Women in the UAE: Thriving in Government, Business and Technology

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is really taking the lead in the region when it comes to promoting women to get ahead in all sorts of fields such as government, business, science etc. They’ve got some good policies and programs in place that are making it easier for women to do well and it really adds to the country’s growth.

Women in Government: 

When it comes to government, the UAE’s made some big steps towards gender equality. It’s pretty cool that women hold half the seats in the Federal National Council that shows they’re serious about including women in running the country. People like Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi who was the UAE’s first female minister and Reem Al Hashimy who’s in charge of international cooperation have been a big part of shaping what the country does and how it deals with other countries.

Women in Business:

Emirati women are also killing it in business and leading companies in lots of different areas. Take Bodour bint Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, for example. She started the Emirates Publishers Association back in 2009 and it’s now part of the International Publishers Association. She’s been a game changer for the UAE’s publishing world which is worth  €250 million and she’s pushing for smart rules for the industry like not taxing books.

Women in Science and Technology:

In the UAE, they care about innovation and so many women are in science and tech. Believe it or not, women make up half that 50% of the people working on the UAE Space Program. They play an important role in the country’s space organization. For example, Nora Al Matrooshi became the first woman from the UAE and the Arab world to be chosen for the UAE Astronaut Programme back in 2021. And by 2024, she finished NASA’s astronaut training making her ready for space missions.

UAE’s Legal Rights and Special Protections for Women:

The UAE Constitution says women are equal under the law and have the same rights to education and property. They’ve even changed the Personal Status Law so women don’t have to obey their husbands and can travel freely. 

Plus, the UAE has one of the first parental leave policies in the Middle East that actually pays both parents. And to top it off, they have strong laws against domestic violence to keep women safe. 

With these policies, the UAE is showing it’s serious about gender equality and empowering women something which is not witnessed in a lot of countries. The UAE’s laws for women are pretty forward thinking especially when you look at other countries where women are not even safe and get married even before attaining a legal age. 

Basically, the UAE is doing a lot to empower women and you can witness it in their policies and in all the other Emirati women’s success in different fields. This not only helps the country do better economically and socially but it also makes the UAE a role model for equal rights in the world wide.