• Gulf boardrooms lag in gender diversity

    While more companies are paying closer attention to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues in the region, only 8% of seats in Saudi Arabia and 17% in UAE went to women last year.
    The Middle East has made significant progress in advancing gender diversity in the workplace through measures such as generous parental leave policies and flexible working arrangements.

    While the progress is commendable, experts believe that there are still hurdles to overcome to ensure greater representation of women in executive and board positions.

    Structural issues pose a significant challenge, as board turnover tends to be low, making it difficult for companies to bring in more women without increasing board seats or replacing current members.

    Additionally, experts stress the need to prioritize board training and enforce specific criteria to ensure that boards are more inclusive and diverse.

  • Despite hurdles, women entrepreneurs thrive in MENA tech sector

    Despite the industry being currently dominated by men, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of women entrepreneurs in the MENA region.
    As the governments and private organizations in the region are taking measures to encourage and support women entrepreneurs in the tech industry, their prospects across the setor are improving, and there is a growing sense of optimism that more women will continue to break through the glass ceiling in this field.

  • Fewer GCC women achieve leadership roles

    In 2022, the global gender gap has been closed by 68.1 percent, but at the current rate of progress, it will take 132 years to reach full parity, according to Global Gender Gap Report.
    Young women in the MENA region are more likely to be in the workforce, while the GCC countries — particularly the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar — have seen advances in labor force participation, according to a PwC report published in December last year. However, they are yet to gain enough space in the leadership segment.

  • Challenges continue to haunt businesswomen

    Women entrepreneurs in the MENA region face challenges such as skepticism from workers and preconceptions from buyers and suppliers raising prices.
    Women entrepreneurs in the region are overcoming challenges and changing perceptions with support from communities and government initiatives, Nohir Saleh, CEO of Fashion Incubator Middle East, tells TRENDS.

  • Tough laws, quotas may plug GCC gender gap

    The GCC nations hold an advantage by prioritizing the employment of women in conjunction with economic diversification efforts.
    Despite being the most educated demographic, women in the region have the lowest employment rates. it is crucial to incorporate women into non-traditional sectors to facilitate the GCC's shift towards a post-oil economy.

  • Unequal pay checks plague GCC workplaces

    Norma Taki -- PwC Middle East Diversity and Inclusion Leader -- gives tips on how to make meaningful and sustainable progress toward gender equality.
    Businesses in the region need to embed diversity strategies by setting diversity KPIs to ensure fair assessments for women and reinforcing supportive workplace culture whill also help acheive the goal, she advises.

  • Unique platforms raise Arab women's voices

    Platforms such as Womena help in empowering women in the Arab region by advancing their rights issues and taking initiatives for gender equality.
    Empowering women through platforms that allow them to tell their stories and express their opinions is crucial in achieving gender equality and creating a more inclusive society, says Women founder Elissa Freiha.

  • Women need more agency to achieve equality

    Emirati women succeeded in proving themselves in society as mothers and in the financial world as hard workers and leaders, says an expert.
    Women's achievements at all levels during the past 50 years are widely regarded as an essential foundation for shaping the future of the UAE and must be preserved, says Alia Al Serkal, Head of People Learning & Growth at du.

  • Women leadership key to sustainable future

    Women in leadership roles can motivate next generation to work towards a sustainable future, says Maryam Al-Mansoori of Rebound Plastic Exchange.
    Women in the region need to be patient, attentive, and teachable to succeed at building a business. The skills women learn here will set them apart from the competition more than any degree or job could, she adds.