The UAE Gender Balance Council showcased the successful Emirati experience in the economic empowerment of women, as well as the nation’s efforts to establish a care economy and promote financial inclusion during its participation in the third technical meeting of the G20 Women’s Empowerment Working Group. This event took place from July 1 to 4 in South Africa, which currently holds the G20 presidency.
The meeting served as a significant platform for meaningful dialogue among G20 member states, invited countries, civil society organizations, and technical experts to enhance collaboration on gender balance and women’s empowerment, particularly within the economic sector. Discussions focused on increasing women’s representation in leadership, governance, and decision-making, along with strategies for preventing gender-based violence.
Key topics included the care economy and family responsibilities, particularly addressing existing disparities in recognizing unpaid care work and finding ways to redistribute these responsibilities, which are vital for both family wellbeing and national economies.
National Priority
On this occasion, Mona Ganem Al Merri, Deputy Chair of the UAE Gender Balance Council, emphasized that a comprehensive approach to gender balance is a priority in the vision of the nation’s leadership. They believe that women’s empowerment across all fields, along with their safety and inclusion, are key pillars for prosperity and sustainable development. She stated:
“Driven by this visionary priority, the UAE is firmly committed to enhancing an inclusive approach to gender balance—one that protects, supports, and empowers women in all areas of life.”
Al Merri praised South Africa’s interconnected agenda for this technical meeting, which focuses on three main priorities: ending gender-based violence, promoting the care economy, and advancing women’s financial inclusion. She noted that these issues are deeply interconnected and form essential foundations for economic progress and social cohesion.
She confirmed that the UAE is dedicated to these goals and has made significant strides in achieving them, actively seeking constructive collaboration with its G20 partners to deepen this cooperation, broaden innovation, and turn shared aspirations into tangible results.
She also highlighted the importance of the outcomes from these meetings in contributing effectively to the policy agendas of the G20 countries, aligning with the fifth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Care Economy
Statement
During the meeting, Moza Mohammed Al Ghoais Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the Council, presented the UAE’s efforts in the economic empowerment of women, tackling gender-based violence, enhancing the care economy, and promoting financial inclusion through pioneering legislation and policies, as well as regional and international initiatives.
She asserted that enabling women to live and work safely allows them to fully engage in national development within any community. She discussed the laws enacted by the UAE to protect women from all forms of violence and the institutional efforts in this area, adding that the UAE also contributes to regional capacity-building through partnerships, training programs, and policy exchanges.
Al Suwaidi pointed out the significant emphasis the UAE places on the care economy as a social and economic necessity, highlighting the federal and local legislation and policies that support it, primarily led by the Ministry of Family.
She also addressed the country’s achievements in establishing financial inclusion for women, ensuring their efficient access to financial services as a crucial factor for independence, resilience, and opportunities. She referred to the national strategy for financial inclusion and awareness launched in May 2025.
Al Suwaidi expressed pride in the progress made by the UAE in these three areas, reiterating a commitment to achieving even more. She welcomed the opportunity to work alongside G20 partners, stating, “Through collaborative efforts, we can build a future characterized by gender balance, where both women and men experience safety, respect, and empowerment to realize their full potential.”
Moza Al Suwaidi:
Empowering women enhances their participation in national development within any community