Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, is one of nine women in ministerial posts. Delores Johnson / The National
Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, is one of nine women in ministerial posts. Delores Johnson / The National

The ripple effect: when women enter the workforce, health and economic benefits are magnified



Saudi Arabia’s plan to hire women as prosecutors points to an evolution that promises to remove barriers to women’s participation in government, the workplace and public life in the Middle East and North Africa.

Attorney general Sheikh Saud Al Mojeb’s announcement last month came on the heels of better-publicised decisions to allow Saudi women to drive and attend soccer matches. Similar changes are underway across much of the Mena region. Amal Al Qubaisi has stood as president of the Federal National Council for more than two years and nine women currently hold ministerial posts in the UAE government. Women in the UAE hold senior management positions or run investments worth $15 billion and the government is pressing for women to make up 20 per cent of board seats at publicly traded companies. Egypt’s parliament voted in December to give women inheritance rights and Tunisia is considering a proposal to strengthen women’s rights in this area.

Although the battle is far from over, the momentum reflects a significant effort to provide women with opportunities that would have been unlikely a few years ago. Forward-looking leaders realise that acceptance of women into the workforce and public life is a vital component of economic growth. The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that advancing women's equality could add $600 billion annually to overall GDP in the Mena region. In addition to economic gains from the direct contribution of women, inclusion might encourage international investment to help create high-paying tech sector jobs.

Our research suggests one more reason for opening doors to women: the increased participation of women in the workforce as a result of economic growth correlates to lower infant and maternal mortality rates and a healthier population, regardless of gender. One conclusion is that the most effective long-term solution to many health challenges in developing countries is not outside intervention but a sustained focus on economic growth and increasing workplace opportunities for women.

_______________

Read more:

_______________

The link between economic growth, expanded opportunities for women and health are equally clear. We know from previous studies that as income rises and the demand for labour increases, more women take jobs outside the home and invest in their education to command higher salaries. As household income rises, families shift their focus from quantity of children to the quality of care those children receive. In other words, families are smaller and can afford better medical care.

Unfortunately, not all of the news from our study is heartening. Our most troubling finding is that the disparities in infant and maternal mortality rates among Mena nations have been widening for more than a decade. The most likely cause is different rates of economic progress. In the UAE, where the average income is more than $44,000, the mortality rate for children under the age of five is seven in 1,000. In Djibouti, which has an average income of $1,812 per person, the death rate is 13 times higher.

However, an expanding economy isn’t enough by itself. Prosperity and improved health both depend on Mena nations investing in their people. Some of the investment must come in the form of financial support for education at all levels but leaders must also continue to invest their political capital by championing women's rights to equal treatment in the classroom, the workplace and the public square.

Assessing the many variables that contribute to health improvements is a complex undertaking. The most consistent and influential factor we observed is income. When income rises, more women and children survive, creating a ripple effect that elevates the health of a nation. And when women contribute directly to prosperity by entering the workforce, the health and economic benefits are magnified. Realising the full potential of an inclusive workplace will require smart leadership and thoughtful policies. We see both taking shape across much of the region.

Ken Sagynbekov is a health economist at the Milken Institute in California, where his research focuses on applied microeconomic analysis of health and crime. The two-day Milken Institute Mena Summit begins tomorrow

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company

Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EEtihad%20Airways%20operates%20seasonal%20flights%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20Nice%20C%C3%B4te%20d'Azur%20Airport.%20Services%20depart%20the%20UAE%20on%20Wednesdays%20and%20Sundays%20with%20outbound%20flights%20stopping%20briefly%20in%20Rome%2C%20return%20flights%20are%20non-stop.%20Fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C315%2C%20flights%20operate%20until%20September%2018%2C%202022.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Radisson%20Blu%20Hotel%20Nice%20offers%20a%20western%20location%20right%20on%20Promenade%20des%20Anglais%20with%20rooms%20overlooking%20the%20Bay%20of%20Angels.%20Stays%20are%20priced%20from%20%E2%82%AC101%20(%24114)%2C%20including%20taxes.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Greatest Royal Rumble results

John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match

Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto

Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus

Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal

Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos

Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe

AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out

The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match

Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills