Introduction
Nowadays, women’s empowerment is one of the frequently used terms, which has become the dominant topic of debates and discussions. The following questions have arisen: What does women’s empowerment truly entail?
Indeed, empowerment, whether applied to women or men, means the process of getting knowledge, capabilities, and skills enabling an individual to pursue their rights and achieve goals, not being constrained by various barriers (U.AE, 2021). Empowerment also entails creating a framework providing people with a chance to protect their rights and accomplish their goals without being pressed by various external factors (U.AE, 2021).
The UAE government places a high premium on youth empowerment and gives it a top priority. The government makes no concessions in ensuring their advancement and commitment to ensuring the nation’s and future generation’s sustainability. As part of its commitment, the government has taken several steps to encourage youth participation. It has undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at promoting national identity and a sense of belonging. In March 2015, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development and the General Authority of Sports launched the Youth Empowerment Strategy (YES) to empower the government and young Emiratis to collaborate on achieving Vision 2021.
Education
Emiratis receive a free education in public schools, colleges, and universities (Al Harbi, 2021). The UAE government wants to eliminate gender issues in this field and guarantee that all minorities or vulnerable groups, such as women and people with disabilities, can enroll in all educational establishments regardless of their level (Al Rayssi, 2021). Following Article 17 of the UAE Constitution and Article 1 of Federal Law No. 11 of 1972 on Compulsory Education, education becomes free for all UAE citizens (Al Harbi, 2021). In July 2012, the UAE government introduced a new regulation to establish school-leaving age, following many other examples globally (U.AE, 2021). This law states that Emirati children should start attending school at the age of six and continue learning till they are 18 (Al Harbi, 2021).
Socio-Economic Empowerment
Women’s empowerment in the UAE began on 8 February 1973 with the inaugural meeting of the UAE’s first women’s organization, ‘The Renaissance of Abu Dhabi Women Association’ (Al Harbi, 2021). Similar associations were formed in other emirates. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak recognized the necessity of coping with her late husband, Sheikh Zayed, the UAE’s Founding Father, and created the General Women’s Union in 1975, leading to better management of all women associations in the UAE (Al Rayssi, 2021). This event started a new phase in the UAE’s development as the country accepted many incentives to empower women economically (Al Harbi, 2021). Today, females are allowed to serve as top managers or on the boards of directors, which is a great achievement of the movement.
Culture
Nowadays, women in the UAE have multiple opportunities for career building. Statistics show that 66% of jobs in the country’s public sector, including nearly 30% of decision-making positions, are occupied by females (Al Harbi, 2021). This group is ready to insist on observation of their rights and struggling with their male counterparts. The 2018 Global Gender Gap Report shows that the UAE is the leader in the Arab world for wage equality (Al Rayssi, 2021).
Women of the country show the highest gender equality levels compared to other nations in the region (Al Rayssi, 2021). Around 23,000 businesswomen work in the private sector, especially in the investment market (Al Harbi, 2021). The success of empowerment is also evidenced by the fact that women hold 15% of positions on the boards of directors nationwide (Al Harbi, 2021).
Youth Hubs are cutting-edge spaces created by and for youth. They are new ventures created to improve cooperation between young people throughout the UAE and create an ecosystem vital for this category (International Institute for Non – Aligned Studies, 2020). Youth Hub’s mission is to offer world-class resources helping youth to discover their life purpose, pursue their potential, and thrive. Both facilities and courses in a variety of skills are available to help them reach their full potential. Youth Hubs are located in various regions of the UAE and are open to anyone aged 15 to 35, regardless of their occupation (U.AE, 2020).
Conclusion
In conclusion, multiple achievements are linked to empowerment should be emphasized. The Arab Youth Survey 2020 states that the UAE is the Arab youth’s first choice for a living (U.AE, 2020). The UAE recognizes the critical importance of organizing young people and helping them to evolve. For this reason, the UAE invites people from other countries to ensure that their contribution helps the nation to move forward. Empowerment of women is another goal of the UAE at the moment and part of its vision as this process is vital for the whole nation. The process is not ended, and new projects help young people and women to achieve their goals and evolve.
References
Al Harbi, M. (2021). Emirati culture key to women empowerment. Gulf News. Web.
Al Rayssi, M. (2021). Women’s empowerment is part of Emirati culture. Gulf News. Web.
International Institute for Non – Aligned Studies. (2020). United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s initiative for youth empowerment. New Dehli Times. Web.
U.AE. (2020). Youth. Web.
U.AE. (2021). Women. Web.