Today, more women are breaking glass ceilings and taking on powerful roles.
With women being elected as presidents, ministers and other high-ranking officials in countries around the world, their representation in positions of power has been steadily increasing in recent years.
But, as the world celebrates the International Women's Day, there is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality in global and corporate leadership.
As of January 1, there were 31 countries where 34 women serve as Heads of State or Government, according to the UN Women.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said achieving full gender parity will take 300 years, with “women’s sexual and reproductive rights … being rolled back".
The World Economic Forum revealed that the world will not be able to achieve gender equality by 2030 as 85 per cent of Fortune 500 CEOs are men.
Yet studies predict that if women launched and expanded their firms at the same rate as men, the global economy would benefit by $5–6 trillion.
Women who have reached the top of governments or some of the world’s biggest companies have shared important insights on how the world can fast-forward gender equality.
'Lift up one woman and she’ll lift up others, who lift up more' — Queen Rania
Queen Rania of Jordan has discussed the difficulties Arab women encounter, particularly in moments of unrest and conflict.
Women "fall off national agendas, widening the gap between hardship and hope" when there is substantial unrest she previously said in a speech she gave at a meeting hosted by the UN Women.
Through the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development, she has advocated for greater access to education and training opportunities for women in the region, recognising that education is key to unlocking opportunities and empowering women to achieve their full potential.
“Empowerment is contagious – I see it lighting up the faces of our youngest girls,” Queen Rania said.
'Humanity thrives when women thrive' — Reem Al Hashimy
Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE’s Minister of State for International Co-operation, said gender equality needs collective action as the world enters a post-pandemic period.
Ms Al Hashimy has played a crucial role in serving as a pillar and exemplar for enhancing the participation of women in leadership roles within the UAE.
Taking the stage at the 77th UN General Assembly, she became the first woman to deliver a speech for the country. She was also responsible for leading the successful bid to host the first World Expo in the Middle East, Expo 2020, and was subsequently appointed its managing director.
"The road to these achievements was not easy, but with the support of the country’s leadership, Emirati women have managed to overcome their challenges, excel in all areas of work and reach the highest positions,” she said during her leadership in the victorious effort to secure Dubai Expo 2020.
Women in the UAE now occupy more than half of the workforce in the government sector, more than half in all stages of education, and they make up more than a third of the cabinet, said Sheikha Fatima, Mother of the Nation.
“Half of the members of the Federal National Council are women,” she said.
She praised the contribution of Emirati women and the progress of the UAE, which she stated was achieved in record time.
“From inception, there was a firm conviction of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul in peace, in the role of women in society,” she said.
'Having a female prime minister does not mean that you’ve achieved equality' — Jacinda Ardern
Jacinda Ardern, the former New Zealand prime minister, who at the time of her election was New Zealand's youngest, has pushed back against the symbolism of one or two women breaking through barriers meaning the problem of gender equality is solved.
Ms Ardern recently stepped down from her role as prime minister. Her decision to take maternity leave while in office sent a powerful message about the importance of work-life balance and the need for greater support for working mothers.
During Jacinda Ardern's tenure, the government took several steps to support women.
These included initiatives to address the gender pay gap, the extension of paid parental leave to 26 weeks and after her labour party won the elections in 2020, she appointed the most diverse government and parliament in New Zealand’s history with indigenous Maori ministers making up a quarter of its 20-strong members and women taking eight posts.
Her leadership style, characterised by empathy, compassion, and inclusivity, resonated with many.
'We have millions of talented, motivated women eager to contribute' — Princess Reema bint Bandar
Princess Reema bint Bandar is a prominent female leader in the Mena region who has been a vocal advocate for women's empowerment and gender equality.
As Saudi Arabia's first female ambassador to the US, she has been a trailblazer for women in the country, working to promote greater gender equality and women's rights.
She has been a strong supporter of women's entrepreneurship and has advocated for greater access to education and training for women in the region.
As the former head of the Saudi General Sports Authority, she worked to increase women's participation in sports and improve access to sports facilities.
Among the first achievements under Reema's mandate, is the inclusion of physical education for girls in schools.
Princess Reema also founded Alf Khair, a social enterprise aimed at promoting the professional development of Saudi women, in 2013.
One of the organisation's main initiatives was 10KSA, which aimed to raise awareness about holistic health and promote a healthier community in Saudi Arabia.
The campaign lasted for a year and included a World's Largest Human Awareness Ribbon event, which was recognised by the Guinness World Records.
“As a business leader in the kingdom, when the doors to women were just starting to open, I realised that opening the doors wasn’t enough. Women had to be prepared to take advantage of those open doors, and we have to equip them with the skills,” she said.
'Excuses for excluding women are no longer acceptable and we must all hold ourselves to the same standards' — Noura Al Kaabi
Despite global advances towards gender equality, women and girls are often still excluded from decision-making, UAE Minister of State Noura Al Kaabi told the UN Security Council.
Taking the centre stage to speak at a ministerial debate on women, peace and security, she said: “The message is clear: Globally, with every one step forward for women and girls, we take two steps back.”
Ms Al Kaabi, who was named one of the 100 most powerful women in the Arab world by Arabian Business several times and Forbes Middle East’s 30 Most Influential Women in Government, has been a vocal advocate for women's rights and empowerment in the UAE and the wider region.
Under her leadership as the Minister of Culture and Youth, she recently said: “We are very proud to have received the honour of being the Best Federal Entity Supporting Gender Balance among the various UAE ministries”.
“We are steadily moving towards strengthening the partnership between men and women in the service of the nation.”
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
EU Russia
The EU imports 90 per cent of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40 per cent of EU gas and a quarter of its oil.
The Gandhi Murder
- 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
- 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
- 7 - million dollars, the film's budget
Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
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The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Zayed Sustainability Prize
