UAE Gender Balance Council Launches Gender Balance Awards

Photo: Dubai Government Media Office

In a significant step towards achieving gender balance, the UAE Gender Balance Council has introduced a new set of awards aimed at recognising private sector organisations that have achieved 30% female representation in leadership roles. This initiative is part of a broader effort to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which focuses on gender equality.

The UAE Gender Balance Council’s new awards will highlight companies that have successfully integrated women into leadership positions. The awards celebrate organisations that are not just committed to gender balance but have actively worked to achieve this goal.

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Key Leaders Speak Out

Manal bint Mohammed, the President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, shared her thoughts on the importance of this initiative. She said that the UAE’s leadership has created a model for collaboration between the government and private sector to speed up gender balance. She emphasised that private sector commitment is crucial to realising the UAE’s ambition of becoming a global leader in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 5.

Mona Al Marri, the Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, stressed the importance of empowering private sector organisations with the necessary tools and recognition to make measurable progress. She highlighted that equal representation of women in leadership positions leads to better performance, innovation, and sustainability for organisations.

Mouza Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council, pointed out that strong partnerships with the private sector are crucial for driving real change in women’s participation across industries.

The Gender Balance Council Pledge Awards

The UAE Gender Balance Council has launched the "Gender Balance Council Pledge Awards," which will recognise private organisations that are championing women’s leadership. These awards come as a part of a larger effort that started in 2022 with the launch of the SDG 5 Pledge. This pledge encourages organisations to increase female representation in leadership roles to 30%.

Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed explained that the SDG 5 Pledge has already had a significant impact on the country’s corporate sector. The initiative was the first of its kind, led by the private sector, and has seen a lot of positive outcomes. The new awards celebrate those organisations that have turned their commitment into action, reaching the milestone of 30% female representation in leadership roles.

She also pointed out that this initiative reflects the UAE’s national values and aims to enhance the country’s position globally in terms of gender balance. By celebrating these achievements, the awards will inspire more companies to embrace gender balance in their leadership structures, fostering a more inclusive and innovative environment.

A Global Model

Her Highness highlighted that the UAE has become a global leader in government-private sector partnerships for gender balance. This partnership, she said, is based on a shared responsibility to achieve gender equality, not only as a national goal but as part of the broader global agenda.

The UAE's focus on advancing women in leadership roles is not just a policy, but a national and global asset, she added. She mentioned that the UAE is already seeing exceptional examples of progress, and these stories show that change is happening and that gender balance will soon become the norm.

Setting Clear Targets for Gender Balance

Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri explained that 71 organisations from various sectors have already signed the SDG 5 Pledge. The goal is to reach 30% female representation in leadership by 2025 for the first group of companies and by 2028 for the second group. She acknowledged that these targets are ambitious but achievable, and the UAE Gender Balance Council is committed to supporting companies in reaching them.

Her Excellency also encouraged organisations to share their successful strategies and breakthroughs, helping to create a ripple effect across the private sector to promote gender balance.

Sustaining Progress through Strong Partnerships

Her Excellency Mouza Al Suwaidi reflected on the progress made through strong public-private sector partnerships. She noted that gender equality is not just a goal but a shared vision for creating a more inclusive and competitive economy.

She pointed out that the UAE has made significant strides in closing the gender gap, with 33.8% of women in the workforce now in leadership positions. Additionally, female participation in the labor market has increased by nearly 21%, and companies that actively hire women have seen a 27.5% growth rate. These achievements demonstrate the positive impact of gender balance on business success.

Broader Reforms and Achievements

Al Suwaidi also highlighted several reforms that have helped advance gender equality in the UAE, including over 20 changes to labor rights, health, education, and personal status laws. She also pointed out that women now make up 50% of the Federal National Council, and the number of women on corporate boards has increased from 3% to 15% due to mandatory inclusion policies for listed companies.

The UAE Gender Balance Council’s work is also supported by international organisations like the OECD, World Bank, and UN, helping to adopt global best practices and create programs that deliver measurable results.

From Pledge to Progress

The UAE Gender Balance Council recently hosted a workshop called “From Pledge to Progress,” which brought together representatives from the 71 companies that signed the SDG 5 Pledge, as well as the UAE National Competitiveness Council (NAFIS). The workshop provided a platform for these organisations to assess their progress, share best practices, and address challenges.

Her Excellency Mona Al Marri opened the session by stressing that empowering women also empowers nations. She emphasised that partnerships across sectors help accelerate progress for everyone. She also reaffirmed the council’s commitment to supporting organisations in their journey toward gender balance.

Celebrating Achievements and Looking Ahead

The workshop included a presentation on the UAE’s gender balance achievements, including rising female participation in the workforce, parliamentary leadership, and progressive laws. A panel discussion titled “From Commitment to Change: Best Practices in Gender Balance” focused on the positive impact of women in leadership roles and shared practical steps to overcome challenges.

Amal Saleh Al Teneiji from NAFIS spoke about how the program is supporting Emirati women’s advancement in the private sector, and companies that have made notable progress shared their success stories, showing how diversity can drive business growth and innovation.

With these efforts, the UAE is well on its way to making gender balance in leadership a reality, helping to shape a more inclusive, sustainable future for all.