The UAE Gender Balance Council: Driving Progress in Equality and Female Participation
Established in 2015, the UAE Gender Balance Council is a federal entity responsible for developing and implementing the gender balance agenda in the United Arab Emirates. The Council is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. The Council’s objectives are to reduce the gender gap across all government sectors, enhance the UAE’s ranking in global competitiveness reports on gender equality and achieve gender balance in decision-making positions, as well as promote the UAE’s status as a benchmark for gender balance legislation.
Strategic Goals and Global Rankings
It also launches pioneering initiatives and projects to enhance gender balance throughout the country and contribute to achieving the Council’s vision of positioning the UAE as a world model for gender balance. In recent years, the UAE has made significant strides in achieving gender equality. Specifically, the UAE has jumped 23 places in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2019 Gender Inequality Index, ranking first in the Arab world and 26th globally. Furthermore, it ranked 7th globally and 1st regionally on the Gender Inequality Index 2024, issued by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
To summarize the progress of the UAE in international rankings, consider the following data extracted from the reports:
| Year | Metric / Index | Ranking or Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | UNDP Gender Inequality Index | 49th Place |
| 2019 | UNDP Gender Inequality Index | 26th Place |
| 2022 | UNDP Gender Inequality Index | 11th Place |
| 2023 | Share of women in the UAE workforce | 32.5 percent |
| 2024 | UNDP Gender Inequality Index | 7th Place |
| 2024 | Share of women in the UAE workforce | 34.6 percent |
Legislation and Gender Equality Initiatives
Over the past few years, the UAE has implemented several laws and legislative amendments that encompass various aspects of women’s lives. Last year, the UAE Cabinet approved the issuance of legislation to ensure equal pay for men and women working in the country. The Law on Equal Wages and Salaries for Men and Women aims to ensure that women have equal opportunities as partners in the UAE’s development, and to further empower women to lead future national strategies and ambitious projects. This year’s Emirati Women’s Day highlights the country’s advancements in women’s empowerment and emphasizes the significance of constant development in this area.
Gender Balance Strategy 2022-2026
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. As part of these efforts, the UAE was the only country in the region to achieve full parity in parliament this year.
Regional and Global Context
The Gender Inequality Index measures gender inequalities in three important aspects of human development – reproductive health, empowerment, and economic status. According to the Emirates Businesswomen Council, the share of women in the UAE workforce rose to 34.6 percent in 2024, which is significantly higher than the regional average. The UAE’s gender gap rating was 71.2 percent last year, showing that achieving this ranking on a renowned global report would not have been possible without the support of wise leadership and the cooperation of all ministries and institutions.