Women's Associations across the UAE Support Dubai World Hospitality Championship

Workshops Prepare Emirati Women Participants for Upcoming Event

Dubai-UAE: 13 October, 2013 – Dubai World Hospitality Championship (DWHC) has launched a series of workshops targeting UAE-based women's associations and foundations as part of an effort to familiarize them with the Emirati Competition, a key component of the inaugural three-day event that is set to take place in November.

The championship that seeks to draw the active participation of UAE national women in all four categories of the Emirati Competition - professional, junior, home-cooked dishes, home-made products – is set to engage members of the Dubai Women's Association, Umm Al Quwain Welfare Association, General Women's Union (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah Union Women's Association and Umm Al Moumneen Women's Association (Ajman), Office of Girls Guides (Ras Al Khaimah), Ras Al Khaimah Women's Association, and the Fujairah Welfare Association.

His Excellency Ahmed bin Hareb Al Falahi, President of Dubai World Hospitality Championship, said: “Women have been custodians of every aspect of Emirati culture since the beginning of our civilization. We would like the DWHC to serve as a tribute to Emirati women and acknowledge their pioneering role in preserving and maintaining the unique heritage of the UAE through centuries.”

The ongoing DWHC-led workshops highlight the championship's aim to serve as a global platform for Emirati women to showcase their culinary skills and talent. Each session methodically guides the workshop participants through all four categories of the Championship to familiarise the participating Emirati chefs and entrepreneurs with different aspects of the competition.

The participants are also being invited to present their best home-made dishes and innovative home-made merchandise at these workshops to the Championship Committee. In addition to enabling participants to understand their strengths and hone their skills for the actual event, the workshops allow the Committee to experience first-hand the sample products and quality of dishes that are likely to feature in the Championship.

Mona Al Suwaidi of Dubai Women's Association, said: “We look forward to participating in this splendid event that will be a first in the region. Emirati homes hold a wealth of heritage and culinary knowledge, most of which have been passed on orally from one generation to the next. Now, thanks to the DWHC, we will be able to reach out to people from across the globe and give them a taste of our rich culture.”

All competitors in the professional and juniors category will demonstrate their work at the DWHC at live cooking stations. Those participating in the home-made products category will prepare their items in advance for display and sale at the Championship.

Participants of the home-made dishes competition will also be required to prepare their dishes at home according to the menu provided by the committee. The dishes will then be delivered to the specific association to which each contestant belongs to in the various emirates. The DWHC will allocate a visit to the association by jury members to evaluate the dishes. This is being done to avoid potential damage that transportation could cause to the prepared dishes.

Organised by the Za'abeel Palace Hospitality under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the Dubai World Hospitality Championship will take place from 16-18 November 2013 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Over 700 professional and amateur chefs are set to demonstrate their artistic and aesthetic competencies at the Championship, which will also feature a Heritage and Hospitality Exhibition to welcome the visitors.