UAE Reaffirms Commitment to Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum
New York, The Gulf Observer: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to advancing gender equality and women empowerment as key drivers of sustainable development during its participation at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in New York. The UAE delegation underscored the pivotal role these priorities play in achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda.
Presenting the UAE’s national model, the delegation highlighted a holistic framework built around empowering women and strengthening families, which the nation considers essential pillars for inclusive human, social, and economic growth. Central to this model is a comprehensive system of policies and initiatives focused on motherhood, childhood, and equal opportunity.
The delegation outlined significant legislative and policy milestones, including the Constitution’s guarantee of gender equality and the Equal Pay Law, which together have propelled women into greater leadership roles. Today, women constitute 50% of the Federal National Council and 26% of Cabinet members. In the fields of science and technology, women represent 46% of STEM graduates and 80% of the scientific leadership of the Emirates Mars Mission.
Further demonstrating its global leadership in gender inclusion, the UAE delegation spotlighted international initiatives, notably Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak’s Women in Peace and Security Initiative, which fosters women’s participation in global peacebuilding efforts.
As part of its broader engagement at the HLPF, the UAE Consulate General in New York City and the National Secretariat on SDGs hosted a high-level roundtable titled ‘Accelerating Innovation in Promoting Gender Equality to Continue Achieving Sustainable Development in the Post-2030’. The dialogue addressed key themes such as bridging the digital gender divide, transforming the care economy, and enhancing female leadership, while presenting scalable models to advance Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5).
The roundtable featured international voices including Savannah Mazhya, Minister of Information and Communications Technology of Eswatini and Chair of the Global Council for SDG 5; Abdulla Lootah, UAE Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Chair of the National Committee on SDGs; Dr Manal Taryam of Noor Dubai Foundation; Chelsea Molden of the Public Policy Lab; Stephanie Sirota from RTW Investments; and Andrew Billo of the UN’s End Violence Against Women and Girls Initiative.
Lootah emphasized the UAE’s development model rooted in family empowerment, stating:
“Over decades of sustainable development centred on the family, the UAE has made community empowerment both the finish line and the starting point of development. This approach is what the UAE is ready to share with everyone around the world.”
The UAE also participated in a special event hosted by the Government of Qatar, sharing its experience in establishing the National Committee on SDGs in 2017. The event served as a platform to introduce the agenda of the second edition of the Global Summit for Social Development, scheduled to be held in Doha from November 4–6, 2025.
Through its active engagement at the HLPF and continued partnerships, the UAE reaffirmed its role as a global advocate for inclusive development, gender equality, and innovation-led sustainable growth.
