The representation of businesswomen in the UAE has seen a notable rise, supported by a blend of governmental encouragement and societal backing, as indicated by the latest report from the Emirates Businesswomen Council.
The report reveals that women’s workforce participation in the UAE grew to 34.6% in 2024, up from 32.5% the previous year. This growth reflects the country’s continuous efforts to empower women in various sectors. Notably, the report points out that women now make up 18% of the entrepreneurs in the UAE, with a remarkable 77.6% of women-led enterprises managed by women under forty.
The findings also show that nearly half, 48.8%, of these women are in executive director roles, while 61.4% own their businesses entirely, underscoring a trend of increasing female entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the first six months of 2024 saw Emirati businesswomen establishing over 2,000 new businesses, which is about 22% of all new business registrations in the UAE.
Beyond these numbers, UAE businesswomen are at the forefront of innovation, particularly in sectors like renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Among the standout initiatives are solar energy projects that make use of both residential and commercial rooftops, a startup developing remote healthcare services via virtual reality technology with a significant investment of $54 million, and an eCommerce platform that connects local artisans with the global marketplace, which achieved over $41 million in revenue in its first year.
These advancements highlight the dynamic role of women in the UAE’s economic landscape, driving forward innovation and entrepreneurship in key sectors.
