H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, and wife of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, said that the UAE Gender Balance Council is keen to strengthen cooperation with regional and global organisations in the field of women’s economic empowerment.

Apart from facilitating the exchange of best practices, this cooperation will help the UAE showcase its successes and share its experiences in advancing women’s empowerment.

She made these remarks following the conclusion of the meeting of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel (HLP) on Women’s Economic Empowerment, which took place from 6 to 7 February in Dubai.

Sheikha Manal said that she is proud of the UAE Gender Balance Council’s collaboration with HLP, whose members include senior officials and experts from all over the world. She further said that the objectives of the Council are closely aligned with objectives of HPL and the UAE’s strategy for women’s economic empowerment.

She thanked HLP members for holding their first meeting in the Middle East and North Africa region in Dubai. "We are very happy to host this important global dialogue in Dubai. We are keen to support all constructive dialogue that aims to support women in achieving their goals. We are constantly working on contributing to the global efforts in this domain, which is in line with the UAE’s efforts to support initiatives that help people enjoy a better future," she said.

"These meetings offer us an opportunity to share the UAE’s successful experience in women’s empowerment. The UAE’s support for women’s development has gone beyond the phase of empowerment, thanks to the continuous support and encouragement of the UAE’s leadership, and we now are continuously working to provide women with opportunities to help them effectively and positively contribute to society as equal partners," Sheikha Manal said.

She also said that the Council’s strategy for the next phase will focus on boosting collaboration with regional and global organisations focused on women’s economic empowerment, or organisations serving women, with the aim of enhancing women’s ability to play effective roles across sectors, and developing their creativity and innovation. Sheikha Manal added that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development will be the first organisation that the Council will establish cooperation with, details of which will be announced later.

The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel (HLP) on Women’s Economic Empowerment concluded its meetings in Dubai with a call to combine global efforts to enhance economic gender equality and unlock the power of women to achieve financial independence. Influential leaders from business, academia, and civil society as well as key government representatives from across the world attended the two-day meeting.

Key issues addressed by the Panel include eliminating legal barriers to female economic empowerment; addressing the care economy; reducing gender pay gaps; expanding opportunities for women who work informally; promoting financial and digital inclusion for women; and fostering female entrepreneurship and enhancing the productivity of women-owned enterprises.