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Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Cabinet has approved the setting up of the 'UAE Gender Balance Council' to strengthen the role of Emirati women in all areas of work and enable them to contribute towards enhancing the UAE’s position at the local and international levels.

The Council aims to achieve gender balance in the decision-making process and strengthen the position of the UAE in the Global Competitiveness reports to make the UAE a role model in gender balance.

The council is chaired by President of the Dubai Women’s Establishment (DWE) Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The members of the council include Nora Al Suwaidi, Director of General Women Union; Reem Al Falasi, Secretary General of Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood; Mona Al Marri, Executive Director of DWE; and Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Secretary General of Emirates Competitiveness Council. It also includes representatives from the Ministries of Presidential Affairs, Cabinet Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Economy, Social Affairs, Labour and Federal Authority for Government Human Resources.

The key areas of focus of the Council include review of legislation, policies and programmes to achieve gender balance at workplace, and recommending the activation of international resolutions and agreements on workplace gender balance. The Council will also review the global competitiveness reports and make recommendations on reducing the gender gap at workplaces. It will propose Gender Balance indicators and submit them to the Cabinet for approval and seek to promote their application in the UAE in coordination with local authorities.