The following is an edited translation of a speech given by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at an orientation session of the Women's leadership Seminar in Dubai.

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate

I am very happy to be here with you today. My chief concern is young leaders and investment in humanity. As you may recall, it was investment in man, not in places where I began - as a man can work even in a tent, but the place, no matter how big or small, remains merely place.

Thank Allah our investment has borne fruit. Today, we are proud to have teams of young male and female leaders. They have become ministers and directors of large, prestigious institutions.

Long ago, a woman in our Arab history possessed the characteristics of leadership. Today, in the UAE we need young leaders.

We are proud of the work teams we have today. You will also be leaders one day. I am sure that each of you has her own story, be it about her mother, grandmother or aunt - about how she managed the house when her man went pearl diving, or travelled far to earn a livelihood. The woman used to do everything, not only at home, but also in her neighbourhood.

The one, who begins his day saying, 'today is beautiful, and I have to create something...I am the best.' He is the one who can achieve many things. I say that negative and positive things exist; nevertheless, one can accomplish what one desires.

Among the female leaders we all recall is Khadija bint Khuwaylid, who sacrificed her wealth for Islam. She was patient. She is one of many examples we have in our history.

Man should not envy his friend, saying he has achieved this and that. Rather, he should say, 'I should reach this place'. He should have good intentions and courage; one man is not better than another.

In the past, department heads and ministers wanted to be the leaders themselves, but today we look to levels one, two and three. The work teams I have selected are from the youth, because since the beginning, this is what we have targeted. We have adopted strategies and succeeded in many fields that were considered unpromising; we commenced work and overcame difficulties with persistence, perseverance and true belief in being the best.

I always state that man shouldn't say, 'God willing, I will be in the third row,' because if you desire to be in the third row you will be at the bottom and will never succeed. You should be in the first row, so that you can achieve what you want.

There is a saying that reads, 'behind every great man there is a woman.' I don't know what this saying signifies. Perhaps that woman was great. I recall many women who supported their husbands and succeeded; the mother who rocks her child's cradle with her right hand, can sway the world with her left.

Women have their status; they make up half of society, but I say they are more than that. I have repeatedly said that women are the soul of society; I mean that they are everything.

Queen Balquees saved her people from war with the Prophet Solomon. Of course she was great and brave. She was the Queen of Saba'. You all know the story of Balquees.

Another great woman was Queen Zanoubia of Tadmor. She fought the Roman Army when it was at its peak. She fought them for a long time, and when they surrounded her, she fought even more fiercely. As a result, when she was captured, the Roman leaders shackled her with gold chains instead of iron chains, to honour her.

Khawla bint Al Azwar is another example of a great woman in our history. When Khalid bin Al Waleed's army retreated from a battle field, Khawla put on men's cloths, covered her face, took a sword and a spear and fought in the front line. She fought so bravely that the Muslim fighters wondered who that young man might be. They won the battle because there was a leader.

Success always means igniting passion. We should regard these women as examples to follow, so that we can emulate them, or become even better than them.

I always say that there is an initiator and a follower. Allah gave us intellect, which we have yet to use to its full capacity. We have the potential to give; you have the ability to give more, but each one of you should raise her head and say, 'I am better, I can succeed, I can create, and you will see the results.'

If you start your day with positive thoughts, your whole day will be positive. Some people say that life is all about luck. I do not believe this. I say, luck comes to the one who is ready and willing to receive it.

We have competent people from the second and third rows who are at the forefront now. As I said earlier, department heads and ministers didn't want other employees to be in the picture before. Today, this idea does not hold true.

Today, ministers leave their offices at the various ministries, and talk to their employees with truthfulness and transparency. You can now hear an employee saying, 'the minister came to me, sat with me and talked to me...he is a minister and I am an ordinary employee, I should work harder and produce more.'

The mother of Saif Al Dawalah Al Hamadani...that wise woman, I remember what the Arab poet Al Mutanabbi said about her:
'If women are like those who we have lost, I would prefer women to men.'

This means that women played a significant role at that time.

We have, in Oman, Moza bint Ahmed, who played an important role in the reign of Bu Saeed. She helped the poor and stood by the oppressed. There are many examples of women like this. Let me remind you of Hissa bint Al Murr and Latifa bint Hamdan, they played their part, they were wise women. They helped rule. I want to say that a woman is not just a mother.

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak is the Mother of Sheikhs. She played a big role with Sheikh Zayed, that, I know well. She still plays a role now, and this is what I want from you.

Thank you.