UAE's Gender Balance Council teams up with the Posterity Institute to enhance female leadership presence.
The UAE Gender Balance Council, in partnership with the Posterity Institute, is reinforcing its commitment to gender equality and women's leadership development. This partnership, as emphasised by H.E. Mouza Al Suwaidi and H.E. Mona Al Marri, aligns with the UAE's vision for gender balance and public-private collaboration.
Under this agreement, 35% of the Posterity Institute's network will sign the pledge, joining 71 local and international firms that have already committed to increasing female leadership to 30% by 2025. The Posterity Institute's pledge, however, aims to achieve this goal by 2025, earlier than the UAE's target of 2028.
Dr. Yassar Jarrar, Managing Partner of the Posterity Institute, reiterates the importance of gender balance as a driver of innovation and sustainable growth. He believes that this partnership will contribute to the 35% of the total network that has signed the pledge.
The partnership also includes knowledge exchange, joint training programs, and coordination with NAFIS to create more job opportunities for Emirati women. The Posterity Institute's involvement in this initiative expands the number of firms committed to gender balance in leadership roles.
The UAE's regional leadership in gender equality is evident, with the country ranked 7th globally in the 2024 UNDP Gender Equality Index. The UAE Gender Balance Council's SDG 5 Acceleration Pledge is a testament to this leadership, aiming to increase women’s representation in private sector leadership roles to 30% by 2028.
The Council is actively monitoring progress and organising initiatives to accelerate this goal. Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the growth and retention of women in leadership roles and overall improved gender balance are used to measure the pledge's effectiveness.
Efforts are part of a broader UAE Gender Balance Council Strategy 2026, which seeks to reduce the gender gap across sectors and enhance the UAE’s global competitiveness, signalling continued commitment beyond the pledge timeline.
Supporting factors include a high number of Emirati women graduates in STEM fields (61%), which positions the UAE to sustain and grow women’s representation in leadership roles, particularly in private sector industries.
The Council also conducts awareness sessions and dialogues, such as the June 2025 e-Majlis event “From Pledge to Progress,” to engage stakeholders and track advancement toward the pledge goals.
Overall, the UAE is making substantial progress on the SDG 5 Acceleration Pledge, with clear targets, ongoing measurement, and supportive initiatives that show tangible steps toward achieving 30% women leadership representation in the private sector by 2028.
