Employment Rights
The UAE's Labor Law ensures that female workers receive equal pay for equal work, providing them with the same wage structure as their male counterparts. The Law on Equal Wages and Salaries for Men and Women safeguards the rights of female employees. Additionally, the Gender Balance Council actively promotes gender equality in leadership positions.
In the 2022 Global Gender Gap report by the World Economic Forum, the UAE emerged as a leader in gender equality within the region. The significant roles played by women in both business and government exemplify this progress. According to the 2021 Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index by the Georgetown Institute for Women, the UAE ranked 1st in the MENA region and 24th globally in terms of women's inclusion.
Some notable achievements include:
- 20% of leadership positions at Masdar, an Emirati energy company, are held by women.
- Women occupy 45% of working spaces in the national space sector.
- The nuclear sector boasts 20% female representation.
- Strata, a high-tech aircraft manufacturer in the UAE, employs Emirati women in 86% of its national staff.
Maternity Issues & Work
Working women in the UAE, both in the private and government sectors, receive maternity benefits. In the Dubai government sector:
- Permanent female employees enjoy three months of maternity leave with full salary.
- Maternity leave can be applied for up to 30 days before the expected delivery date.
- Additional annual and unpaid leave, not exceeding 120 days, can be taken.
- For one year following childbirth, women are entitled to 2 hours of reduced working hours for nursing, except during Ramadan.
Private sector regulations differ:
- Maternity leave includes 60 days, with 45 days fully paid and 15 days partially paid.
- Maternity leave can be initiated 30 days prior to the expected delivery date.
- An additional 45-day unpaid leave is available for pregnancy-related illnesses, supported by a medical certificate.
- If a baby has a disability or illness, certified by a medical report, female employees can take an extra 30 fully paid days of leave.
- After returning to work, women are granted one or two additional 1-hour breaks for nursing for six months after childbirth.
Financial Rights
Women in the UAE have the right to start businesses on par with men, with access to ownership, financial services, and more, as stipulated by national law. Approximately 10% of private sector businesses in the UAE are women-owned, with over 23,000 women managing projects worth AED 50 billion (USD 13.6 billion). In 2020, 23 Emirati women featured on Forbes' list of the 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen.
The UAE is a welcoming destination for investors of all genders. Emirati and foreign women can purchase property and secure mortgages. However, understanding local laws is crucial to avoid potential challenges.
Inheritance in the UAE adheres to Sharia laws. To distribute assets according to one's wishes instead of Sharia law, a person can:
- Consult a legal specialist in Dubai and draft a will.
- Appoint an executor and guardian, both over 21 and carefully chosen among relatives or friends.
- Translate the will into Arabic, as documents submitted to Dubai Courts must be in Arabic. For DIFC Wills Service Centre registration, an English version is sufficient.
- Register the will at the DIFC Wills Service Centre or Dubai Courts.
Healthcare for Women
The UAE boasts an exemplary healthcare system, highly regarded by local and foreign women alike. Women's health needs, including regular cancer screenings, mental health support groups, and heart health checks, are met by public and private healthcare centers. These centers offer online appointment scheduling and tailored packages based on individual medical histories.
The average life expectancy for women in the UAE is 78, while for men, it is 76. Addressing Vitamin D deficiency, a prevalent health issue, is crucial to prevent immune system weakening, cardiovascular problems, infertility, diabetes, and cancer. Regular check-ups are recommended and often covered by medical insurance.
Reproductive assistance by licensed medical facilities is permitted in the UAE. Key considerations include:
- Use of assisted reproductive techniques is allowed after one year of natural conception attempts.
- A specialist must certify that the technique poses no health risks to the woman.
- Detailed information on the technique, its cost, and success rates should be provided to the male partner, along with written consent.
- Abortion is considered a crime unless the woman's life is at risk, or the baby is expected to have severe deformities and will not survive. Abortion is permitted within the first 120 days of pregnancy, corresponding to one week into the second trimester, with approval from an authorized medical center. After 120 days, abortion is prohibited.
Note: A legal marriage is required for a child to receive legal recognition. If an unmarried woman wishes to give birth, the hospital staff may involve the police, leading to a Personal Status Court decision regarding the child's birth registration.
Women & Politics
While the UAE is not a democratic state, it allows both men and women to participate in the Federal National Council (FNC) as voters and candidates since 2006. The UAE's Gender Balance Council actively develops initiatives to promote gender balance, with 50% of FNC members being women.
In the UAE Cabinet, 9 out of 33 members are women, including leaders in various fields such as international cooperation, culture, youth, and public education. Notably, Shamma bint Sohail Faris Al Mazrui became the world's youngest minister when appointed at age 22 in 2016.
The UAE has appointed women as ambassadors since 2009, with diplomatic training programs contributing to female representation. Women serve as ambassadors to countries like Denmark, Germany, and France.
Family & Divorce Issues
Marriage consent age in the UAE is 18, although Islamic law recognizes puberty as the age of consent. A child under 18 can marry with a guardian's approval. Emirati men can have up to four wives if they can support them equally.
Divorce processes differ for men and women. Men can divorce immediately, while women must apply for a court order. Mothers have custody of children until boys reach 11 and girls reach 13, after which ex-husbands, whether citizens or expatriates, can gain full custody.
Emirati women have increasingly pursued self-realization through education and employment, expanding their roles beyond traditional homemaking. Couples therapy is a popular option, enabling Arab women to engage their husbands in resolving family issues and avoiding divorce.
Note: Foreigners often choose the UAE as a divorce location, as individuals of any nationality and religion can request divorce in the country. Couples must be UAE residents for at least six months before applying for divorce. If both parties cannot reach an agreement, the divorce proceeds through the court.
Education for Women
Women in the UAE have the right to complete secondary education and enroll in universities. The country boasts an impressive literacy rate, with 95.8% of women being literate, compared to just 31% in 1975.
A substantial percentage of Emirati women, 77%, enroll in higher education institutions, with 70% graduating from Emirati universities. Government universities attract nearly two-thirds of female students, and private institutions have an approximately 50% female student population.
Since 2014, women in the UAE have had the opportunity to attend the first military college for women, Khawla bint Al Azwar Military School, which offers world-class training and leadership development. Currently, there are four female fighter pilots and over 30 female special security forces professionals in the UAE.
