Women in Leadership: UAE Climbs Global Gender Equality Rankings
The Global business landscape is evolving day by day with new transformations. In this changing landscape, the role of women in key central roles has been increasing. Whether it’s about their participation at the ground level or leading strategies in the boardroom, the new-age professionals are reshaping how the world looks at women leaders & entrepreneurs.
Today’s blog is all about the role of a woman in leadership and how the UAE has broken the gender bias by prioritising women in the major business sectors.
Women leaders in the United Arab Emirates are changing the definition of leadership and are making significant progress in every business sector. Talking about the UAE, the country has made considerable efforts for gender equality. We can compare other Middle East countries with the UAE in terms of women’s participation and gender equality.
The UAE is setting a benchmark in the global business world by involving women leaders and entrepreneurs, and these changes bring diversity and a leadership structure.
The Role of Women in Leadership in the UAE
As discussed at the beginning of the blog, the UAE is not just competing with its own old business tradition but also establishing a goal in the global business world. At the start of this year, the United Arab Emirates made it mandatory for all the private joint-stock companies to appoint at least one woman to their board of directors. This is a revolutionary step in the business world, and the UAE is one of the countries that has made significant progress for women.
According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 from the World Economic Forum, UAE women tend to perform tasks more effectively in harmony with the evolving definitions of modern workplace requirements. Women in the United Arab Emirates are 28% more likely than their male counterparts to enter a variety of fields.
Women also take the lead in acquiring novel skills while in the working environments of the UAE. Workers have reported feeling amenable to the use of AI tools and technologies.
How has the UAE Advanced in the Global Gender Equality Index?
The UAE hasn’t achieved this title overnight. It took them years to do so. Where big countries are striving to secure women’s rights, the UAE has filled this gap with precision and care. However, no country in the world has fully achieved gender equality, but what stands out with the UAE is its approach. The government is constantly building an inclusive ecosystem, policies, and encouraging women’s entrepreneurship at all levels.
- According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025, the UAE witnessed a 4.5% increase in women in employment for leadership roles. This is while the majority of countries report a decrease in the same.
Also, in the MENA region, the UAE has forever maintained the 1st position, while worldwide, the ranking improved from 74th to 69th on the parity scale.
- The UAE has formed a Gender Balance Council that checks on the programs that support gender equality across the public sector.
- The country also made a rule for companies listed on the stock exchange to include women on their board of directors.
- The recent data shows that the women members’ participation in the UAE’s Federal National Council has increased substantially to 50%.
These highlights are a testament to the UAE’s strong commitment to empowering women. The president of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also deserves appreciation for taking these revolutionary steps with full commitment.
Conclusion
The UAE’s active contribution on the global stage for women’s empowerment shows its dedication to fostering gender equality worldwide. Interestingly, approximately 10% of the private businesses are managed by Emirati women.
The UAE is on their way to maintain its strong position on the gender balance while working toward broadening partnerships and grooming inclusive and thriving societies across the world through the exchange of best practices. This recognition is a testament to the UAE’s commitment to sustainable development goals and its position as a global leader in gender equality.