UAE women expected to drive economic growth by 2023

Participants during the workshop in Dubai.

Inayat-ur-Rahman, business editor

The UAE has long been a leader in promoting and supporting women in the workforce, a commitment reflected in the country’s impressive economic growth.

In November 2022, Dubai Women’s Establishment (DWE) unveiled its strategic plan for the next five years, which aims to develop a new generation of female leaders, improve the quality of life of women in society and create an enabling working environment for women. These efforts have paid off, as women make up 50 percent of the UAE parliament and 30 percent of the cabinet. The country also has a mandatory quota for all listed companies to have at least one female director on their boards.

“At athGADLANG, we are fully aligned with the UAE’s Women’s Development Strategy and actively encourage women in leadership roles in our organisation. This commitment to diversity and inclusion has helped us grow as a company and contributes to our track record of success contribution. Approximately 35% of our employees at all levels are women, and we have seen first-hand the positive impact women can make in the workplace. Our high client satisfaction is a testament to the innovative and meticulous approach our female professionals take ’ said Khushboo Mushtaq, co-founder of athGADLANG.

In 2022, we experience more women inquiring and coming to set up their businesses in UAE. With increasing government support and incentives, the UAE’s economy is the perfect platform for women to start their businesses. Women’s participation in the workforce not only drives economic growth, but also brings greater equality and a higher quality of life for all members of society.

One of the main ways in which the UAE works to improve the quality of life of women is by creating a conducive work environment. This means providing support and resources for women to succeed in their careers, such as access to education, training and networking opportunities, which has borne fruit as more and more women are able to succeed in their careers and hold leadership positions.

The UAE’s commitment to supporting and promoting women’s entry into the workforce is an example that other countries can follow. As we enter the new year, we can look to the UAE as a model of how to support and empower women to succeed in their careers and make a positive difference in the world.

“Today, women in the UAE are not only breaking through the traditional glass ceiling, but also making strides in entrepreneurship. Nearly 47.5% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country are owned by women and 20% of the workforce are employed by these SMEs This is particularly exciting as it shows that women are not only filling traditional roles, but are also actively involved in starting their own businesses and driving economic growth. Women currently contribute 20% of the UAE’s GDP and are expected to increase to 25% by 2023.

The impact of the UAE’s efforts to create a supportive environment for women professionals goes beyond the country’s borders. Given the success of the UAE model in investing in women’s development, other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are also taking steps to promote and support women’s entry into the workforce, and it is estimated that by continuing to invest in women’s development, the GCC can contribute to Its collective GDP increased by more than $800 billion. “

A particularly inspiring example of the UAE’s commitment to women in leadership roles is the historic “UAE Mars Space Mission”, the first in the Arab world and the fifth in the world. The mission is led by a woman and 80% of the team are women. This demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to supporting and encouraging women’s human resource development as a top priority.

In addition to women taking leadership roles in the UAE, they are also emerging in the field of education. Women in the UAE outnumber men in universities and make up more than 50% of all STEM students. This bodes well for the future, as these highly educated women will be equipped to take on leadership roles in a variety of fields.

The UAE also supports women entrepreneurs through initiatives such as Gitex, a platform that brings together highly educated women to help them present their ideas to a global audience and secure the funding they need to grow. This type of support is critical for women looking to start their own businesses and contribute to the economy.