The two-day dialogue, spearheaded by the UAE Gender Balance Council in partnership with the World Bank, brought together senior officials and gender policy leaders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain….reports Asian Lite News
A major regional workshop on women’s economic empowerment concluded in Dubai with GCC states renewing their collective commitment to advancing gender balance through shared reform efforts, legal innovation, and cross-border collaboration. The two-day dialogue, spearheaded by the UAE Gender Balance Council in partnership with the World Bank, brought together senior officials and gender policy leaders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
The event, held under the umbrella of the UAE Gender Balance Centre for Excellence & Knowledge Exchange, served as a critical platform to exchange insights and align national strategies. It aimed to accelerate the region’s momentum toward economic inclusion by highlighting successful reform models and facilitating the development of a coordinated action framework.
The workshop marks a significant step forward in deepening regional cooperation to improve women’s participation in the economy and leadership. It provided an opportunity for GCC countries to explore ways of translating shared aspirations into tangible policy outcomes, building on existing reforms while identifying areas for joint initiatives in employment, social protection, and capacity-building.
Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, emphasised the transformative power of empowering women economically. “Women’s economic empowerment is not simply a policy objective—it is a force for transformation. It strengthens institutions, drives innovation, and ensures that progress is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable,” she said.
Sheikha Manal stressed that regional cooperation and knowledge sharing are essential to achieving the vision of inclusive growth, which lies at the heart of the UAE’s development agenda. “Together with the World Bank, a trusted global partner in gender-balance reform, we have created a platform that not only strengthens regional dialogue but also connects our efforts to the broader international movement for gender balance,” she noted.
Mona Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, echoed this sentiment, calling the workshop an example of how collective regional action can fast-track progress. “Regional collaboration drives progress. By uniting to promote gender balance, we amplify our collective impact,” she said. Al Marri also reaffirmed the UAE’s intention to expand partnerships across the GCC to advance gender-inclusive reforms.
The event welcomed participation from a broad range of policy institutions. From Saudi Arabia, key agencies included the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the General Organisation of Social Insurance, and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation. Bahrain was represented by its Ministry of Sustainable Development, the Supreme Council for Women, and Tamkeen. The UAE delegation featured officials from the Ministries of Economy, Finance, and Human Resources; the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood; the General Pension and Social Security Authority; the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council; NAMA Women Advancement; and the Dubai Women Establishment.
In her opening address, Mouza Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council, highlighted the regional momentum behind gender-inclusive development. “This gathering reflects not only the strength of our shared commitment to gender balance, but also the value we place on regional collaboration as a catalyst for progress,” she said.
Al Suwaidi credited the leadership of Sheikha Manal and the UAE’s vision in embedding gender balance into national legislation and economic policy. Since its establishment in 2015, the UAE Gender Balance Council has played a pioneering role in shaping inclusive laws and driving regional dialogues.
The event’s agenda was structured to maximise practical outcomes. Day one focused on enhancing access to employment for women, particularly through supportive policies such as childcare services and maternity leave. It also reviewed the latest legal reforms within the region and discussed updates to the World Bank’s “Women, Business and the Law” report—an influential tool that measures legal gender equality across economies.
The second day was dedicated to showcasing country-specific experiences and innovations. The UAE outlined its approach to integrating gender balance within labour market strategy. Saudi Arabia presented updates on female workforce participation and inclusive social insurance reforms. Bahrain highlighted its comprehensive national framework for upskilling and empowering women.
The event concluded with a forward-looking session dedicated to outlining concrete steps for continued collaboration. A joint brief was developed by the UAE Gender Balance Council and the World Bank, consolidating best practices, reform lessons, and identified opportunities for regional cooperation.
Speaking on behalf of the World Bank, Iva Hamel, Resident Representative to the UAE and Bahrain, praised the UAE’s leadership in convening this dialogue. “We are proud to partner with the UAE Gender Balance Council in fostering knowledge exchange and innovation on women’s economic empowerment. We welcomed government delegations from the UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain, who exchanged experiences in creating economic opportunities for women and inclusive labour markets,” she said. Hamel also reiterated the World Bank’s commitment to scaling up such initiatives regionally and globally.
