UAE Day: Vallourec celebrates a country built on diversity
As part of Vallourec’s diversity, equity, and inclusion program, We are Vallourec, we are sharing a series of articles to explore various cultures across the countries where the Group operates. In this article, Vallourec staff reflect on the impact that working in the United Arab Emirates has had on their lives and careers and describe the exceptionally warm welcome the country reserves for its huge ex-pat population.
Every year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrates UAE Day, a public holiday that commemorates its creation on December 2, 1971. Through the unification of the seven emirates—Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujaïrah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain—the UAE planted its roots in a fertile ground of diversity.
Now, more than 50 years later, the emirates can now boast an incredibly mixed population, of which expatriates represent 88%. For Vallourec employees in the Middle East, this high level of intercultural harmony and openness is palpable in the country.
The UAE feels like home more than any other place. Its warm – quite literally! – and welcoming hands first embraced me and my family in 2002. It is that warmth that keeps me from missing India too much.
A multitude of celebrations
In honor of UAE Day, all of the country’s residents are given a two-day break from work and school. For some, like repairs and accessories officer Joe Adaikalam, this provides an opportunity to enjoy the country’s natural surroundings.
“This past holiday, my friends and family got together for an overnight camping, fishing and barbecue trip,” Joe says. Elsewhere, city streets are brought to life with decorations, parades and fireworks.
While Vallourec celebrates UAE day by decorating its offices with lights and national flags, the company also demonstrates its appreciation for the country all year round. In January, for example, a beach clean-up day was organized to show gratitude and care for the community. During the months of Holi and Ramadan, the company plans to host a series of charitable events, including a meal distribution fair. “Vallourec has always played an active role in organizing events to help newcomers understand the traditions of the UAE,” says Swati.
Those who celebrate UAE Day understand it to be more than a patriotic event. It is deeply symbolic of the marriage between unity and diversity that is fundamental to the country.
UAE Day reminds us that this country has accomplished a huge amount of progress in only two generations
“Participating in these festivities instills a deep sense of pride and belonging,” adds sales administrator Maria Cutanda. “It reinforces the notion that, despite being away from my home country, I am part of the UAE’s story.”
Ensuring wellbeing is in the mix
While many come to the UAE in search of brighter prospects, leaving home is a challenge.
“It’s always hard to leave your birthplace to live alone in an entirely different country,” says Joe, who moved to the UAE in search of a stable job. “The extreme heat waves were unbearable in the beginning, but living and working here has given me and my family a secure life.”
This sentiment is shared by Maria, who agrees that the UAE genuinely prioritizes the wellbeing of its residents: “I never imagined working abroad. But sometimes fate directs us to where we truly belong,” she smiles.
It’s always hard to leave your birthplace to live alone in an entirely different country. The extreme heat waves were unbearable in the beginning, but living and working here has given me and my family a secure life.
An atmosphere of belonging
Just as the UAE makes its residents feel at home, Vallourec strives to provide a strong sense of belonging to employees. Sales specialist and President of the initiative Women@Vallourec in Middle East Hamsa Noushiba shares how the company regularly organizes team-building activities, birthday celebrations, and sports events, in addition to personal development programs.
It’s important that employees have access to resources that help build their confidence and self-esteem.
These tools include physical- and mental-health webinars, a communal book collection, and cultural programs to promote equity and inclusion. This supportive framework yields visible results.
Maria shares her earliest memory of walking into Vallourec Middle East and noticing the happiness around her.
This supportive framework yields visible results. Maria shares her earliest memory of walking into Vallourec Middle East and noticing the happiness around her. “Being part of a workplace where people are respected and valued is a key reason why I’ve spent 12 years with Vallourec,” she says. That approach carries over to the company’s active involvement in employees’ development, which Vallourec supports by encouraging them continuously to expand their skillsets. “Despite my reserved nature, the company recognized and invested in my potential,” says Maria. “Their trust in me fueled my competence and confidence.”
Being part of a workplace where people are respected and valued is a key reason why I’ve spent 12 years with Vallourec. Despite my reserved nature, the company recognized and invested in my potential. Their trust in me fueled my competence and confidence.
A country of unity
The over-arching theme of UAE Day is “Spirit of the Union.” This powerful notion celebrates both the origins of the UAE—numerous emirates coming together to become more than the sum of their parts—and also the diversity that characterizes the country to this day. There is a distinct sense of achievement that accompanies this kind of unity, and, like many of the paths that brought Vallourec team members to the UAE, it is not achieved overnight. However, through solidarity and support, journeys like these can lead to incredible growth. The UAE is proof that we flourish most when our roots are both deeply planted and far-reaching.
