Official data shows female participation rose 128 percent since 2023, with over 123,000 women securing roles in leadership, technical, and skilled positions.
ABU DHABI:Emirati women now constitute more than 70 percent of the national workforce employed within the UAE private sector, reflecting a dramatic structural shift driven by the country’s expanded Emiratisation targets and equal-opportunity employment frameworks.
Data released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) reveals that 123,388 Emirati women were employed across the private sector by the end of the first half of 2026. This figure marks a 128 percent increase compared to female private-sector employment recorded in 2023. More than 26,000 private establishments now employ national female talent.
The ministry linked the steady influx of female talent to strategic policies designed to remove entry barriers, broaden vocational access, and foster balanced career development in non-governmental organizations. Total citizen employment in the private sector surpassed 190,000 during the same reporting period.
According to ministry statistics, 98 percent of working Emirati women occupy skilled roles, including specialist and technical appointments. Female professionals hold 55 percent of all executive and leadership positions assigned to nationals within private firms. At upper professional tiers, women represent 70 percent of all citizen employees.
Youth demographics reflect a similar trend. Young Emirati women account for 70 percent of the latest generation of citizens entering the private labor market.
The UAE has systematically introduced stricter quotas and financial incentives for private enterprises to absorb national workers. Under government guidelines, commercial entities face specific hiring milestones to gradually integrate UAE citizens into their core operations.
MoHRE stated that it will continue reviewing workforce metrics every six months to monitor compliance and evaluate the long-term integration of nationals into specialized commercial fields.
