UAE Gender Balance Council Strengthens Partnerships To Promote Gender Equality Under SDG 5 Pledge

The UAE Gender Balance Council is enhancing gender equality in the private sector by expanding its strategic partnerships under the "SDG 5 Pledge to Accelerate Gender Balance." Eleven new companies have joined this initiative, increasing the total to 80 signatories across sectors like financial services, consumer goods, and consultancy. This expansion highlights the private sector's role in fostering inclusive workplaces that ensure equal opportunities.

Aligned with its data-driven approach, the Council introduced a new Gender Balance Data Platform. This platform allows companies to submit annual data on their progress and women's representation in leadership roles. It also serves as the official entry point for nominations to the UAE Gender Balance Awards, which include categories such as Champions of Gender Balance in Policies Award and Pioneer of Women’s Leadership Representation Award.

In response to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's declaration of 2026 as the "Year of the Family," a new award titled "Family-Focused Employer of the Year" was launched. This award recognises companies that offer supportive work environments promoting work-life balance and employee wellbeing. H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised these public-private partnerships as essential to national development.

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, stated that institutions joining the SDG 5 Pledge are committed to increasing women's leadership representation to at least 30% within set timeframes. The Pledge has become a national platform uniting dedicated institutions and driving initiatives for sustainable development.

The workshop included a signing ceremony for newly joined companies like AD Ports Group, Bain & Company Middle East, Mashreq, AstraZeneca, L’Oréal Middle East, Cigna Healthcare, Beiersdorf, MetLife Gulf, Arla Foods, Al Raha Beach Hotel & Resort, and We Are Social. Strategic discussions focused on performance measurement and tracking progress using the new data platform.

Presentations from leading companies showcased initiatives advancing gender balance through professional development programmes and enhanced parental leave policies. Organisations like PwC Middle East and Nissan Middle East shared their experiences in promoting gender equality internally.

Interactive Sessions and Future Planning

An interactive session allowed participants to exchange best practices and discuss strategic priorities for 2026. The focus was on preparing for future labour market changes driven by artificial intelligence. The Council emphasised collaboration between government, private sector, and society as crucial for sustaining national progress on gender balance amid these transformations.

Mouza Mohammed Al Ghuwais Al Suwaidi highlighted that accurate data enables performance tracking and transforms commitments into measurable outcomes. The Council continues to strengthen partnerships and facilitate best practice exchanges to ensure lasting impact on gender balance at both national and private-sector levels.

The UAE Gender Balance Council remains committed to providing dialogue platforms, developing initiatives that enhance family wellbeing, and supporting an inclusive future for the UAE. These efforts aim to maintain competitiveness while adapting to evolving market demands.

With inputs from WAM