Policy Reforms

Emirati and foreign women are guaranteed the right to conduct business and acquire legal trader status, under the same conditions and protections as men, including financial independence from their spouses

Women have the legal right to establish, own, and manage all forms of companies, under the same conditions and protections as men

The law prohibits gender-based discrimination in hiring, retention, and promotion, ensuring fair treatment for all employees, with explicit protections for women

Men and women are entitled to equal pay for the same work or work of equal value, across both public and private sectors

Employees in the private sector can access part-time, hybrid, and remote work arrangements to support work-life balance

Women are protected from being dismissed due to pregnancy or maternity leave

Women are entitled to 60 days of maternity leave, with 45 days fully paid and 15 days at half pay, plus up to 45 additional unpaid days in case of postnatal illness affecting the mother or child

All employees, both mothers and fathers, are entitled to 5 days of paid parental leave upon the birth of a child

Women enrolled in the UAE’s pension system benefit from flexible retirement options, including early retirement based on number of children, and the ability to continue contributions while on unpaid childcare leave

Federal entities, companies, and institutions are required to include women on their boards of directors, supporting greater gender balance in leadership roles

Both men and women are eligible to serve as judges and prosecutors within the UAE’s federal judicial system

Either parent may request a birth certificate for their newborns, with the mother’s Emirates ID sufficient to initiate the process if the father’s documents are unavailable

All children born in the UAE are entitled to a birth certificate, which may be applied for by either parent within 30 days, without requiring a court ruling

All individuals have the legal right to freely choose their spouse and consent to marriage without requiring a guardian’s approval

A wife has the right to choose and reside in the marital home, whether owned, rented, or provided by her, or jointly held with her husband

Custodian mothers have the right to make educational decisions for their children, with any disputes referred to an urgent matters judge, without compromising the mother’s authority

Eligible women in need, including widows, divorcees, low-income citizens, abandoned women, wives of imprisoned men, and women married to men unable to work are entitled to apply for monthly financial support to cover basic living needs

Eligible Emiratis, including widows, divorcees, and female heads of household, may apply for government housing assistance under the Zayed Housing Programme, in line with social protection policies

Eligible individuals, including vulnerable women, can access a range of assistance programs, including social services, counselling, and economic support, administered by the Ministry of Community Development

Eligible individuals, including vulnerable women receiving social support are mandated to enrol in empowerment programs that prepare them for entry or re-entry into the labour market

Non-Muslim residents can opt for civil law in matters of marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritance – civil marriage is based on mutual consent, either spouse may file for divorce without proving harm, joint custody is granted until age 16, and children of civil marriages are legally recognised without religious documentation

Spouses are prohibited from causing material or emotional harm to one another; addiction is recognised as grounds for divorce without requiring a criminal conviction

Women are protected from all forms of domestic violence through confidential reporting systems, protective court orders, and social services including shelter, counselling, and medical support

The UAE Criminal Code imposes enhanced penalties for crimes such as sexual assault, harassment, and kidnapping, especially when committed against women, minors, pregnant women, or persons of determination

Online harassment, defamation, blackmail, and unauthorized sharing of private images or information are criminalized, with strict prison sentences and minimum fines of AED 100,000

All types of discrimination are prohibited, including on the basis of gender, in all public, private and digital domains, with strict financial and legal penalties of up to AED 1,000,000

Victims of human trafficking are protected through expanded legal definitions, victim-centred procedures, and access to services including shelter, healthcare, and rehabilitation

Correctional institutions must provide women with gender-specific accommodation, staff, and oversight.

Pregnant inmates are exempt from labour and entitled to proper care, rest, and nutrition.

Childbirth must take place in a hospital with full maternal support.

Children may remain with their mothers in custody until the age of two, and birth certificates for children born in custody must not indicate prison affiliation

Pregnant women sentenced to death are granted postponement of execution until childbirth and completion of a two-year nursing period