UAE Gender Balance Council Drives Equity Agenda at WGS 2025

Photo : Dubai Government Media Office

The UAE Gender Balance Council took an important step forward in promoting gender equality at the World Governments Summit 2025 in Dubai. As part of the summit, the council hosted the Gender Balance Forum, bringing together top global leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss ways to create a more inclusive and fair society for all.

The event was held under the guidance of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The forum highlighted the UAE’s ongoing efforts to promote equal opportunities for men and women, which is a key part of the country’s vision for a better future.

A Strong Message from Global Leaders
At the forum, Her Excellency Evika Silina, Prime Minister of Latvia, delivered a powerful speech about the importance of gender equality. She explained how equal rights help countries grow, both economically and socially. Latvia has made strong efforts to improve gender balance, and its policies serve as an example for other nations.

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Several important UAE and international leaders attended the event, including members of the UAE Gender Balance Council and other distinguished guests.

Gender Balance: A National Priority
Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized that gender balance is a top priority for the UAE. She said:

“The UAE’s progress in gender equality is a result of our leadership’s vision and support. Their commitment to giving men and women equal opportunities has made the UAE a success story on the global stage.”

She highlighted that the UAE ranks first in the Middle East and seventh worldwide in the Gender Equality Index 2024 by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The UAE also holds the top position in the Middle East and North Africa in the Women, Business, and the Law 2024 report by the World Bank.

Sheikha Manal credited these achievements to strong partnerships between government and private sector organizations and cooperation with international institutions. She also said that the UAE aims to be a model for other countries by sharing its successful strategies and experiences.

The Role of the World Governments Summit
Sheikha Manal stressed the importance of events like the World Governments Summit, saying:

“This summit is a great opportunity to build partnerships and encourage change. Gender balance is not only the right thing to do—it is necessary for economic growth and a strong society. We will continue to lead discussions that help create a more inclusive and fair future for all.”

Achievements in Gender Equality
Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, explained how the UAE has made remarkable progress in gender balance. She said:

“The UAE is now recognized as a global leader in gender balance, thanks to clear policies, innovative projects, and strong partnerships. These achievements did not happen by chance—they are part of a well-planned vision.”

She highlighted key milestones:

Women hold one-third of ministerial positions in the UAE government.
50% of seats in the Federal National Council are held by women.
57% of STEM graduates (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in the UAE are women, one of the highest rates worldwide.
46% of the national labor force in the government sector consists of women.
She also emphasized the UAE’s leadership in gender balance across the region and globally, saying:

“This forum is a chance to share our experiences, discuss new laws, and explore strategies to strengthen gender equality worldwide.”

UAE as a Global Model for Gender Balance
At the opening of the World Governments Summit 2025, Latvia’s Prime Minister, Evika Silina, praised the UAE’s progress in gender equality. She said she was honored to be part of the summit and to discuss important issues with global leaders.

She explained that Latvia has also made gender balance a priority, with strong policies to support equal opportunities. She shared how Latvia has:

Increased the number of women in leadership roles.
Strengthened laws to protect women’s rights.
Introduced new policies to support shared childcare responsibilities.
She emphasized that a fair and equal society leads to stronger economies and better opportunities for everyone.

UAE’s Commitment to Gender Balance Policies
Her Excellency Huda Al Hashimi, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs and a member of the UAE Gender Balance Council, discussed how the UAE has introduced laws to support gender equality, such as:

Equal pay for men and women.
Paternity leave for fathers.
Ensuring women are represented in leadership roles.
She pointed out that perceptions of gender equality in the UAE have improved significantly. In 2016, only 45% of people believed gender equality was strong in the country—by 2022, this number had risen to 87%, and is expected to surpass 90% soon.

She also talked about the "UAE Gender Balance Center for Excellence and Knowledge Exchange", a global initiative launched in collaboration with the World Bank. This center helps countries share experiences and improve their gender balance policies.

She concluded by saying:

“We are committed to shaping a future where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. This is not just a vision—it is something we work toward every day.”

A Powerful Panel Discussion
The Gender Balance Forum also featured a panel discussion with key figures, including:

Mouza Mohammed Al Ghuwais Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council.

• Lulwa Al-Awadhi, Secretary-General of Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Women.
• Dr. Moez Doraid, Director of the Regional Office for the Arab States at UN Women.
• Moderated by Noora Alabbar, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Abrahamic Family House.

During the discussion, Mouza Al Suwaidi highlighted that the UAE has introduced more than 22 gender equality laws in recent years, focusing on areas such as political participation, workplace rights, and financial inclusion.

She emphasized that these policies have positioned the UAE as a global leader in gender balance.

Lulwa Al-Awadhi shared how Bahrain has made progress in women’s empowerment through strong government policies and partnerships with organizations like the Supreme Council for Women.

Dr. Moez Doraid stressed that gender equality is not just about fairness—it is a key factor for economic success. He praised the UAE’s achievements and said they set an example for other nations

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