Nation highlights female leadership in space, government, and future tech as annual celebrations run through late September.
ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates officially commenced nationwide celebrations for Emirati Women’s Day on Thursday, opening a month-long program that runs through Sept. 28.
Held this year under the theme “We Emerge Stronger and Better,” the annual occasion recognizes the expanding political, economic, and technological leadership of Emirati women across the country.
The month-long agenda, organized under the direction of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), features institutional initiatives, developmental programs, and public forums highlighting female achievements.
Legislative reforms guaranteeing equal pay and parliamentary representation have accelerated progress across key state sectors. Women currently hold 50 percent of the seats in the Federal National Council and occupy 63 percent of leadership roles within the federal civil service.
The UAE holds first place regionally in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report and second globally for female parliamentary representation in the 2026 World Competitiveness Ranking published by IMD.
Between 2021 and 2025, female participation in the UAE labor market increased by 101.92 percent. Women also represent 74 percent of all beneficiaries under the national employment initiative, the Nafis program. Private sector leadership has expanded concurrently, with more than 25,000 Emirati businesswomen operating over 50,000 commercial licenses backed by combined investments exceeding Dh60 billion.
Technological and scientific sectors show equal momentum. Women account for roughly 50 percent of employees in the UAE National Space Program and 80 percent of the scientific team behind the Hope Probe. In higher education, female students constitute 70 percent of university graduates and over 46 percent of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates nationwide.
Strategic programs such as the Cyber Pulse Initiative for Women and Family and the Mother of the Nation 50:50 Vision continue to scale technical competencies in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy. Internationally, the General Women’s Union recently expanded its developmental mandate through the launch of the Fatima bint Mubarak Initiative for Digital Leadership for African Women, targeting tech capacity building across the African continent.
Organizers said events scheduled through late September will focus on establishing new partnerships and expanding opportunities for women in future-oriented industries.
