UAE's Commitment To Women's Empowerment Highlighted By Sheikha Fatima At UN Forum

H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, known as "The Mother of the Nation," emphasised the UAE's commitment to women's empowerment. She highlighted that under its wise leadership, the nation prioritises gender equality as a foundation for sustainable development and national progress. Her remarks were made during the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York.

The UAE has achieved significant milestones in empowering women, aligning with Goal 5 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. This goal focuses on gender equality and women's empowerment. The country has enabled women to play crucial roles in decision-making across political, economic, and social spheres, contributing to national prosperity.

Sheikha Fatima praised the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other key figures for their efforts in promoting gender equality. These initiatives have led to the UAE ranking 13th globally and 1st regionally in the 2025 UNDP Gender Equality Index. The nation also scored 82.5 out of 100 in the World Bank’s 2024 Women, Business and the Law report.

The UAE Constitution guarantees equal rights for all citizens, including access to healthcare, education, and employment. In 2018, legislation was approved to ensure equal pay for men and women in both federal government and private sectors. This includes Federal Decree-Law No. 27 of 2018 and Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.

Women hold half of the seats in the Federal National Council, placing the UAE among top countries for gender-balanced parliamentary representation. Additionally, women occupy 26 percent of ministerial positions, leading portfolios such as education and climate change. Emirati women also make up a significant portion of leadership roles within the federal government.

In entrepreneurship, over 25,000 Emirati women own more than 50,000 commercial licences with investments exceeding AED60 billion. In STEM fields, women constitute 46 percent of graduates and represent half of the workforce in the space sector.

Global Initiatives Led by Emirati Women

The UAE extends its efforts globally through initiatives like the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace and Security Initiative. This programme promotes women's contributions to peace and dialogue worldwide. The Arab Women’s Economic Empowerment Observatory fosters partnerships across Arab nations.

The Sheikha Fatima Initiative aims to empower rural women in Africa's agricultural sector. National institutions like the General Women's Union support these efforts through impactful programmes advancing Sustainable Development Goals.

Participation at International Forums

The High-Level Political Forum serves as a platform for global collaboration on sustainable development goals (SDGs). Reem bint Abdullah Al Falasi noted that this year's focus includes Goals 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17. The UAE's participation reflects its dedication to sustainable development models globally.

The forum allows countries to review progress towards achieving SDGs by sharing successful national models like those implemented by the UAE. It provides an opportunity for knowledge exchange with international bodies supporting worldwide development initiatives.

The forum is pivotal for reviewing progress toward achieving SDGs since its establishment in 2012 under UN auspices. It plays a vital role in assessing country-level advancements towards fulfilling Agenda 2030 objectives while fostering international cooperation on sustainability issues.

With inputs from WAM