As a proud citizen of the UAE, I am lucky to have experienced – and to have personally benefited from – our leaders’ long-standing commitment to women’s empowerment. Ensuring that people enjoy equality of opportunity, regardless of their gender or background, has been a fundamental tenet of our nation’s journey.

Thanks to numerous initiatives and sustained efforts to encourage and maintain equality, our country has enjoyed immense success in ensuring that women are treated fairly and inclusively. What’s more, the Emirates has established itself as a global leader in this regard. The UAE Gender Balance Council, for example, has been selected as the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) partner in advancing women’s empowerment globally.

Against this backdrop, it is tempting to wonder whether further measures are even necessary. Given how far we have come, is there still a need for women’s empowerment in the Emirates?

Has the UAE achieved gender equality?

Empowered women equal a better society

Well, yes and no. Women’s empowerment is about more than simply providing equal opportunities to people regardless of their gender. It’s a question of continuously encouraging women to achieve their goals without being held back by societal barriers or discrimination.

For instance, when women are provided with the same educational opportunities as men, they are able to achieve work-related goals that may not have been possible in decades past, such as running and owning businesses. In turn, they are able to make ever-greater contributions to our national economy – a trend that we are witnessing today, as demonstrated by the prediction that women will drive our country’s growth in 2023.

This is just one example of the symbiotic relationship between the UAE’s empowerment efforts and its ongoing success on the global stage. Far from simply benefitting one group, gender equality – and equality in all its forms – helps to create a better society for all.

This is evidenced by the fact that when women are educated and engaged in the workplace, overall societal metrics also improve. It’s no wonder, therefore, that the UAE led the Arab world (and ranked in 18th place, globally) in the UN Development Programme’s 2020 Gender Equality Index. And it is doubly encouraging to see that Emirati leaders are continuing to invest in women’s empowerment.

Securing equality for future generations

For me, it means the world to know that future generations of Emirati women – including my two young daughters – will be empowered in the same way my generation has been. So long as we continue to invest in related initiatives and encourage positive attitudes towards equality, today’s youngsters will benefit from the same experiences and opportunities we enjoy today – if not better.

I am immensely grateful to the UAE for its ongoing commitment to this cause, and I feel I can sleep soundly knowing that my children will be supported to be all that they can be throughout adulthood. I am equally confident that the steps our nation is taking today will continue to benefit my daughters as they grow, and I look forward to witnessing the positive societal impacts that these efforts will have over the short, medium and long term.

No room for complacency

It is important not to underplay the many successes that the UAE has achieved in regard to women’s empowerment. From an individual perspective, the country’s forward-thinking approach to equality has played a significant role in enabling me to thrive as a woman – both professionally and in my private life. The progress our nation has made, and continues to make, is by no means trivial.

Nevertheless, we cannot afford to take our foot off the accelerator. Personally, I find it helpful to draw an analogy with economic progress. The UAE has achieved immense economic success during the past half-century, firmly establishing itself as a global business hub with a thriving commercial sector. Yet no one would suggest we walk away, satisfied with a job well done. On the contrary, our nation is continuing to invest and innovate in order to retain its leading position and avoid stagnation.

Like economic advancement, women’s empowerment is not a destination; it is a journey. As a woman living in the UAE, I am thankful for everything our leaders have achieved to date, but I am just as excited to see how their forward-thinking approach will facilitate advancement over the coming decades. I sincerely believe that the Emirates will double down on women’s empowerment, setting new standards not only for our region but also the global community as a whole.

This is why, no matter how much progress we make, women’s empowerment will never become unnecessary.

It is a means to success, not an end in itself.