Sharihan Al Mashary forayed into the hospitality industry nearly 15 years ago, becoming the first female Emirati General Manager in the UAE. She began her career at Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Group in 2008 and has since gone from strength to strength, excelling across multiple divisions and prestigious organisations, including Palazzo Versace, and Address Hotels & Resorts and Vida Hotels & Resorts of the Emaar Hospitality Group.
She’s part of the team leading Operations Project and Business Development Management at TGP International. She’s also serving as project manager at Expo City Dubai. “My role hasn’t only evolved with the organisations I’ve been lucky to contribute to, but also as an Emirati representing my industry and the women of my country,” she says.
Among Sharihan’s many accolades is winning the Best General Manager Award 2019 in the UAE. She also received the Arab Young Leader for Hospitality Award at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference the same year, in recognition of her commitment to the industry and support for youth in the country to develop their careers in the business.
She has been supporting the training of the UAE’s Youth National team in the Hospitality and Service Industry for WorldSkills International and EmiratesSkills, in support of Technical and Vocational Education, by sponsoring and mentoring Emirati youth in the sector.
Also to her credit is being the recipient of the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award for her efforts and contribution as a member of the Global Sustainability Network. “2023 is declared as the UAE’s ‘Year of Sustainability’, which is a notable milestone, especially as Dubai prepares to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November this year,” she notes.
Over time, Sharihan has witnessed shifting trends in travel consumption that indicate the future of the industry. “A significant number of people are now extending their hotel stays to combine business with leisure. The concept of ‘bleisure’ (business plus leisure) is quickly gaining ground,” she notes. “Also, the pillars of sustainability, gastronomy, trade, and technology will be key to the success of the UAE’s tourism sector,” she adds.
“Emirati women play an important role in the hospitality and tourism industry, as they already hold leadership positions, with more opportunities available to them, thanks to the support of our beloved rulers,” states Sharihan. “In the words of our late founding father, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ‘Nothing makes me happier than to see women assume their rightful role in society and fulfil their potential’.”
Photography by Aasiya Jagadeesh
This article was originally published in Villa 88’s Summer 2023 edition. Subscribe here.
