UAE Showcases Women Empowerment at BRICS 2025
The United Arab Emirates reaffirmed its dedication to advancing gender balance and empowering women on a global scale during its participation in the BRICS Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting, hosted in Brazil. Represented by the UAE Gender Balance Council, the delegation addressed pivotal topics including women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, digital safety, and climate action. Through this engagement, the UAE showcased its pioneering initiatives and progressive national agenda aimed at fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.
Sheikha Manal Praises Brazil’s Leadership and Reaffirms UAE’s Commitment
On this significant occasion, Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, praised Brazil’s leadership of the BRICS group. She reaffirmed the UAE’s steadfast commitment to international collaboration that uplifts women and ensures inclusive, sustainable growth.
Her Highness emphasized that economic empowerment is not merely a fundamental right for women but a national priority and a catalyst for sustainable growth and innovation. She reiterated that gender balance remains central to the UAE’s national agenda and that advancing women’s economic empowerment is a strategic priority driving innovation and resilience. The UAE continues to lead the region through progressive legislation supporting equal pay, parental leave, and women’s full economic participation.
Highlighting the Role of Women in Climate Action and Innovation
Sheikha Manal underlined the UAE’s dedication to involving women in climate action and green innovation, recognizing their growing leadership roles in sustainability, solar energy, and agriculture. She commended the BRICS Ministerial Meeting’s focus on timely and critical themes, emphasizing that these align with a shared determination among member states to place gender equality at the heart of sustainable development and global progress. She further noted that BRICS serves as a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for women to lead climate action efforts around the world.
UAE’s Distinguished Achievements in Women’s Empowerment
Her Highness Sheikha Manal expressed pride in the UAE’s remarkable milestones in promoting women’s economic empowerment—achievements made possible through the visionary support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the encouragement of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. She reaffirmed that the UAE considers women’s empowerment a fundamental right and a national imperative that drives progress across all sectors.
Her Highness also underscored the UAE’s commitment to building a digital future that is empowering, equitable, and free from gender-based violence. This commitment is reinforced by a strong legal and legislative framework. In November, the UAE Gender Balance Council took a pioneering step towards safer digital environments by launching the “Guidelines for Preventive Policies Against Gender-Based Violence Through Digital Applications,” demonstrating the country’s proactive stance in this crucial area.
Active Participation of the UAE Delegation at BRICS Meeting
The UAE delegation actively participated in the BRICS Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting, led by Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council. The meeting commenced with a keynote address from Brazil’s First Lady, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and included the presence of distinguished leaders such as Her Excellency Esther Duque, Minister of Administration and Innovation in Public Services; Her Excellency Anielle Franco, Minister of Racial Equality; and Her Excellency Aparecida Gonçalves, Minister of Women of Brazil.
The meeting agenda promoted progress through three pivotal discussions: advancing international coordination, empowering women through economic independence and entrepreneurship, promoting digital governance to combat online violence, and amplifying women’s voices in climate action and sustainable development.
UAE’s Leadership in Women’s Entrepreneurship
During the “Women, Development, and Entrepreneurship” session, Her Excellency Mona Al Marri highlighted the UAE’s long-standing support for women entrepreneurs. She emphasized that Emirati women have made a lasting impact on the national economy, noting that today they represent 18% of all entrepreneurs, with more than 77% being under the age of 40. These achievements, she said, are the result of decades of progressive policies and leadership support.
Her Excellency further highlighted that the number of female entrepreneurs in the UAE had risen to 25,000 by 2021, a testament to their growing influence and determination in shaping the nation’s future. She pointed to initiatives like the SWAN programme launched by the Khalifa Fund, which trains Emirati women entrepreneurs, and the SDG 5 Pledge, which promotes leadership opportunities and business growth for women across various sectors. She also urged BRICS nations to expand mentorship networks and create cross-border platforms to further support women entrepreneurs.
Fostering Safer Digital Environments for Women
Addressing the session on “Digital Governance and Misogyny,” Mona Al Marri stressed the necessity of creating inclusive and ethical digital environments. She noted that women in the UAE thrive in STEM fields, making up 56% of STEM graduates and 80% of the Mars Mission science team.
She praised the UAE’s robust legal framework against online abuse, including laws combating cyber harassment, hate speech, and misinformation. However, she stressed that continued international collaboration is essential for building safer, more inclusive digital spaces worldwide. She highlighted the UAE’s proactive partnerships with major technology platforms to elevate global standards and empower women in the digital economy.
Elevating Women’s Role in Climate Leadership
In the session focusing on climate action, Her Excellency Mona Al Marri emphasized women’s growing leadership roles in climate initiatives within the UAE. At COP28, women represented two-thirds of the UAE delegation’s leadership team. Additionally, women now comprise 30% of the UAE’s energy sector workforce.
Her Excellency spotlighted international initiatives such as the Climate Change and Gender Equality Initiative in collaboration with UN Women, designed to advance women’s participation in climate solutions. She encouraged BRICS nations to invest in green skills, support women-led climate innovations, and share effective strategies to accelerate progress.
Global Recognition of UAE’s Gender Balance Model
Her Excellency Aparecida Gonçalves, Brazil’s Minister of Women, praised the UAE’s exemplary achievements in promoting gender balance, describing the UAE as a pioneering model that offers valuable lessons for the international community. She expressed a strong desire to deepen collaboration with the UAE Gender Balance Council to advance shared global goals for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation During the BRICS Meeting
On the sidelines of the BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Women’s Affairs, Her Excellency Mona Al Marri held bilateral talks with Her Excellency Aparecida Gonçalves, focusing on avenues for cooperation and the exchange of expertise in gender balance.
Her Excellency Mona Al Marri expressed her gratitude to Brazil for the warm hospitality and for hosting a comprehensive and impactful meeting. She commended the depth and breadth of the agenda, which she said reflected Brazil’s strong commitment to advancing collaboration among BRICS nations in promoting gender equality.
For her part, Her Excellency Aparecida Gonçalves reiterated admiration for the UAE’s pioneering role in gender balance, expressing a keen interest in strengthening cooperation with the UAE Gender Balance Council to accelerate international progress in this field.
UAE’s Diplomatic and Institutional Support During the Visit
During the visit, His Excellency Saleh Ahmed Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to Brazil, welcomed Her Excellency Mona Al Marri, along with Her Excellency Mouza Mohammed Al Ghuwais Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council, and Maitha Al Hashimi, Director of Strategic Studies and Legislation.
Ambassador Al Suwaidi praised the UAE Gender Balance Council’s active participation in this prominent international platform and highlighted its role in reinforcing the UAE’s global standing in competitiveness indicators.
Her Excellency Mona Al Marri also commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its pivotal efforts in showcasing the UAE’s achievements in gender balance at global forums and expressed her gratitude to the UAE Embassy in Brazil for supporting the Council’s participation.
Her Excellency Mouza Mohammed Al Suwaidi emphasised the importance of the BRICS Ministerial Meeting as a vital platform for the exchange of ideas on key issues such as entrepreneurship, digital governance, and climate action. She highlighted the unique opportunity BRICS nations have to lead by example, fostering cross-border opportunities and building integrated systems that empower women entrepreneurs. She stressed that genuine progress requires enabling women not only to participate in the economy but also to shape and sustain its future transformation.
