The UAE will celebrate the ‘Emirati Women’s Day’ tomorrow, Wednesday, to honor the remarkable achievements and contributions of Emirati women to the nation’s development under the theme ‘We share for tomorrow’.
In recent years, the UAE has made significant strides in achieving gender equality. It ranked 7th globally and 1st regionally on the Gender Inequality Index 2024, issued by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The UAE’s rank rose significantly from 49th place in 2015 and 11th place in 2022.
This year’s Emirati Women’s Day highlights the country’s advancements in women’s empowerment. Moreover, it emphasizes the significance of constant development in this area.
Initiatives to close the UAE’s gender gap
As the UAE gears up to celebrate Emirati Women’s Day, it sheds light on several initiatives and programs that have raised female participation and empowerment across all aspects of life.
Over the past few years, the UAE has implemented several laws and legislative amendments that encompass various aspects of women’s lives. This includes work, protection, political participation and personal status. These reforms have enhanced women’s status and contributed to the UAE’s global competitiveness.
Ahead of the Emirati Women’s Day, the UAE highlighted its Gender Balance Strategy 2022-2026 which seeks to position the country as a global model for gender balance. The strategy includes four pillars:
- Economic participation and entrepreneurship
- Financial inclusion, well-being and quality of life
- Protection
- Global leadership and partnerships
The strategy aims to transition the UAE from closing gender gaps and exploring best practices to becoming an exporter of best gender balance practices with a focus on the post-global competitiveness phase.
Read: Paid maternity leave of up to 90 days for Emirati mothers in Abu Dhabi private sector
Progress on female participation in the UAE
The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023 revealed that the Middle East and North Africa are the lowest-ranking regions, with a rating of 62.6 percent gender gap closed. The UAE’s gender gap rating was 71.2 percent last year.
In 2024, LinkedIn data shows that women’s workforce representation remains below men’s across nearly every industry and economy. Women accounted for 42 percent of the global workforce and 31.7 percent of senior leaders.
In the Middle East and Northern Africa, gender parity in the labor force participation rate is the lowest of all regions at 28 percent on average. Moreover, it has been on a downward trajectory since 2019. The region’s only exceptions are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE, which have also seen significant increases since 2006.
Ahead of the Emirati Women’s Day, the Emirates Businesswomen Council revealed that the share of women in the UAE workforce rose to 34.6 percent in 2024, up from 32.5 percent in 2023. That is significantly higher than the regional average.
Political Empowerment in the region ranked eighth globally in 2024, with just 11.7 percent of gender parity achieved. However, the UAE was the only country in the region to achieve full parity in parliament this year.
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