Saudi Arabia Highlights Progress In Women's Economic Participation At Regional Dialogue In Dubai

Saudi Arabia recently took part in a significant regional dialogue aimed at boosting women's economic roles. This event, held in Dubai on June 17–18, included government representatives from Gulf states like the UAE and Bahrain. Organised by the UAE Gender Balance Council with the World Bank's support, it focused on sharing expertise and successful policies to promote gender equality in the workforce.

Dr. Hanadi Al-Hokair, Female Enablement General Director at Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, represented the Kingdom. She joined a panel with her counterparts from the UAE and Bahrain to discuss Saudi Arabia's strategies for increasing women's participation in the labour market. Dr. Al-Hokair highlighted recent policy reforms and achievements in empowering women economically within the Kingdom.

The dialogue featured interactive sessions led by World Bank experts. These sessions explored childcare policies that support women's employment, global best practices for integrating women into the digital economy, and reforms enabling women's entry into non-traditional sectors such as technology and the green economy. Participants also examined global legal frameworks and successful case studies from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain.

A special session was dedicated to discussing the methodology of the World Bank's Women, Business and the Law Index. This index serves as a crucial global benchmark for evaluating gender-related regulatory progress. The discussions underscored how legal frameworks can be adapted to enhance women's economic participation across various sectors.

Saudi Arabia has made notable strides in increasing women's labour force participation. From 17% in 2017, it rose to over 36% by 2025, surpassing Vision 2030's initial targets. This achievement highlights Saudi Arabia's dedication to empowering women and enhancing their roles across all sectors as part of Vision 2030.

The ministry's involvement in this event reaffirms its commitment to advancing women's empowerment. By participating in such dialogues, Saudi Arabia demonstrates its resolve to elevate women's roles within its economy and society.

The event provided a platform for exchanging ideas on effective policies that have successfully integrated women into various economic sectors. It also showcased how countries can learn from each other's experiences to foster greater gender equality in their respective workforces.

With inputs from SPA