The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken immense strides in increasing opportunities for women a point underscored by the Global Gender Gap Index rankings by region in which the UAE is ranked in first in MENA.¹ In 2024, the UAE’s global ranking reached 40 out of 146 countries, surpassing both Canada and the US.² The United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report 2024 places the UAE at number 7.³

The UAE has helped break the stereotype of some women in the Middle East lacking opportunities and education. Indeed, Emirati women make up 70% of university graduates,⁴ literacy rates of men and women stand at 95.8%, a huge increase from just 31% for adult women in 1975. This growth represents a 64.8% increase in literacy rates over 49 years and is a testament to UAE’s efforts to bring modernity and education to all citizens. The UAE boasts three government universities, of which women comprise two-thirds of the student body. The UAE puts special emphasis on the need for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The 61% of women graduating from UAE government universities are STEM majors, while UNESCO places the remaining MENA countries at around 57%.⁵ Dr. Sarah Al Amiri, serves as a clear example of UAE women excelling in previously male dominated fields as she was previously Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, spent several years working as a scientist, including her role as deputy project manager for the Emirates Mars Mission, assisting in the launch of the Hope Probe to Mars. Reflecting on her experiences in the STEM industry, she noted that  

‘[p]ersonally, it’s not been a challenge at all […] [m]ost science graduates in the UAE are women, and 50% of our employees at the space programme are women […] [s]o we don’t usually see the same trend of inequality that you see globally.’ ⁶

Since the 1990s, women’s participation in the UAE’s labour force has expanded exponentially. In 1991, the number was only 29.5% and, in contrast, at presently it stands at 55.4%, demonstrating a 25.9% increase over 32 years.⁷ Education and Health, for instance, retain a majority of Emirati women—they comprise close to 75% of jobs.⁸ In the public sector, women comprise a 66% majority, with 30% of these jobs being leadership positions.⁹ In ministerial government roles, women comprise more than a quarter of positions at 27.3%, some of these distinguished positions including Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, and Minister of State for International Cooperation.¹

The commitment to improving gender equality is also reflected in the establishment of the UAE Gender Balance Council (GBC), which aims to bridge the gap between men and women in terms of opportunities in government, equal wages, education, and overall status within the UAE. One goal of 2026 UAE Gender Balance Strategy includes co-designing with key partners across government, and where possible global institutions and the private sector to ensure gender mainstreaming is embedded across policy areas.¹¹ 

The Gender Balance Program also organises events and activities to cultivate ideas¹² Past events included the GBC lead workshops in Dubai at the 2017 World Government Summit in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 to ‘[a]chieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.’¹³ Furthermore, the GBC participated in The Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024, supporting a  

‘movement dedicated to harnessing global expertise to pave the way for equitable opportunities and to inspire women to reach their highest potential… [and] building a world where gender parity isn’t just a vision but a shared reality.’¹⁴

Considerable progress in government is reflected in the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s decision to mandate the Federal National Council (FNC) to incorporate a body composed of 50% women.¹⁵ In 2015, Emirati women made history when Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi was appointed as President of the Federal National Council. This appointment was quite significant, elevating Dr. Qubaisi in Middle Eastern women’s history when she became the first female leader of a national Arab parliament.¹⁶ The FNC is an advisory parliamentary body dedicated to addressing an array of issues such as treaties, legislation, and economic, social, and climate concerns. This achievement further underscores the UAE’s dedication to empowering women and ensuring their active role in shaping the country’s future.