UAE tops global ranking for female parliamentary representation

The UAE continues to make significant strides in the field of gender balance and empowering women.

The country has made it to the top of the global ranking for ‘female parliamentary representation’ in the IMD World Competitiveness Index.

It reflects further international recognition of the UAE’s efforts to advance the role of women across social, educational, and professional spheres.

The UAE established a Gender Balance Council in 2015, while in December 2018, the representation of women in the Federal National Council was raised to 50 per cent.

The annual rankings are issued by the World Competitiveness Centre of the World Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and President of Dubai Women Establishment, congratulated the UAE’s leadership for the latest achievement.

Her Highness also extended her congratulations to the Mother of the Nation, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, 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).

"We want to maintain the momentum for progress and strive to be the world's leading nation by the UAE’s Centennial in 2071," said Sheikha Manal.

"The strategy will focus on exploring new heights that take us from bridging gaps and adopting best practices to being a global reference for gender balance,” she added.

.@MMbinRashid: Since the launch of the #UAE Gender Balance Council in 2015, we have taken all the necessary steps to enhance the UAE's position in global competitiveness reports and to establish our nation as a regional and global model for gender balance legislation.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 16, 2020