Emirati Women's Day is commemorated every year to honor Emirati women's contributions and their crucial role as key partners in the progress of the UAE over the years. This day is also an opportunity to highlight the UAE’s ongoing achievements and efforts in empowering and supporting women.
Official date: August 28
Emirati Women’s Day was founded in 2015 by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the “Mother of the Nation”, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF). This day also marks the founding of the UAE’s General Women’s Union on 28 August 1975.
2023 Theme: We Collaborate for Tomorrow
Objectives of Emirati Women's Day:
- Highlight the UAE's progress in empowering and supporting women socially and financially.
- Celebrate the role women play in the UAE’s development journey.
- Honor the leading institutions in empowering women at the federal and local levels.
- Address the emerging challenges facing women at the local, regional, and global levels, and discuss fundamental solutions.
Key facts:
- The UAE ranked first in the Arab world in the Gender Gap Report 2022, issued by the World Economic Forum.
- Women represent 66% of the workforce in public sector jobs, 30% of whom are in leadership positions, and 15% are in technical and academic positions.
- In the field of business and entrepreneurship, there are more than 21,000 female entrepreneurs in the UAE. In addition, Emirati businesswomen make up to 21% of businesswomen across the GCC countries, which is the highest rate among the GCC countries.