Fatima bint Mubarak affirms UAE’s global leadership in women’s empowerment

Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation”, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), affirmed that the United Arab Emirates, under the guidance of its wise leadership, places utmost priority on the empowerment of women. This commitment stems from the conviction that true partnership between women and men is essential for sustainable development and a cornerstone for national advancement and future prosperity.

In a statement marking the opening of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, Sheikha Fatima underlined the UAE’s significant progress in achieving Goal 5 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which centres on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Sheikha Fatima praised the active and growing role of Emirati women in the UAE’s political, economic, and social landscape, noting their leadership and contribution as essential to the country’s success story. “Empowering women,” she said, “has been a principle embedded by the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who believed deeply in the potential of Emirati women.”

Recalling Sheikh Zayed’s legacy, she reiterated his vision: “I am a supporter of women… Women are half of society.” She credited the continued realisation of this vision to the country’s leadership, including President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Emirates, as well as His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Thanks to their support, the UAE has achieved notable milestones, including:

• Ranking 13th globally and 1st regionally in the 2025 UNDP Gender Equality Index.
• Scoring 82.5 out of 100 in the World Bank’s 2024 Women, Business and the Law report.
• Securing 1st place regionally in the 2023/2024 Georgetown University Women, Peace and Security Index.

Sheikha Fatima highlighted the UAE Constitution’s guarantees for gender equality and women’s rights in healthcare, education, and employment. Legislative milestones include:

• Federal Decree-Law No. 27 of 2018 on equal pay in the federal government.
• Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on equal pay in the private sector for equal work or work of equal value.

She also noted the launch of the UAE National Strategy for Women Empowerment 2023–2031, reinforcing women’s roles in national development. Emirati women now occupy 50 percent of Federal National Council seats, one of the highest gender-balanced parliamentary representations globally. Additionally, women hold 26 percent of ministerial roles, leading key portfolios such as climate change, education, community development, and family affairs.

Further, Emirati women constitute:

• 71 percent of UAE nationals in public and private sectors.
• 63 percent of leadership positions in the federal government.
• 13 percent of UAE ambassadors abroad.

In entrepreneurship, over 25,000 Emirati businesswomen collectively hold more than 50,000 commercial licences, with investments exceeding AED60 billion. In education and technology, 46 percent of STEM graduates and 50 percent of the national space workforce are women. Women also comprise 55 percent of the overall labour force.

Sheikha Fatima underscored the UAE’s global outreach in women’s empowerment, including:

• The Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace and Security Initiative, which has trained over 500 women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
• The Arab Women’s Economic Empowerment Observatory, adopted at the 2023 Leaders’ Summit to promote regional partnerships.
• The Sheikha Fatima Initiative to Empower Rural Women in Africa, supporting women in agriculture.

She also lauded national institutions such as the GWU, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and the UAE Gender Balance Council, for their critical roles in advancing sustainable development goals.

The High-level Political Forum, organised under the UN Economic and Social Council, is being held in New York under the theme: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science‑ and evidence‑based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind.” The forum serves as the UN’s central platform for reviewing global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UAE is participating with an official delegation showcasing the nation’s inclusive and forward-looking development model, and engaging with global partners and UN agencies to support sustainable initiatives.

Reem bint Abdullah Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and a member of the UAE Gender Balance Council, emphasised that the forum includes voluntary national reviews to track progress on the 2030 Agenda. This year’s reviews are focused on Goals 3 (Health), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 14 (Life Below Water), and 17 (Partnerships).

She highlighted that the UAE’s participation reflects its strong commitment to sustainable development, with efforts aligned to UAE Vision 2045, which aims to build bridges between today and tomorrow for the well-being of people, communities, and the planet.

Since its inception in 2012, the High-level Political Forum has been the UN’s principal platform for driving global sustainable development efforts, with the UAE emerging as a key contributor and leader in the advancement of gender equality and inclusive progress.