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UAE’s drive to balance the advancement of women while maintaining adherence to the UAE’s cultural values is one of several issues explored by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union and Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation, in a wide-ranging interview with the global publishing, research and consultancy firm Oxford Business Group (OBG).
During the interview, which appears in The Report: Abu Dhabi 2015, HH Sheikha Fatima told OBG that the UAE’s female population had an inherent awareness and appreciation of the country’s cultural legacy which, she said, meant they were well equipped to play a greater part in making UAE’s vision a reality.
“Emirati women are cognisant that preserving customs and traditions facilitates, rather than hinders, their empowerment in the different work fields,” she told OBG. “The UAE is proud of the contributing role women play in its development.”
HH Sheikha Fatima said she was delighted to have the opportunity to highlight the UAE’s track record on the advancement of women in OBG's The Report: Abu Dhabi: 2015, having closely followed the Group’s economic analysis of the emirates over the years.
Figures show that women now make up 43% of the UAE’s workforce. The emirate’s progress in driving gender equality is also reflected at the top decision-making level, with women now holding over one third of the more senior posts in government. The roles of first deputy speaker and general secretariat in the Federal National Cabinet are both currently occupied by women. In addition, four of the cabinet’s ministers are female.
“Education is at the core of the tremendous development the country is witnessing today,” HH Sheikha Fatima told OBG. “This is reflected by the significant level of female education rates across all academic stages, including post-graduate studies. It is great to see how things have evolved and how Emirati woman are now involved in the different educational fields.”
Data from HH Sheikha Fatima’s office shows that females make up a significant portion of today’s UAE student population, even outnumbering their male counterparts at some higher education institutions, including government universities where they represent 72% of all scholars.
HH Sheikha Fatima is recognised as a pioneer of women’s advancement in the UAE. Her full interview with OBG appears in The Report: Abu Dhabi 2015, the Group’s latest analysis of the emirate’s economy. The publication also contains contributions from several other influential women who are playing a part in shaping the UAE’s future against a changing socioeconomic backdrop.
The Report: Abu Dhabi 2015 is a vital guide to the many facets of the emirate, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments. The publication is available in print or online.
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