Latest news with #UAEGenderBalanceCouncil
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Feature: Rewriting norms -- Emirati women thrive in traditionally male domains
DUBAI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Amid the roaring hum of towering cranes at Dubai's Jebel Ali Port, Emirati engineer Hind Al-Kaabi skillfully directs a series of precise maneuvers to load enormous containers onto a cargo ship heading to South Asia. In a professional setting long dominated by men in the country, Al-Kaabi distinguishes herself as one of many Emirati women challenging traditional gender roles. "When I started working here five years ago, most of my colleagues were men," said Al-Kaabi, now a senior operations supervisor in the automation department at DP World, a multinational logistics company based in Dubai. "Today, we have a fully Emirati women's team managing smart crane systems and even developing algorithms to optimize shipping operations," she added proudly. "We don't just ask for equality -- we practice it on the ground." Women's empowerment is a key pillar of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s Vision 2031, which promotes increased female participation in economic, scientific, and technological sectors, especially in traditionally male-dominated fields. "We are working to remove cultural and institutional barriers to women's participation," said Mona Al Marri, vice president of the UAE Gender Balance Council, in an earlier statement. "We encourage women to enter fields once seen as off-limits, like aviation, artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and maritime transport." Al-Kaabi is not alone in challenging the workplace norms. In Sharjah, materials science graduate Noura Al-Suwaidi now supervises a production line at one of the UAE's new industrial robotics factories -- part of the country's national industrial strategy. "I oversee more than 20 robots on assembly lines," said Al-Suwaidi. "My role is not just operating them, but also monitoring performance and refining the software. This used to be a male-only environment, but now it's a natural space for ambitious Emirati women." In Abu Dhabi, Fatima Al-Naqbi leads a research team at the Nawah Energy Company's nuclear research center. "Working in nuclear energy was never considered a traditional path for Emirati girls," said Al-Naqbi. "But today, the state, family, and society all encourage it." Recent data from the UAE Ministry of Community Empowerment shows that the percentage of Emirati women working in engineering and technical fields rose from about 17 percent in 2015 to over 35 percent by 2025 -- a clear sign of accelerating integration of women into advanced sectors. Leadership roles have also seen growth: women now hold nearly 28 percent of leadership positions in semi-governmental companies, thanks to localization and gender balance policies designed to promote women's involvement in decision-making. At DP World, female participation in operational and field roles has doubled in the past three years, driven by the company's "Towards Full Partnership" initiative aimed at attracting and developing female talent in nontraditional workspaces. Federal and local UAE institutions now offer mentorship and training programs to young women as early as high school, paving the way for careers in technical and industrial fields. These efforts are supported by organizations such as the UAE Gender Balance Council and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council. "Empowerment is not a feminist slogan -- it's an economic and developmental necessity," said Maryam Al-Hammadi, policy director at the Ministry of Community Empowerment. "The country cannot realize its future competitiveness without investing in the full potential of both men and women." For Al-Kaabi, the transformation is more than just numbers. "Every morning when I put on my helmet and walk along the dock," she said, "I feel like I'm not just carrying a work bag -- I'm carrying the responsibility of opening a new path for the women of my generation."
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-06-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia Showcases Progress in Women's Economic Participation at High-Level Regional Dialogue
Saudi Arabia participated in a high-level regional dialogue focused on enhancing women's economic participation alongside government representatives from Gulf states, including the UAE and Bahrain. The event, held in Dubai on June 17–18, was organized by the UAE Gender Balance Council in cooperation with the World Bank. The sessions and workshops featured the exchange of expertise and successful policy models to advance gender equality in the workforce. Representing the Kingdom, Female Enablement General Director at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development Dr. Hanadi Al-Hokair joined a panel alongside her counterparts from the UAE and Bahrain. She presented the Kingdom's practical strategies to boost women's engagement in the labor market and highlighted recent policy reforms and milestones in Saudi Arabia's economic empowerment of women. Interactive sessions led by World Bank experts explored childcare policies that support women's employment, global best practices for integrating women into the digital economy, and reforms that facilitate women's entry into non-traditional sectors such as technology and the green economy. Participants also reviewed global legal frameworks and successful case studies from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. A dedicated session addressed the methodology of the World Bank's Women, Business and the Law Index, a key global benchmark for assessing gender-related regulatory progress. The Kingdom's efforts have yielded significant achievements, with women's labor force participation increasing from 17% in 2017 to over 36% in 2025, surpassing the original targets of Vision 2030. The ministry's participation in the event reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to empowering women and elevating their role across all sectors in line with the Vision 2030.
Dubai Eye
20-06-2025
- Business
- Dubai Eye
GCC policy dialogue to promote women's leadership in workforce
A policy dialogue on women's economic empowerment concluded in Dubai, with GCC countries backing efforts for joint legal reforms, childcare investment and enhanced knowledge exchange across institutions. Led by the UAE Gender Balance Council and the World Bank, the workshop brought together leaders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to share strategies aimed at expanding women's participation in the workforce, particularly through support for childcare and maternity policies. The UAE emphasised its initiatives to enhance gender balance in the labour market, Saudi Arabia outlined advances in workforce participation and social insurance for women and Bahrain showcased national upskilling programs and empowerment strategies. A joint brief was presented to guide future cooperation, marking a key step toward building inclusive, opportunity-driven economies across the region. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said, 'Women's economic empowerment is not simply a policy objective, it is a force for transformation. It strengthens institutions, drives innovation and ensures that progress is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable." Mona Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, highlighted that "regional collaboration drives progress". "By uniting to promote gender balance, we amplify our collective impact and ensure that every woman in the GCC has the chance to contribute to shaping a more inclusive future," she added. Since its establishment in 2015, the Council has led policies, legal reforms and partnerships aimed at embedding gender balance across national institutions and economic systems.
Hi Dubai
20-06-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
UAE Gender Balance Council Leads GCC Push to Advance Women's Economic Empowerment
A high-level regional dialogue led by the UAE Gender Balance Council and the World Bank concluded in Dubai this week, with GCC countries reaffirming their shared commitment to accelerating women's economic empowerment through policy reform, legal innovation, and institutional collaboration. The two-day GCC Knowledge Exchange Workshop on Women's Economic Empowerment gathered top policymakers and gender equality advocates from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Held under the UAE Gender Balance Centre for Excellence & Knowledge Exchange, the workshop provided a platform to share reform experiences and strengthen cross-border cooperation on inclusive economic development. H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, described women's empowerment as 'a force for transformation,' and emphasised the UAE's vision for regional collaboration to ensure sustainable, inclusive growth. Supported by the World Bank, the forum highlighted initiatives such as investments in childcare and maternity support, recent legal reforms, and country-specific strategies to boost female workforce participation. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain showcased progress in gender-responsive policymaking, skills development, and labour market inclusion. Mona Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, called the event 'a powerful example of shared leadership,' underscoring the importance of uniting efforts to close economic gender gaps across the region. The workshop concluded with a joint brief outlining key insights and future cooperation plans. Organisers say the momentum will continue through a growing regional network aimed at building inclusive economies driven by equal opportunity. News Source: Emirates News Agency
TAG 91.1
20-06-2025
- Business
- TAG 91.1
UAE hosts GCC policy dialogue to advance women's economic empowerment
A dialogue on women's economic empowerment concluded in Dubai, with GCC countries backing efforts for joint legal reforms, childcare investment and knowledge exchange across institutions. Led by the UAE Gender Balance Council and the World Bank, the workshop brought together leaders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to share policies and strategies that expand women's participation in the workforce. A joint brief was presented to guide future cooperation, marking a key step toward building inclusive, opportunity-driven economies across the region. Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of the Dubai Women Establishment and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, said, 'Women's economic empowerment is not simply a policy objective, it is a force for transformation. It strengthens institutions, drives innovation, and ensures that progress is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.' Since its establishment in 2015, the Council has led policies, legal reforms and partnerships aimed at embedding gender balance across national institutions and economic systems.
