UAE Prime Minister

Key Achievements

Empowering Women

In 2004, the UAE had its first female minister, H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi. Today, Sheikha Lubna, the Minister of Foreign Trade, is one of four other female ministers appointed to the current government, headed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Also, women occupy 20% of the Federal National Council’s seats and they now form more than 59% of the workforce in the country.

The UAE women have achieved more as a result of the plan for the political empowerment of women laid down by President H.H Sheikh Khalifa Al Nahayan and H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Today, they are holding senior offices in all areas of life and are actively participating in leading the process of development and modernization through their roles in the executive, judicial and legislative authorities as well as in the decision -making process. Among the most visible gains for UAE women are a greater number of seats in the Cabinet formed in February 2008 and in the Federal National Council

There are now four female ministers in the Cabinet, compared to two previously, the largest number in the Arab world, and the Emirati women occupy 20% the Federal National Council seats, which is among the highest anywhere in the world's legislative bodies. Kholoud Jua'an Al Dhahiri has been recently appointed as the first -ever female judge in the UAE. This appointment was an example of the continuation of the policy of engaging women in the overall process of development and encouraging them to work in all areas alongside men on an equal opportunity basis. Sheikha Najla Al Qassimi and Dr. Hussa Al Otaiba were also recently named as the first two Emirati female ambassadors in the UAE's history, being appointed to Sweden and Spain respectively.

The UAE women have become major and active players in the process of development in the UAE. They now account for 66% of the governmental workforce and hold 30% of senior jobs at the decision-making level. They also account for 15% of the teaching staff at the UAE University. In addition, they account for 60% of the workforce in medical care, education, nursing and pharmacies. They have also joined the Armed Forces, police and customs.