In anticipation of Emirati Women's Day, the Ministry of Economy revealed a 23 percent increase in commercial licenses issued to female UAE nationals from January to August 26 across diverse sectors. "Emirati women now play a significant role in the UAE's economy, with a total of 135,171 commercial licenses held by Emirati women as of August 26, marking a 23 percent rise from the 109,871 licenses at the end of 2023," stated Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy. "These licenses span various economic sectors such as tourism, air transport, information technology, financial services, insurance, creative activities, and more," Al Marri added.
"We take great pride in the accomplishments of Emirati women, who have crafted compelling success narratives across various fields and disciplines, garnering widespread attention and admiration for their abilities, competencies, and skills, affirming their crucial role in any endeavor they undertake," said Al Marri. He also highlighted the UAE's ranking of 7th globally and 1st regionally in the Gender Equality Index by the United Nations Development Programme. Over 128,400 SMEs are owned by Emirati women, according to Alia bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship.
Al Mazrouei emphasized the significant economic impact of Emirati women, noting over 128,412 small and medium-sized enterprises and approximately 135,171 projects owned by Emirati businesswomen. The UAE is committed to fostering a progressive approach to empower Emirati women across political, economic, social, and cultural domains. "Ongoing national efforts aim to introduce more supportive programs and projects to encourage Emirati businesswomen to participate in entrepreneurship and SME activities," Al Mazrouei noted. Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, executive director for the SME sector at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), discussed the department's efforts to bolster Emirati women's role in the emirate's economic landscape.
"This is evident in the steady rise of commercial licenses issued to Emirati women in Abu Dhabi, totaling 27,331 licenses in the first half of 2024, a 23 percent increase from 2023," stated Al Nasri. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), reported that 1,938 female employees are active across all divisions of the entity, including 836 in engineering and technical roles, and numerous in leadership positions. Emirati female employees represent 84.57 percent of the total female workforce, according to Al Tayer.
Additionally, a recent survey of 1,000 UAE residents conducted by Volkswagen Abu Dhabi and YouGov showed that 83 percent are inspired by the achievements of Emirati women over the past five years. Approximately 76 percent of respondents believe Emirati women have gained more prominence in leading government roles since 2019, with 80 percent agreeing they will significantly drive the UAE's economic advancement in the coming decade and beyond. The study indicated that Emirati women's influence is most pronounced in healthcare (57 percent), followed by government (54 percent), arts and culture (38 percent), science and research (34 percent), and entrepreneurship (32 percent).
