizanovic, is from an informal desert gathering the women themselves organised.
It is a testament to their commitment, and shows how powerful it is when women build, nurture and treasure their professional relationships.
A special shout-out to Fawzia Al Hashemi, from The Emirates Group, for continually stepping up since the first NOORA workshop in September 2023, and organising monthly meet-ups for the community.
Aurora50’s content strategist, Suzanne Locke, gave a one-hour session on using LinkedIn to manage your professional brand, with tips and tricks to grow your reputation, network, connectiond and career, to answer the question we commonly ask NOORA members: How are you presenting yourself online – and does it matter?
You can find out more in the blog post she’s written on LinkedIn tips and tricks.
A transformative day of learning, inspiration and connection, this time in collaboration with our knowledge partner and workshop host Hult International Business School in Dubai.
The day was packed with thought-provoking discussions, including a powerful session by Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University, Dubai on the importance of social capital – how building meaningful relationships and leveraging networks can shape careers and foster success.
Namrata Kamath, dean of HULT University Dubai, led an engaging workshop on mastering communication, offering practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations with confidence and clarity, challenging members to practice and show their voice on the spot.
We were also honoured to have two male managers, Sergey Akhmetov, EVP Midstream from EGA, and Ben Lindley, Vice President of EK Airport Services from Emirates Group, joining us as male allies, bringing fresh perspectives and contributing to our conversations on inclusivity, growth and women empowerment.
NOORA founding partner TAQA invited NOORA members to visit the Noor solar park, the world’s largest standalone photovoltaic plant, in Sweihan, Abu Dhabi.
NOORA members explored the park’s innovative solar technology, gained insights from TAQA experts and connected with like-minded women committed to sustainable energy and leadership in the UAE.
The massive 1.2 gigawatt Noor solar power plant has been running commercially for five years.
More than 3.3 million solar panels are deployed on site, generating enough power to meet the needs of 90,000 individuals.
A full-day workshop at the Higher College of Technology, Abu Dhabi, focusing on innovation, self-reflection and empowerment for ambitious corporate women.
The event featured sessions on career growth, overcoming burnout and building effective workplace relationships, with expert speakers guiding participants through impactful discussions and interactive activities.
Does “If I just work hard enough, my efforts will get noticed” sound familiar? It’s time to ditch this limiting mindset and learn how to showcase your value and grow from self-consciousness to confidence, said career strategist and motivational speaker Dr Kerstin Brehm.
NOORA members also gave motivational talks and al members took part in a group networking exercise.
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A new survey shows that Emirati women working in the private sector feel they have equal opportunities for growth and leadership. This comes as the number of Emiratis in the private sector has jumped by 300% since 2021, thanks to the UAE’s Nafis programme.
In February Guinness World Records™ presented ADNOC with their certificate after ADNOC and Aurora50 jointly won a world record for gender equality in the workplace.
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change has released a report on the modernisation of the Middle East, which specifically refers to the partnership between Aurora50 and the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) as it points out that Middle Eastern women-led initiatives are “driving positive change and equality”.
