When it comes to women’s empowerment, the UAE offers a perfect model worthy of emulation by the rest of the world.

As the nation gears up to celebrate the Emirati Women’s Day on Wednesday, it is pertinent to note that this year the event pleasantly coincides with the Federal National Council, FNC, elections, which will witness considerable progress in terms of women’s participation, following the decision to raise the parliamentary participation of women to 50 per cent.

This year’s celebrations is being held under the theme, “Women are the Icons of Tolerance,” to promote the values of tolerance, which is a national priority.

In the UAE, women always remain a key pillar of social development. The adoption of several legislative policies and initiatives by the UAE leadership to support Emirati women has taken empowerment to a much higher level.

The new UAE election rule issued under the Presidential Resolution No. (1) of 2019 towards raising women’s representation in the FNC to 50 per cent with effect from the upcoming legislative cycle is a historic step marking a momentous milestone on women’s empowerment as well as the country’s political development journey.

Emirati women have right from the beginning received strong national support, which contributed to their many successes in all areas.

Each and every Emirati woman deserves wholehearted appreciation for their hard work, perseverance and determination while utilising all the available opportunities to progress and succeed in their chosen field of activity.

According to official statistics, women currently account for 66 per cent of the UAE’s labour force, and have a strong presence in education, health and banking, exceeding the presence of men.

The UAE leads Arab countries in terms of gender balance, according to an annual index issued by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.

It also ranks high globally in terms of gender equality, especially with regards to literacy and participation in secondary and higher education, according to a report from the Forum World Economic Forum in 2016.

In education, 77 per cent of Emirati women enrol in higher education after secondary school and make up 70 per cent of all university graduates in the UAE.

In 2015, the UAE launched the National Strategy for Empowerment of Emirati Women that provides a framework for all federal and local government entities, the private sector, as well as civil society organisations, to set plans and provide decent living standards and work for women.

It is encouraging to note that currently, an Emirati woman chairs the FNC, and there are nine female ministers who serve in the UAE cabinet.

Women also account for 66 per cent of public sector positions and 75 per cent of jobs in the health and education sectors, and have proven their qualities in the sectors of space, justice and artificial intelligence, AI.

Taking empowerment to a much higher level is also the fact that Emirati woman make up 45 per cent of the UAE’s space sector workforce.

As pointed out by Dr Mohamed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director-General of the Emirates Space Agency, Emirati women have a strong presence in the global space sector, are involved in the manufacturing of satellites and are contributing to research developments in the field — one which is gaining global interest due to its mission to serve humanity and the future of the world.

In a world where discrimination against women is rampant, Emirati women are fortunate to be an exception.