Today's Edition
Batool Ghaith (ALETIHAD)
Emirati women are moving beyond participation in government to shape the policies, technology and institutions that will define how Abu Dhabi works in the coming decades.
The UAE marks Emirati women’s month this year from August 28 to September 28, under the theme "Together, We Rise Stronger and Better", announced by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation.
Her Highness said that: “This year’s theme reflects the UAE’s spirit of continuous progress, looking to the future with ambition and responsibility”.
While Abu Dhabi is moving towards becoming the world’s first AI-native government by 2027, Emirati women are playing critical roles across the transformation, from developing the next generation of government talent to shaping long-term strategy, data governance and the way AI is used to serve communities.
Ruba Yousef Al Hassan, Director General of Strategic Affairs and Future Foresight at the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE), said that this year’s occasion is an opportunity not only to recognise how far Emirati women have come, but also to consider what they will build in the future.
“Emirati women are not simply emerging into new roles, we are shaping the decisions, systems and institutions that will define the UAE’s future,” she told Aletihad.
Rather than measuring progress only through titles or milestones, Al Hassan said the strength of Emirati women can be seen in the decisions they make every day, solving problems, improving people’s lives and building institutions intended to serve future generations.
Over the past decade, career development has continued to evolve through clearer and more dynamic pathways for talent to grow and contribute, according to Mariam Mohamed Al Musharrekh, Director General of GovTalent at DGE.
“One of the most encouraging changes I have witnessed in recent years is the confidence young Emirati women display as they step into leadership opportunities, especially across government, where our work plays such a pivotal role in the lives of the communities we serve,” Al Musharrekh told Aletihad.
According to Al Musharrekh, the updated Abu Dhabi Government HR Law, which came into effect on January 1 this year, builds further on a system that recognises capability, contribution and continuous development, as eligible employees can access accelerated promotion pathways and tailored learning journeys.
Al Hassan said that as DGE enables every other part of Abu Dhabi Government to work more effectively, women are central to that role, as they are increasingly involved in consequential decisions, such as determining which technologies to adopt and why, shaping responsible data governance and anticipating challenges before they emerge.
“What has changed is not simply the number of women participating in government, but the level of influence they have in shaping what the government becomes,” she added.
For Al Hassan, the challenge is not simply to deploy more sophisticated technology, but to ensure that the transformation remains centred on people and to make the government feel more human.
“The child, the teacher, the entrepreneur and the family must remain at the centre of what we build,” she added.
As technology transforms public service, Al Musharrekh said some of the defining strengths of Emirati women will become even more valuable, pointing to their ability to balance innovation with empathy, resilience and commitment to helping others.
For a government increasingly looking ahead, Al Hassan emphasised that the diversity of perspectives is integral to making better long-term decisions.
“That becomes particularly important when designing government services around significant moments in people’s lives, such as starting a new job, moving through education, launching a business, accessing healthcare or supporting a household through change,” she explained.
She added that some of DGE’s strongest work comes when different perspectives are brought together, emphasising that women’s leadership forms an important part of that diversity.
“It is not about adding a different voice simply for the sake of representation. If we want to prepare for a future that is more complex, more connected and less predictable, we need to make sure we are not looking at that future through only one lens,” Al Hassan said.
For young Emirati women entering the workforce, Al Musharrekh said that the most valuable skill will be the ability to continue learning, specifically technical literacy, critical thinking, adaptability, ethical judgement, communication and leadership.
Al Musharrekh said that some of the most rewarding moments in her career have come from seeing talented Emirati women develop into the leaders who now mentor and develop the generation following them.
For Al Hassan, Emirati Women’s Day and the month-long-celebration is also a moment to honour the women who helped build the country.
This year’s theme will ultimately be defined by the next generation. “The women who came before us did not simply open doors, they built the institutions, communities and foundations that allow us to walk through those doors today. That is the foundation we have inherited, and it carries a responsibility with it,” Al Hassan said.
