UAE Gender Balance Strategy creates new opportunities for talent, says Sheikha Manal

Sheikha Manal, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, declared that the UAE's Gender Balance Strategy 2027-2031 will unlock new opportunities for talent and expertise, enabling the country to keep pace with global transformations and strengthen its leadership in promoting gender balance. The strategy aims to reflect the UAE's ambitions for the next phase while unlocking promising future opportunities, as stated by Sheikha Manal, who emphasized the importance of listening to people's experiences alongside numerical data.

The council launched a National Gender Balance Survey to gather insights and data on various topics, including economic participation, career development, social care, quality of life, future skills, and the impact of technology and economic transformations. The survey is open to Emiratis and UAE residents of all genders, across different age groups, sectors, and professional life stages.

Mouza Al Ghuwais Al Suwaidi, Secretary General of the council, highlighted that by integrating survey results with the data and consultations gathered during the strategy development process, the UAE can gain a deeper understanding of opportunities and challenges, ultimately identifying key priorities for the next phase.

The survey's topics cover a wide range of areas, such as economic participation, career development, financial security, social care, quality of life, future skills, and the impact of technology, artificial intelligence, and economic transformations. Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the council, emphasized the need to prepare for the rapid changes reshaping the world, focusing on how the UAE can turn these changes into opportunities that enhance participation across society and contribute to economic and development processes.

The UAE has already made significant strides in empowering Emirati women, such as appointing a 50% quota for women on the Federal National Council and achieving a 46% representation of women in STEM graduates and a 80% representation in the Emirates Mars Mission's scientific leadership team. In September 2024, the UAE also issued a directive requiring private companies to ensure female representation on board of directors, coming into force in January 2024.

This initiative aimed to bolster gender equality efforts in the private sector, positioning the UAE as a global leader in promoting gender balance.