Other Women's Jobs // Israa Shaheen

NAME: Israa Shaheen       

AGE: 36

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @israashaheenofficial

JOB TITLE: Etiquette & Protocol Expert

MOVED TO THE UAE IN: I was born in the UAE – Abu Dhabi in 1988

Israa Shaheen is an Etiquette and Protocol Expert, guiding individuals through the complexities of social and professional interactions with confidence and grace. Her journey began in 2015 when she transitioned from her full-time job to fully invest herself in the world of etiquette and protocol. Since then, she has successfully led projects across the GCC, specialising in executive clientele, government entities, and royal households.

Born and raised in the UAE, Israa holds a master’s degree in Leadership and Human Resources Management, and has been certified by The European School of Protocol in London, England. She continued to expand her knowledge through various certifications, including Associate Certified Coach (ACC) by the International Coaching Federation, Herrmann HBDI® Certified Practitioner and a Masterclass in Modern Protocol from Protocolbureau in the Netherlands.

Grounded in her upbringing in the UAE and deep understanding of regional values, Israa specialises in the business culture of the GCC, designs her training courses and workshops that blend international standards with local customs and beliefs, and believes that this unique perspective enriches the experiences of individuals and organisations seeking a deeper understanding of the region’s intricacies.

Here's a typical working day in the life of Israa:

5:30AM: On a working day, I wake up early to make sure I leave my place in Sharjah before the traffic hits Sharjah – Dubai road. I make sure that I picked my outfit the day before, so my morning routine is very simple and consists of praying, hair & make up, and getting dressed.

6:30AM: I hit the road and head to my first stop of the day. If I am in a good mood, I would listen to a podcast, otherwise, I enjoy the silence.

7AM: I stop at my favourite coffee shop to have coffee, journal and read. While there is a couple of options that are open at 7 am in Dubai, I prefer rituals, hence, I made it a habit to go to the same place for my morning coffee. This hour of the day means a lot to me, as I use it to set the tone for the rest of the day.

8AM: Arrive at the training venue. One of the things I love about the kind of work I do is that every project is held at a different place, either at the client’s premises or at a hotel. I make sure I arrive at least 30 minutes early to get familiar with the place, settle down and meet the participants.

12NOON: The typical mid-day break is usually at noon, to give the training participants the chance to have lunch and pray (duhr prayer). I made it a habit not to have lunch when delivering a training, I usually have a light snack instead, while I check my social media accounts, post a story or two from the training room, and interact with any scheduled posts.

3PM: Wrap up the training session and head back to Sharjah. I make use of my time in the car and call my close friends to check on them.

4PM: I have lunch at home while I check my emails, schedule meetings, and send out any proposals and invoices.  As an independent trainer and consultant, I take care of almost all aspects of my business.

5PM: Coaching time. 45 minutes dedicated to my individual clients. My coaching sessions are usually held online, as my clients are based in different cities.

6PM: Self-care time – on different levels. Yoga/stretching and breathing exercises, followed by a shower, and then I head to the hair salon in the neighbourhood to get my hair done.

9PM: I make sure I spend dinner time with my parents, I tell them about my day and listen to their updates too. Spending quality time with them is a priority.

10PM: I dedicate this time to my future projects. I research, prepare training material, write articles, work on my personal brand, create content for social media, and explore new ways to collaborate with others.

12Midnight: I get ready for bed; I meditate and journal before going to sleep.

(Note: My day looks very different on the days I don’t have training delivery. Maybe that a story for another article!)