New move to advance gender equity in UAE private sector

Dubai Holding has partnered with the UAE Gender Balance Council to commission a research study aimed at advancing gender equity in the country's private sector.

The study will fill an important gap in market data related to priorities and challenges faced by women working in private entities.

It will explore issues in a range of work-related areas including promotion and retention of women leaders, organisational culture and work-life balance, among others.

The final report will outline key findings, provide in-depth analysis of the results and offer recommendations for improvement.

The research paper is expected to be published before the end of 2023.

The announcement was made by Dubai Holding during a Group-wide employee event held to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.

"By informing our fellow sector companies and the wider business community about the challenges faced by women in the workplace and recommending best practices to adopt, we can further equip ourselves with the knowledge required to build an equitable work environment that offers equal opportunities to all, nurtures diverse talent and facilitates professional growth, which in turn will lead to stronger organisational performance and economic prosperity," said Huda Buhumaid, Chief Impact Officer at Dubai Holding.

As one of the first organisations in the UAE’s private sector to sign the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 Pledge to Accelerate Gender Balance that seeks to raise the proportion of women in leadership positions to 30 per cent by 2025, Dubai Holding has taken various measures to advance inclusivity, diversity and gender equity within the Group.