EMIRATI WOMEN’S 2025: LEADERS SHAPING DESIGN, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND TECHNOLOGY

The UAE has steadily positioned itself as a global leader in advancing gender equality, ensuring Emirati women are drivers of progress as entrepreneurs, scientists, designers and businesswomen. With women making up over 54% of the labour force, holding two-thirds of public sector jobs, and representing the majority of university graduates, the country’s policies and initiatives are building a future where female leadership is both expected and celebrated.

A national framework for empowerment

The UAE is embedding female leadership at the highest levels of governance and ensuring that women influence the country’s strategic direction. The National Policy for Empowerment of Emirati Women 2023–2031 and the work of the Gender Balance Council have set clear priorities to increase women’s representation in leadership and ensure equal opportunities in technical and academic fields. Today, women occupy 30% of leadership roles in the public sector, and initiatives such as mandatory board representation in listed companies have cemented women’s presence in decision-making spaces.

This national support translates into real impact across industries. Noor Al Muhaideb, Founding Partner of Opaal Interiors, explains how it shaped her career: “The UAE’s encouragement of creativity and entrepreneurship has been a real turning point for me. Thanks to programs like design incubators and creative economy initiatives, I had the confidence and support to launch Opaal interiors and develop projects that bring contemporary design into dialogue with the UAE’s culture.’’

This national support translates into real impact across industries. In government, women now make up over a quarter of the cabinet, with nine female ministers overseeing key portfolios from advanced technology to international cooperation. Initiatives have also focused on creating leadership training programs and mentorship platforms within government, ensuring women are prepared to take on senior roles.

Entrepreneurial ecosystems

Emirati women today own and operate 23,000 businesses valued at more than AED 50 billion, proof of the UAE’s efforts to provide access to funding, training, and global networks. The nation ranked second in 2024 on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen list, with 14 Emirati women featured.

For Amna Al Falasi, Manager of WrkBay and Huom Culinary Canvas, this environment enabled her to grow a small community initiative into a thriving platform. “The UAE’s commitment to gender equality has been pivotal in my journey. Access to mentorship and funding opportunities gave us the foundation to expand and create meaningful programs for families, professionals, and seniors,” she says. Amna’s trajectory mirrors the wider push to create female-led enterprises that add both economic and social value.

Driving innovation in technology

The UAE’s investments in AI, advanced technology, and education are creating space for women to thrive in future industries. With 56% of STEM graduates now women, the pipeline for female leadership in innovation is stronger than ever. Institutions like the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and national strategies dedicated to AI and digital transformation provide world-class platforms for Emirati talent.

Moza Al Falasi, a data analyst working on machine learning applications, emphasises the opportunity: “The UAE’s focus on innovation gave me the platform to pursue projects like EcoSort AI and accessibility solutions for the hearing-impaired. Women here are not just part of the conversation in technology, they’re leading it.” Her work reflects the country’s aim to merge technological progress with social impact.

Looking ahead

The UAE’s progress is evident in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, which ranks the country as a leading nation in gender equality in the region. Sustained public and private sector initiatives have strengthened women’s presence in business, government, and STEM fields. Emirati women are now shaping industries from design studios to boardrooms and AI labs, supported by legislation that secures equal pay and mandates for female voices in leadership. In 2025, they are setting new benchmarks for leadership, showing how the UAE’s long-term vision turns empowerment into measurable progress.