The Emirates News Agency reported that Theyab bin Mohamed offered praise for the contributions and achievements of Emirati women while marking the annual observance dedicated to their progress. His statement emphasised the support provided by national leadership for women’s advancement in various fields. The comments reflect ongoing efforts to document and celebrate milestones reached since the establishment of key women’s organisations decades ago. Official recognition of these efforts has grown through dedicated events and policy initiatives that promote further participation.
According to WAM data women occupy 50 percent of seats in the Federal National Council. The agency figures show that women account for 26 percent of ministerial positions in the federal government. Women also hold around 63 percent of leadership positions in the government sector. These statistics illustrate the extent of representation achieved through sustained national strategies aimed at integration.
A WAM report placed the UAE first regionally in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report for 2025. The agency noted that the country ranked second globally in women’s parliamentary representation per the 2026 World Competitiveness Ranking issued by the IMD World Competitiveness Centre. Such international benchmarks have been cited as evidence of measurable policy outcomes in gender parity. Additional data from the same sources indicate continued improvement in multiple indicators over recent years.
WAM statistics from 2025 show more than 25,000 Emirati businesswomen own over 50,000 commercial licences. These enterprises carry total investments exceeding 60 billion dirhams. The agency reported that women’s participation in the labour market rose by 101.92 percent between 2021 and 2025. Women accounted for 74 percent of beneficiaries under the Nafis programme during that period.
In education WAM data indicate women comprise 70 percent of university graduates nationwide. The agency assessment found that women represent more than 46 percent of graduates in science technology engineering and mathematics disciplines. Within the national space programme women form around 50 percent of the workforce and nearly 80 percent of the scientific team for the Hope Probe. These accomplishments span both academic and applied scientific domains.
The Emirates News Agency highlighted the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais as Secretary-General of UN Tourism for the 2026-2029 term. This marks the first time a woman has held the position in the organisation’s 50-year history. WAM also reported that the World Economic Forum selected three Emirati women for its Young Global Leaders Council in 2025. The selections add to a pattern of global recognition for Emirati female leaders.
