UAE among top 5 nations where women's representation is highest, says UN
The UAE has been ranked among the top 5 countries globally where women's representation is the highest in a lower or single house, higher than developed countries, according to the United Nations (UN).
In the Federal National Council (FNC), women account for 50 per cent of seats, ranking the country 5th along with Andorra.
Out of 40 Federal National Council (FNC) seats, 20 have been reserved for women.
According to Women in Politics: 2025 by the UN, women's representation in the UAE is higher than Western and other GCC countries such as New Zealand (45.5 per cent), Sweden (45 per cent), UK (40.5 per cent), France (36.2 per cent), Germany (35.7 per cent), the US (28.7 per cent), Saudi Arabia (19.9 per cent), Turkiye (19.9 per cent), Japan (15.7 per cent) and India (13.8 per cent) among others.
The study was released on the occasion of International Women's Day, which is marked on the 8th of March.
'Women are the essence of life, its story, and its soul. They are the nurturers of generations and the makers of heroes,' said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on the occasion of International Women's Day.
The women's role in FNC has increased over the years. In the first FNC elections in 2006, women occupied 22.2 per cent of the total seats.
In 2018, the then-president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a directive whereby Emirati women must occupy 50 per cent of the FNC seats, 20 each for men and women.
Meanwhile, women account for 20 per cent of ministerial positions in the Cabinet, positioning the country at 100th along with Greece and Timor-Leste, according to the UN.
Globally, Rwanda (63.8 per cent), Cuba (55.7 per cent) Nicaragua (55 per cent) and Mexico (50.2 per cent) have the highest representation of women in unicameral parliaments or lower house of parliament up to January 1, 2025.
The women have the lowest representation, zero per cent, in Oman, Yemen and Tuvalu.
According to the UN, average women representation globally was 27.2 per cent in single or lower house and 27.4 per cent in upper house or senate.
Regionally, the Americas have the highest representation of women at 35.4 per cent in both the houses, followed by Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Pacific and Middle East and North Africa.
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