UAE Leaders Unite To Pledge Commitment To Gender Equality And Women In Leadership Roles

The UAE Gender Balance Council recently hosted the signing of the Gender Equality Acceleration Pledge. This event took place during the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024. The initiative aims to boost women's representation in leadership roles across various sectors. Leaders from seven major organisations participated, demonstrating their commitment to gender equality in the workplace.

Signatories include Yaser Almazrouei from ADNOC, Vinod Jayan of Al-Futtaim IKEA, and Dr. Yasar Jarrar from Posterity Institute. Others are Vijaypal Singh Bains of Emirates NBD, Balaji Nagabhushan from Tristar Group, Dr. Nabil AlYousuf of IAG, and Zainab Alsaffar from Mediclinic Middle East. These leaders pledged to enhance women's roles in management by 2028.

The pledge aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5, which promotes women's participation in leadership globally. It sets a target for women to occupy 30% of middle and senior management positions by 2028. This goal reflects the UAE's dedication to gender equality as a national priority.

Yaser Almazrouei stated, "As a proud signatory of the UN SDG 5 Pledge, ADNOC is committed to driving greater gender diversity across our organisation." He emphasised that this commitment is both an ethical and strategic priority for future-proofing their business.

Vinod Jayan highlighted Al-Futtaim IKEA's dedication to equality, noting that women make up 31% of their workforce and hold 24% of senior roles. He expressed pride in joining the UAE Gender Balance Council's efforts and contributing to achieving 30% women’s representation in senior roles by 2028.

Dr. Yasar Jarrar remarked on the significance of the SDG 5 pledge for advancing gender equity. He noted that it represents a shared vision for workplaces where talent is defined by ability rather than gender. He praised private sector leadership for implementing policies that close gender gaps.

Driving Change Across Industries

Dr. Nabil Alyousuf described the SDG 5 initiative as transformative for advancing gender equality regionally. At IAG, empowering women in leadership is seen as crucial for building an inclusive future. The firm prioritises work-life balance and supports women’s advancement within its ranks.

Mona Al Marri highlighted the pledge's impact on fostering a future where women's potential is fully realised. She stated, "The Gender Equality Acceleration Pledge exemplifies the UAE’s leadership in fostering a future where women’s potential is fully realised."

Healthcare Sector Commitment

Hein van Eck from Mediclinic Middle East expressed pride in signing the SDG 5 pledge, noting that three-quarters of their employees are women. He stressed healthcare's reliance on a strong female workforce and their commitment to exceptional care for women's health needs.

The pledge includes steps like equal pay initiatives and mentorship programmes to eliminate unconscious bias. Companies must report progress annually to ensure accountability and drive change.

This initiative builds on UAE's Equal Pay law from 2018 and aligns with international best practices through collaboration with global organisations like ILO and UN Women.

With inputs from WAM