WELLBEING
CARE ECONOMY
Access to quality healthcare is essential to full participation in society
Health and Wellbeing
The UAE Gender Balance Council promotes gender-sensitive health systems that address the needs of women across all life stages, including reproductive, physical, and mental health, through inclusive policies and responsive services.
KEY REFORMS, INITIATIVES AND OUTCOMES
National Women’s
Health Policy
In 2024, the Ministry of Health and Prevention launched the National Policy for the Promotion of Women’s Health, a federal framework that ensures access to high-quality preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and wellness services across the life course, from reproductive and sexual health to chronic disease prevention and mental well-being. The Gender Balance Council serves as an advisory stakeholder, advocating for integration of gender-sensitive indicators in policy design and implementation.
Embedding Gender Balance across the Healthcare System
GBC actively collaborates with federal health authorities through workshops, initiatives and policies to integrate gender-responsive practices into healthcare environments. This includes advocating for policies like nursing breaks, maternity support and inclusion of gender data in national wellness frameworks tied to the UAE National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031.
The Balanced Equation: Tracking Access, Guiding Change
Gender-disaggregated data is essential to building inclusive health systems. It enables institutions to identify gaps, monitor outcomes, and design responsive policies.
Balanced caregiving is key to sustainable gender balance
Family and Shared Responsibility
The UAE is advancing policies that support shared family responsibilities and recognize the caregiving roles of both women and men. The Council promotes frameworks that enable families to thrive, both at home and in the workplace.
KEY REFORMS, INITIATIVES AND OUTCOMES
Paid Parental Leave for Mothers and Fathers
All employees are entitled to paid parental leave, including ninety days for mothers. An employee, whether the father or the mother, shall be entitled to paid parental leave for a period of five working days, to be taken for the purpose of childcare within six months from the child’s date of birth. These provisions aim to support early caregiving and the sharing of family responsibilities.
Protection from Dismissal During Pregnancy
Women are protected by law from termination due to pregnancy or maternity leave, reinforcing job security during critical caregiving periods.
Flexible Work Models for Caregiving Balance
From hybrid work to caregiving allowances, national policies now enable parents employed in the private sector to balance home and professional roles with more autonomy.
Family-Friendly and Accessible Childcare
In line with the National Corporate Childcare Project, the UAE passed a federal decree to establish childcare centres at the workplace.
Legal Reforms to Family Life
Reforms to personal status laws governing marriage, divorce, and guardianship include greater clarity in divorce procedures and custody rights, and removal of guardianship requirements in key civil matters.
Gender balance begins in the spaces we share
Inclusive Social Environments
From city streets to classrooms, and housing to health services, the Council promotes inclusive gender-sensitive environments that support equitable access, safety, and participation across all areas of daily life.
KEY REFORMS, INITIATIVES AND OUTCOMES
Equal Right to Education for All
The UAE Constitution guarantees equal access to education at all levels, for both boys and girls, as education is recognised as a pillar of participation, inclusion, and long-term national competitiveness.
Compulsory Schooling and Early Access
All Emirati children must complete the full cycle of school education, and resident children at least until the end of primary school. Nurseries are required to enrol children without gender discrimination.
National Investment in Higher Education
The UAE has channelled significant public funding into higher education access, quality, and competitiveness. University pathways are designed to equip both men and women to lead in future economies.
Future-Ready K–12 Curriculum Reform
Under Vision 2021, K–12 education has undergone comprehensive reform to align with global university standards and prepare girls and boys equally for advanced learning and careers.
Expanding Women’s Access to Science and Technology
Programmes such as WiSE, the Strata Manufacturing Technician Programme, and clean tech internships have opened pathways for Emirati women in engineering, AI, biotech, and aerospace, helping narrow gender gaps in STEM fields and pay.
Legal Capacity at Age 18
All individuals are granted full legal and civil capacity at the age of 18, including the right to independently manage their legal and financial affairs.
Equal Participation in Sports
The UAE supports gender-inclusive sports development through institutional investment and policies that promote access, training, and leadership across disciplines.