The number of business licenses granted to Emirati women in Abu Dhabi reached 27,331 by mid-2024, marking a 23% increase from the 22,226 licenses issued during the same period in 2023.
Asma Al Fahim, Chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council (ADBWC), highlighted that Emirati women now constitute 18% of the UAE’s entrepreneurs, owning approximately 128,500 small and medium enterprises and overseeing 135,000 projects.
The UAE’s commitment to gender equality is evident in its ascent to seventh place globally and first regionally in the United Nations Development Programme’s Gender Inequality Index for 2024, a significant rise from 49th in 2015. The nation scored 82.5 out of 100 in the World Bank’s 2023 Women, Business and the Law report.
Recent governmental initiatives include mandating at least one woman on private company boards and aiming for 30% female representation in private sector leadership by 2025.
The ADBWC provides tailored consultations, access to project funding, and other services to support women’s business aspirations. Initiatives like the Best Innovative and Creative Project Award foster innovation and market expansion, while international partnerships offer leadership training to enhance global competitiveness.
Collaborative efforts, such as the SWAN programme launched by the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development, assist Emirati women in transforming home-based businesses into licensed, sustainable enterprises by providing business and leadership training alongside financial support.
Al Fahim also highlighted the inaugural Abu Dhabi Business Week as a platform to celebrate the achievements of Emirati businesswomen and explore new opportunities.
