Emirati Women’s Day, UAE
August 28
Number of female heads of state to date: 0
Women’s Right to Vote in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Dec 16, (2006)
The first elections ever to be held in the United Arab Emirates took place on 16 December, 18 December and 20 December 2006. Half of the Federal National Council, which has forty members, were elected.
Emirati Women’s Day was first launched by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, known as the Mother of the Nation, in 2015. The choice of August 28 as the date coincides with the founding of the UAE’s General Women’s Union which launched in 1975, on August 28.
> Everything you need to know about Emirati Women’s Day 2021
Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Washington, DC
Women in the UAE
The UAE is ranked as a leading country in gender equality in the region, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Gap report. This achievement comes from the fundamental belief that women and men are equal partners in society. Through a series of public and private sector initiatives, women are playing an increasingly stronger role in business, military and government.
Gender equality is of paramount importance in the UAE, and the Constitution of the UAE guarantees equal rights for both men and women. Under the Constitution, women enjoy the same legal status, claim to titles, access to education, the right to practice professions, and the right to inherit property as men. Women are also guaranteed the same access to employment, health and family welfare facilities. As a leader of equality in economics, government, education and health, the UAE has been named one of the region’s pioneers.
› uae-embassy.org/about-uae/women-uae
The Federal National Council
The Federal National Council (FNC) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the UAE’s five federal authorities, as established by the Constitution. Its first session was opened on 2 December 1972. The FNC’s official mandate is to provide for public debate of legislation. Furthermore, the FNC discusses proposals and plans of various federal ministries, entities and public institutions.
› almajles.gov.ae
The UAE’s giant strides towards universal suffrage | Gulf News
May 2, 2015
by Samir Salama
Abu Dhabi: The UAE has, over the past decade, laid the foundation for universal suffrage — that is, the right of every citizen aged 18 to vote.
The upcoming 2015 parliamentary elections on October 3, the third in the nation’s history — will see, for the first time, a single-vote system, a judge to lead the panel that will hear appeals, overseas ballots, and a wider awareness campaign to improve turnout — it will witness, for the first time, greater political participation, and achievable universal suffrage.
› gulfnews.com/the-uae-s-giant-strides-towards-universal-suffrage
Sole woman elected in UAE maiden polls | Middle East Online
Dec 21, 2006
One woman was elected in the limited three-phase polls for 20 seats in an advisory body in the first ever national ballot in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the final official results showed Wednesday.
In a step toward wider participation, the handpicked electoral colleges, comprising less than one percent of the population, elected Amal Abdullah al-Kubaissi, a female architect, to the Federal National Council (FNC).