UAE: Gender Balance and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship

The Council is headed by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment and the wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

Reduce gender disparity in all government sectors; increase UAE’s ranking in worldwide competitiveness reports on gender equality; achieve gender balance at all levels of government; promote the UAE’s status as a model for legislation to ensure gender equality in all government areas. These are just a few of the objectives of the organization. The UAE is constantly finding ways to keep the balance.

To promote gender equality in the region, the Gender Blanace Guide includes five key action areas, including commitment and oversight, integration of gender into policies and programs, promoting gender-sensitive engagement of personnel, and improving gender balance in leadership and gender-sensitive interaction.

Furthermore, the UAE Gender Balance Council provides Gender balance Workshops to cover topics and raise awareness of the actions that must be taken to promote a healthy and harmonious working environment. They also ensure that they participate in the UAE Government Meetings that occur annually.

In addition to all their initiatives, they have also launched their Gender Balance Index and the Gender Balance Index Awards. The awards are composed of the Best Personality for Supporting Gender Balance, Best Federal Entity for Supporting Gender Balance, and the Best Initiative for Supporting Gender Balance.

These initiatives have promoted balance in the workplace. Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum pioneered the “Women on Boards.” Wherein women are empowered to increase the number of women that are part of the Board of Directors in the UAE.

The organization also launched the Global Gender Circle. It was decided to form the Global Gender Circle to narrow the economic contribution gap between men and women and to make recommendations for new ways to advance the global gender agenda and SDG 5.

To add to the information mentioned above, the organization promoted Extended Maternity Leaves in the UAE in the year 2016 in order to enhance the family aspect of women’s life. This initiative was established and is currently led by the UAE Gender Balance Council.

Education and employment opportunities abound in the UAE’s knowledge-based economy, one of the world’s fastest-growing. To provide a level playing field in the job market and a high standard of high-quality education, the government makes numerous initiatives. As a result, the UAE’s citizens and residents can make a good living and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.