The UAE Gender Balance Council has launched a national dialogue with the participation of more than 100 representatives from government entities and their private sector partners — signatories to the pledge to accelerate Sustainable Development Goal 5 — to contribute to the formulation of the Gender Balance Strategy 2027–2031.
The dialogue included a workshop and interactive discussion sessions aimed at anticipating national priorities and future opportunities for advancing gender balance. This comes within the participatory approach adopted by the United Arab Emirates in developing national policies, ensuring that various partners are engaged in shaping future directions that support sustainable development and strengthen the country's competitiveness and global leadership in this field.
The dialogue served as a platform for exchanging visions and expertise on the most significant trends shaping the future of development, including artificial intelligence, the new economy, and the future of work. It also addressed national priorities capable of enhancing economic and social participation, supporting quality of life, and consolidating the UAE's position as a leading global model in gender balance.
The event, attended by a distinguished group of government and private sector representatives, covered a set of key themes underpinning the new strategy: education, skills and career pathways; family and shared responsibilities; health and wellbeing across life stages; leadership and workplace culture; entrepreneurship and financial inclusion; and the future economy and artificial intelligence.
These themes reflect a comprehensive vision supporting the building of a more resilient, future-ready society, keeping pace with rapid economic, social and technological changes. The dialogue sessions also discussed the most prominent opportunities and challenges associated with these themes.
National priorities and practical solutions for addressing them were identified, alongside an examination of the roles of entities and partners involved in implementing future initiatives — ensuring that the dialogue's outcomes are translated into policies, programmes and initiatives that deliver tangible and sustainable impact in the coming period.
The event saw 8 new entities join the pledge to accelerate SDG 5: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Deloitte, Stellantis, Sanofi, Al Nabooda Automobiles, SAL, Rosewood Abu Dhabi, and Jombok.
This brings the total number of companies that have joined the initiative to 88 national and international companies operating in the local market, as the pledge continues to expand its base of participating companies in support of gender balance targets. This reflects a growing commitment from the private sector to adopt institutional policies and practices that enhance equal opportunities, foster more inclusive and sustainable work environments, and contribute to the country's national priorities.
The development of the Gender Balance Strategy 2027–2031 represents a continuation of a national journey during which the UAE has achieved qualitative milestones that have elevated its standing among the world's leading countries in this field, through policies, legislation and initiatives that have supported women's participation and expanded their opportunities across various sectors. The new strategy aims to build on these gains and develop innovative solutions that enhance the country's future readiness and sustain development and quality of life.
In this context, Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wife of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, praised the qualitative achievements the UAE has made in the field of gender balance.
She affirmed that these achievements translate the vision of wise leadership, which has established a developmental approach based on investing in human capacities and benefiting from all members of society as partners in the journey of development and the making of the future.
Her Highness added: