The UAE Government’s strong focus on creating a culture that supports women’s education and participation in the work force is responsible for significantly reducing the gender gap in the UAE, says President of Dubai Women Establishment, Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wife of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Sheikha Manal congratulated the UAE government on the country’s achievement for taking the top spot in reducing the gender gap from amongst 14 Arab economies, according to The World Economic Forum’s recently released Global Gender Gap Report. The report is based on the analysis of four factors – economic participation and opportunities, educational attainment, political empowerment, as well as health and survival.
“The continuous efforts of the UAE government to provide educational and employment opportunities to women, and its recognition of the vital role women play in the growth and development of a nation’s economy have led the UAE down a path of rapid progress in the sphere of gender equality. By supporting the efforts of organizations such as DWE, the UAE government has empowered women to create desirable changes in terms of enabling policies and perceptions, which has succeeded in raising the position of women in the family, in the workplace and in the economy at large.” – Sheikha Manal
The UAE emerged as one of the leading countries in the field of women’s participation and achieved a progress of nine points from last year’s report. 59% of the overall workforce in the UAE are women, out of which 53% work in the government sector. 30% of the senior positions within the UAE are held by a woman. The UAE is also considered one of the top-rating countries in terms of female education with women accounting for 77% of the student population in universities.
“Inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, DWE continues to empower UAE women to overcome gender-related obstacles that prevent them from achieving their goals, especially when it comes to balancing their work life with their family life,” concluded Shaikha Manal.
