Mansour bin Zayed witnesses Nafis-UAE Gender Balance Council cooperation deal

Photo : Dubai Government Media Office

During the annual meetings of the UAE government held in Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Presidential Court, witnessed the signing of a significant cooperation agreement between the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC) and the UAE Gender Balance Council (UAE GBC). The signing ceremony was attended by key figures from both councils, underscoring the importance of this strategic partnership aimed at empowering Emirati women in the private sector and advancing gender balance across various leadership roles.

The agreement was officially signed by His Excellency Ghannam Butti Al Mazrouei, Secretary-General of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, and Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council. The agreement outlines a series of initiatives designed to boost the representation of Emirati women in the private sector, providing them with more leadership opportunities and supporting their career advancement.

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, expressed great pride in the collaboration, highlighting it as an essential step toward enhancing the leadership role of Emirati women. She also emphasized that this partnership aligns with the UAE’s national vision of fostering sustainable economic growth, driven by the active participation of women in the workforce. Sheikha Manal praised the progress made by the ETCC in the past three years, noting its success in empowering Emirati talent and encouraging their involvement in various sectors, especially the private sector.

One of the key highlights of the agreement is the commitment to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which focuses on gender equality and empowering women in leadership positions. The UAE Gender Balance Council has already taken steps in this direction with the "Pledge to Accelerate Goal 5 of the SDGs," launched in 2022, which aims to increase the representation of women in senior management roles to 30% by 2025. Several private sector companies have already pledged to this cause, marking a strong commitment to gender balance.

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His Excellency Ghannam Butti Al Mazrouei emphasized the importance of the agreement in driving forward the national Emiratisation agenda. He stated that the partnership with the UAE Gender Balance Council is pivotal in ensuring that women take on more leadership roles in the private sector. The agreement is also expected to facilitate the increased participation of private sector companies in the "Pledge to Accelerate Goal 5," a first-of-its-kind global initiative. Al Mazrouei expressed confidence that the agreement would serve as a catalyst for achieving the UAE’s national goals and enhancing gender diversity within the country’s leadership ranks.

His Excellency also pointed out that the agreement would highlight the efforts of companies that are excelling in empowering Emirati women and contributing to the sustainable development of the national economy. He also underscored that the agreement would help share success stories and best practices, creating an incentive for more companies to embrace diversity and gender equality in their leadership structures.

Her Excellency Mona Al Marri expressed her gratitude for the collaboration with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council and stressed how such agreements foster positive change in business environments. She emphasized that the agreement will create pathways for Emirati women to rise into leadership positions in the private sector. Programs like the "Nafis Award" will recognize companies that demonstrate excellence in gender balance, further driving competition and innovation in the sector. She also highlighted that the sharing of data between the two councils will play a crucial role in building effective strategies to increase the number of Emirati women in the private sector, supporting both sustainable development and gender equality.

The UAE Gender Balance Council also used this occasion to review its achievements and outline future initiatives aimed at advancing gender balance across all sectors in the country. The council discussed plans to intensify its efforts to raise awareness about the "Nafis" program among private sector companies, ensuring that the vision of empowering Emirati women is realized effectively.

This agreement between the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council and the UAE Gender Balance Council marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s ongoing efforts to promote gender equality and empower women in leadership roles. The collaboration underscores the country's commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce, which is crucial for achieving the nation's long-term economic and social goals. The partnership is expected to bring about tangible changes in the private sector, helping to shape a future where women play an even more central role in the development and leadership of the UAE.