According to the annual World Bank report, which covers 190 countries, the UAE scored 82.5 out of 100 possible points across 35 sub indicators divided into eight major areas of the report: Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension.
It is worth noting that the UAE is a regional and global leader in enacting legislation and regulations that support women’s rights and workplace roles.
The UAE’s commitment to this cause dates back to 2012, when the UAE Cabinet passed legislation requiring the presence of women on the boards of government entities, making the UAE the first country in the region and the second in the world to do so.
United Arab Emirates Women, Business and the Law 2023 (WBL2023) presents an index covering
190 economies and structured around the life cycle of a working woman. In total, 35 questions are scored across eight indicators. Overall scores are then calculated by taking the average of each indicator, with 100 representing the highest possible score.
Data refers to the laws and regulations that are applicable to the main business city (Dubai). Different rules may apply in other jurisdictions so local legislation should be reviewed. Based on this approach, the United Arab Emirates scores 82.5 out of 100.
The overall score for the United Arab Emirates is higher than the regional average observed across the Middle East and North Africa (53.2). Within the Middle East and North Africa region, the maximum score observed is 91.3 (Malta).