On the 28^th of august of each year, the state of the United Arab Emirates celebrates the Day of The Emirati Woman. It is considered to be a national occasion through which the achievement of the ‘Emirates Daughter’ are recalled and honored, alongside her strong contribution in the revival of the country and its developmental course. This year’s celebration comes to confirm once again the role of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the foundation of women’s career in the UAE, which he expressed in many stances and statements such as : ‘ Nothing makes me happier than seeing women take in hand their special role in the society, and nothing should obstruct their progress.’

  The Emirati Woman and Diplomacy :

The Emirati woman holds a special position in the domain of diplomatic work, she forms a real addition, and contributes effectively in weaving a wide net of relations for the country. She also strengthens its regional and international partnerships. Currently, the Emirati woman occupies diplomatic positions in the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation. Then number of working girls at this ministry and the representative delegations of the country abroad is up to 587 Emirati employees, including the diplomats who count up to 275 diplomat, with a percentage of 42% of the total of Emirati females working at the ministry.

Parallel to this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has made a unique path appointing eight ladies of the Emirates’ girls as ambassadors and diplomats to represent the state and its bright civilized side in the  international councils. These ladies are : HE Hissa Abdu-Ellah Al-Ottiba, UAE’s ambassador in the kingdom of Holland; HE Hanan Khelfan Al-Allili, UAE’s Ambassador in Latvia; her excellence Fatima Khamis El-Mazreoui, state’s ambassador in Denmark;  her excellence Hafssa Abdu-Ellah Al-Almaa, UAE’s Ambassador in  Brazil; her excellence Nourra Muhammad  Abdu-El-Hamid jamaa, UAE’s ambassador in Finland; Dr Nawal Khalifa Al Hosani, Permanent State Representative at the International Agency Renewable Energy; Lana Zaki Anwar Nassiba, Permanent Representative of the UAE  at the United Nations in New York; In addition to Nabila Abdu-El-Aziz El-Shamsi, the UAE’s General Consul in Hong Kong, China.

This confirms the vision of the Emirati wise lead in supporting and empowering the Emirati woman considering her an indivisible part of the society. Additionally to working side by side with men and contributing to the strengthening of the course of global development of the country, which allowed her to be appointed in several high leading positions, and to reach decision making functions in the state.

Consolidating the Emirati Woman :

The constitution of the United Arab Emirates guarantees equal rights for both men and women. The UAE leads several regional and international indicators concerning gender equality and women’s achievement, education, and the eradication of illiteracy, women’s share in the employment domain, and the indicator of ‘treating women with respect’ among the indications of the record of social advancement, alongside various other indications.

The state of Emirates encourages the participation of women in decision making, since it represents a main pillar to empower her economically. The cabinet issued a decision on December 9^th 2014, which holds all government bodies and foundations to represent the feminine element in the administration councils. The percentage of female representation reached 15% in the governmental bodies. Females occupy 27% of the ministerial formation of the government that was established in 2016 with the presence of 9 ministers, among which was the world’s youngest minister, who only was 23 years old.

The current legislative chapter comprises 8 members in the national council, who represent 20% of its seats, which total number is 40. The state started to engage women in the political life, as well as it increased the percentage of feminine representation in the federal national council up to 50% according to the directions of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE President, May Allah protects him. Starting from the 2019 electoral round. This step reflects the state’s future vision, aiming to achieve a full consolidation to the Emirati woman and guarantees her total and effective participation in the political life. In addition to the equality of opportunities permitted to her to take the lead equally with men on all decision making levels in the political, economic, and general life.

The foundation of the Emirates’ council brought balance between genders in 2015 as a federal authority committed to condense the effort of the state of Emirates, which aimed to achieve a balance between the two genders in every domain, and in the centers of decision making.

Lately, the council has studied the mechanisms and executive steps to apply the ‘ gender balance indicators’ on the level of local government and the private sector, after it has been successfully applied on the level of federal government. In 2018, the cabinet approved the bill of launching the first legislation of its kind, for equality in salaries between genders. The agreement of the cabinet to this bill of law within the framework of reinforcement of the national policies and legislations to guarantee the protection of women’s rights and encourage them to participate in the operation of national development proportionally with the national strategy of enabling women for the years 2015-2021, which was launched by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Al-Nahyan, Chairwomen of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation.

Also, according to the law of work that is applied on the private sector in the state, the 32^nd section of the same law, regulates that a woman should be given the same salary as a man would in case she holds the same job.

Conclusion:

The Emirati woman has proved her strong presence and effective giving to her country’s service in various work domains, including holding the presidency of the national federal council and ministerial positions in the diplomatic corps, and her entry into the military forces and national service, the police, and security. The presence of the Emirati woman in sector such as space science, technology, architecture, and medicine has become a major factor in achieving the developmental goals intending to make a characteristic jump in the national economics.

The Emirati woman has written inspiring success stories in all working positions and proved she is highly competent and responsible. There is no doubt that the civilized global achievement, and the special paradigm shift that the Emirati woman has achieved is considered as a practical interpretation of the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Zayed on the vital role of women in the country’s construction. And it is the vision which immersed in the thought and method of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan,  The UAE’s President, May Allah protects him.

 His Excellency Saif Khamis Alali