NAMA spotlights women councils’ impact

In the UAE’s evolving workplace landscape, where organisations are increasingly translating national gender priorities into measurable outcomes, NAMA Women Advancement convened government, semi-government, and private sector entities at its “Women Councils Connect” forum to strengthen the role of Women Councils in driving sustained institutional impact.

Held under NAMA’s Irtiqa initiative, the forum positioned Women Councils as key internal governance mechanisms that enable organisations to embed gender equality into policy, decision-making, and leadership development.

As these councils continue to emerge across entities at varying stages of maturity, discussions focused on what distinguishes high-impact models from those that remain largely advisory.

Bringing together representatives from organisations with established councils, alongside entities exploring their formation, the forum created a structured platform for peer exchange, benchmarking, and practical learning.

Participants examined how councils are designed, governed, and sustained, with particular focus on mandate clarity, accountability mechanisms, and alignment with broader organisational priorities.

Mariam Al Hammadi, Director General of NAMA Women Advancement, said: “Across institutions today, there is clear intent to advance gender equality. The challenge lies in translating how that intent is translated into systems that are consistent, measurable, and responsive to the realities of the workplace. Women Councils, when effectively structured, serve as a critical interface between employees and leadership- enabling organisations to identify gaps, inform policy, and monitor progress effectively.”

She added: “What we are seeing across sectors is variation in how these councils are defined, governed, and supported. Through Irtiqa, NAMA is working with organisations to bring greater structure to this space by offering practical tools, advisory support, and frameworks that enable councils to operate with clarity and purpose and deliver outcomes that extend beyond internal initiatives.”

The forum featured a session on the development of Women Councils in the UAE and their role within the national context, followed by interactive group discussions focused on benchmarking governance models, governance approaches and sharing practical experiences across sectors. These discussions offered deeper insights into institutional maturity levels and the factors influencing the effectiveness of Women’s Councils.