The UAE Gender Balance Council has expanded its national effort to advance workplace equality by adding 11 companies to the SDG 5 Pledge to Accelerate Gender Balance, bringing total participation to 80 firms across sectors including finance, insurance, consumer goods, retail, and professional services. The new signatories joined during a workshop focused on data-driven approaches to improving gender balance in the private sector.
UAE Gender Balance Council Broadens Private-Sector Pledge and Launches New Data Platform
At the event, the Council announced the launch of a Gender Balance Data Platform, designed to standardize annual reporting by participating companies on progress and women’s representation in middle management and senior leadership. The platform will also serve as the official submission channel for the UAE Gender Balance Awards, which recognize achievements in policy reform, women’s leadership representation, and private-sector initiatives advancing gender balance.
In line with the UAE leadership’s designation of 2026 as the Year of the Family, the Council introduced a new award category, Family-Focused Employer of the Year. The award is intended to recognize companies that offer flexible and supportive work environments that promote work-life balance and employee well-being.
Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, underscored the role of public-private partnerships in national development and said the Council would continue supporting institutions in building inclusive and competitive workplaces aligned with national priorities. Council leaders also emphasized that the SDG 5 Pledge commits participating organizations to raising women’s representation in leadership to at least 30 percent within defined timeframes, supported by measurable data.
The workshop included a signing ceremony for new members - among them AD Ports Group, Mashreq, AstraZeneca, L’Oréal Middle East, and MetLife Gulf - along with discussions on performance measurement, best practices, and strategic priorities through 2026. Case studies from regional and international companies highlighted approaches such as leadership pipelines, mentorship programs, return-to-work support, and enhanced parental leave policies.
The Council reaffirmed that sustained collaboration between government and the private sector, supported by reliable data and shared accountability, remains central to advancing gender balance as the UAE prepares for future labor market shifts.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.
Oksana Bozhko
