I’ve just passed the 10-month mark of living in the UAE, and I thought it was about time to start a mini-series sharing my experiences and thoughts about life here.

And what could be better to start with than a topic close to my heart: female leadership?

As a woman who has always worked in male-dominated fields, I’m a strong advocate for gender equality. But I have to admit that I also had my own prejudices about working in the UAE as a woman. I was afraid that gender equality wouldn’t be a priority here.

But well….I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what I’ve found. The UAE is actually a very progressive country when it comes to women’s rights. There are many female leaders in government, business, and academia.

I was surprised by the number of successful businesswomen I met in the UAE and KSA (yes I am aware about my bias by then🙄). Coming from a male-dominated background, I didn’t expect to meet so many accomplished women in such a short amount of time. They were all wonderful, well-educated, intelligent, and respected in their fields.

Did you know that the UAE has one of the highest rates of female leadership in the world, while Germany has one of the lowest?

The UAE and Germany are two countries with very different cultures and histories.

When it comes to female leadership, the UAE is far ahead of Germany. According to a 2021 report by the International Monetary Fund, women hold 30% of all managerial positions in the UAE, compared to 24% in Germany. Still not enough but I would call it a start .🤷🏻♀️

Female Leadership in the UAE: A Growing Force

The UAE’s high rate of female leadership is surprising to many people, given the country’s conservative Islamic culture. However, the UAE has made a concerted effort to promote gender equality in recent years. In 2018, the government launched the UAE Gender Balance Index, which tracks the country’s progress on gender equality across a range of indicators. The index has helped to raise awareness of the issue and to encourage more businesses and organizations to adopt gender-balanced practices.

One of the most visible examples of female leadership in the UAE is in politics. The UAE has a number of women in high-level government positions.

In the business world, women are also making significant strides. There are now a number of female CEOs of major UAE companies. According to Forbes Hana Al Rostamani from the First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Raja Easa Al Gurg from the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG) and Lubna S. Olayan from the Olayan Financing Company (OFC) are the top 3 most powerful Arabian Business Women in 2023 (https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/lists/top-100-most-powerful-businesswomen-2023/).

What can Germany learn from the UAE?

• First and foremost: commitment to women’s empowerment!
• Set ambitious goals. The UAE has set a goal of having 50% of women in leadership positions by 2025. This is a bold goal, but it is one that is achievable with the right commitment and resources. And the UAE are serious in reaching their goals 🏙.
• Invest in education and entrepreneurship. The UAE has invested heavily in education and entrepreneurship for women. This has helped to create a pool of qualified and talented women who are ready to take on leadership roles.
• Create a supportive environment. The UAE has created a supportive environment for female leaders, including by providing them with access to mentorship, sponsorship, and networking opportunities.
• I personally think that there is still work to be done to achieve true gender equality in both countries.

But who would have thought 10 months ago that I would now bet on the UAE to lead the race in the fight for gender equality 🤔.

Now I am curious about your thoughts. Surprising or not? Let get the discussion rolling!

And stay tuned for my next adventures in the UAE 🇦🇪.