Where does the UAE rank in gender equality?

The UAE, represented by its Gender Balance Council, highlighted its progress in advancing women's rights, tackling misogyny, violence, and promoting climate justice at the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) meeting in Brasília, Brazil, WAM reported.

The UAE's participation in the meeting as a guest country at the G20 meetings for the third consecutive year does not come as a surprise given the country's significant strides in empowering women across social, economic, and political spheres.

According to the UNDP Gender Inequality Index 2024, the UAE ranked first in the region and seventh globally in gender equality.

Economic empowerment

The UAE’s strides in women's economic empowerment were particularly notable. According to the World Bank's report on women's rights, the UAE scored 82.5 out of 100 in terms of economic empowerment of women, significantly above the regional average of 53.2.

World Bank numbers for UAE Economy Scores Snapshot have shown that UAE women have the same rights as men in terms of pay, workplace, mobility, entrepreneurship, and pension.

Moreover, the participation of women in the UAE Cabinet is among the highest in the world, with over a quarter of ministerial positions held by women.

Women in business

Women have also made significant contributions to the private sector. According to the UAE's Permanent Committee for Human Rights:

• Women own one in 10 private sector companies in the UAE.
• Over 44,000 trade licenses were granted to women between 2018 and 2022, 58% of whom were Emirati entrepreneurs.
• 23,000 Emirati businesswomen run projects worth more than AED 50 billion ($13.6 billion)

Finally, and as part of the UAE's commitment towards bridging gender parity, the UAE Gender Balance Council has mandated the private sector place women in 30% of all leadership positions by 2025.