Zulekha Daud

Dr.Zulekha Daud
Born	Nagpur, India
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	India
Education	MBBS
Occupation	Managing Director, Zulekha Hospitals
Years active	1964- present
Known for	Efforts in the field of healthcare
Relatives	Husband - Iqbal Daud
Medical career
Profession	Doctor
Field	Healthcare
Specialism	Gynecology

Zulekha Daud is the Managing Director of Zulekha Hospitals in the UAE.^[1] She set up Zulekha Hospitals in 1992 and Forbes Middle East recognized her contributions to the field of healthcare by including her in the list of 100 Indian Leaders in the UAE.^[2][3] The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai awarded her the Dubai Quality Award.^[4]

Life and career

Zulekha Daud was born to the family of Sadiq Valli, a construction worker and Bilkis Vali.^[5] She graduated with an MBBS degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur, India. She specialised in Gynecology.^[6][7]

She left India and arrived in the UAE in 1964, becoming the first female Indian doctor to practice there. Her first posting was at the American Kuwait Mission Hospital and her husband Iqbal Daud was an ophthalmologist in Ras Al Khaimah. Before the federation was formed in 1971, facilities in the UAE were basic, some areas lacked electricity and supplies and equipment that Zulekha had to use were rudimentary.^[8] It was in 1992, that she was able to set up the first Zulekha Hospital, this was then followed by a medical center in Dhaid and another hospital in Dubai. She has attended to more than 10,000 deliveries across her career and it is her work in this field that earned her the moniker ‘Mama Zulekha’.^[6][9]

Contributions

The first Zulekha Hospital was set up in Sharjah, in 1992. It began as a 30 bed facility and the Zulekha Group has now expanded to include another hospital in Dubai along with 3 medical centers and a chain of pharmacies.^[10][11] Zulekha Hospital in Dubai has been beneficial to the people of Al Qusais, Al-Nahda and Mirdiff.^[12] Today, the Zulekha Group is considered to be one of the largest private healthcare networks in the Emirates.^[6] Between the two hospitals and three medical centers, the Zulekha Group treats about 550,000 people annually.^[13]

In 2004, she set up Zed – a vocational and training center and a charitable trust in Nagpur.^[6] Her other efforts in India include the ‘Clean Drinking Water’ cause engineered in and around Nagpur. She has also begun adopting non-functional educational institutes around the area.^[14]

In 2010, she put together a financing deal of $24 million with the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group to offer hospital care in India and the UAE. According to the plan presented, $21 million would be put toward a 189-bed strong hospital in Nagpur, India and $3 million would go toward an energy-efficiency project in the Zulekha group’s Sharjah facility.^[15][16]

In 2015, Zulekha Hospitals in Sharjah launched the 'Pink It Now' Campaign to spread awareness and encourage early testing and detection of breast cancer. The hospital also set up a specialized oncology treatment center.^[17]

To mark World Heart Day in 2015, Zulekha Hospitals launched the 'Heart Care Campaign'.^[18]

In 2015, She shared a meeting with Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development in the UAE. They discussed the community development initiatives and working as a team to increase contribution.^[19]

Awards and recognition

• International Women’s Day excellence award on the 11th International Women’s Day Excellence Awards in Dubai. (2012)^[20]
• Recognised as one of the top gynaecologists in the UAE and honoured by Sheikh Dr. Majid Bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, Chaiman of the Ruler’s Court (Ajman) at the National Conference on Women’s Health at Gulf Medical University (GMU) Campus. (2012)^[21]
• Lifetime Achievement – Healthcare Award (2012)^[22][23]
• Zulekha Daud placed 20th in the Economic Times' 2013 list of Most powerful Indian in the Gulf.(2013)^[24]
• Placed in Forbes Middle East top 100 Indian leaders in the UAE. (2013).^[25]
• Listed as one of the 20 most influential global Indian women. (2015).^[26]
• Outstanding Contribution of an Individual to the Middle East Healthcare Industry Award. (2015)^[27]
• Ranked 33 in arabianbusiness.com’s list of 50 richest Indians in the GCC.^[28]
• Dubai Quality Award at the 21st Business Excellence Awards Ceremony. This was recognised by the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.(2015)^[29]

References

1. "Zulekha Hospital receives Dubai Chamber CSR Award". www.daijiworld.com. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
2. "Nahyan meets Dr Zulekha". gulftimes.ae/. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
3. "Dr. Zulekha Daud - Top 100 Indian Leaders in UAE | Forbes Middle East". Forbes Middle East. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
4. "Mohammad honours Dubai Quality Award winners". Gulf News. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
5. ET, Bureau (4 January 2015). "Global Indian Women: Top 20 India-born & Globally successful women from business and arts". Economic Times. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
6. "A pioneer in UAE’s healthcare sector". Khajeel Times. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
7. "First female Indian doctor in the Trucial States looks back on a career well spent | The National". www.thenational.ae. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
8. Begum, Ramola. "First female Indian doctor in the Trucial States looks back on a career well spent". The National UAE. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
9. "MATRON OF MEDICINE". www.feminame.com. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
10. Dhanagunan, Laviinia (2 October 2012). "ZULEKHA DAUD – THE GULF’S MOST POWERFUL INDIAN WOMEN". Retrieved 23 December 2015.
11. "MATRON OF MEDICINE". feminame.com. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
12. "Al Qusais".
13. "50 Richest Indians in the GCC". Arabian Business. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
14. "Matron of Medicine". www.feminame.com. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
15. Dhanagunan, Laviinia. "Zulekha Daud– The Gulf's Most Powerful Indian Women". southasiandiaspora.org. South Asian Diaspora. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
16. "IFC’s $24 Million Zulekha Hospitals Financing Will Increase Access to Health Care in India". ifcext.ifc.org/. International Finanace Corporation. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
17. Jara-Puyod, Mariecar (6 October 2015). "Public, private entities team up against breast cancer in ‘Pink It Now’ campaign". The Gulf Times. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
18. "Free check-ups for World Heart Day". Khaleej Times. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
19. "Sheikh Nahyan meets Healthcare pioneer Dr. Zulekha Daud". www.zawya.com. Emirates News Agency. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
20. "Dubai: Dr Zulekha Daud Recieves(sic) International Women’s Day Excellence Award". Daijiworld. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
21. "Leading Gynecologists of U.A.E honored at National Conference on Women’ s Health at GMU". Thumbay. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
22. "Dubai : Dr. Zulekha Daud Awarded Life Time Achievement on Health Care". www.daijiworld.com. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
23. "Lifetime achievement award for Dr Zulekha - Khaleej Times". www.khaleejtimes.com. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
24. "Lulu Group MD heads list of most powerful Indians in GCC". news.kuwaittimes.net. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
25. "Forbes honours Dr Zulekha with Top Indian Leaders Award". Daijiworld.com. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
26. "The 20 most influential global Indian women". Economic Times. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
27. "Dubai: Dr Zulekha Daud receives Arab Health Award". www.daijiworld.com. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
28. "50 Richest Indians in the GCC". Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM). Retrieved 3 December 2015.
29. "HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Presents Zulekha Hospitals with Dubai Quality Award". www.dubaiprnetwork.com. Retrieved 3 December 2015.