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Mandatory presence of women on Boards of directors

Under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ‘Women on Boards’ initiative was launched by DWE in 2012, making the UAE the first country in the Middle East, and the second in the world, to launch an initiative as such.

Objectives

  • To increase the representation of women on boards of directors in local entities across the public and private sectors.
  • To increase women’s representation on boards of directors to 20% by 2020.

Scope

  • The initiative led to the UAE Cabinet’s decision to make female representation on the boards of directors of all corporations and government entities mandatory.
  • In 2012, DWE signed an agreement with Dubai Financial Market (DFM) To enhance strategic cooperation and support women in the financial and professional fields by enhancing their participation and representation on boards of directors.
  • Emirati women’s representation on the boards of Dubai Financial Market’s listed public shareholding companies increased to 4% by 2017, in comparison with 2.49% in 2016; 4.19% in 2018, and 4.40% in 2019.
  • Emirati women’s representation on the boards of Dubai governmental authorities reached 16.1% in 2016, and reached 17% on the boards of federal entities in June of 2018.

SOME
STATS

20%

The initiative aims to increase women’s representation to 20% by 2020.

17%

Emirati women’s representation on the boards of Dubai governmental authorities reached 16.1% in 2016, and reached 17% on the boards of federal entities in June of 2018.

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