Higher Education Minister reiterates UAE leadership keen interest in women's empowerment

abu Dhabi (WAM): Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, has reiterated UAE leaders' keen interest in backing all efforts to promote an optimal and enabling environment for women's education aimed at further empowering them to prove their efficiency in the labour market and contribute to the building of the nation. The minister hailed the women's empowerment efforts of H.H Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women's Union (GWU), Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak made his remarks in a statement greeting the female graduates of UAE University, Zayed University and Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) on joining the process of development and building in UAE The higher education minister also noted that UAE now ranks first in the Middle East and 37 worldwide for treating women with respect, according to the Social Progress Index, a report launched recently by the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council. He said thanks to the leaders of the country who made women education and women leadership development and empowerment an integrated part of its strategy, Emirati women are now internationally a significant model to follow. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak also noted that H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, in his comment on the recent report, said, "We respect women and their sacrifices as we also respect their work and their role of bringing up generations of the nation. We respect her as a mother, sister, wife and daughter and appreciate her as a teacher, engineer and physician, and employee, and as a partner of her male counterparts in nation building. She is the spirit of the place and a source of all appreciation and respect." Emirati women now account for 66 percent of the government workforce and 43 percent of the country's total workforce with 30 percent in senior and decision-making positions. Emirati women also account for 60 percent of the workforce in technical jobs, medicine, nursing and pharmacy, and are also in the armed forces, customs and police. Emirati women also account for 71.6 percent of students in state higher education institutions are women and for 50.1 percent of students in private higher education institutions. – Emirates News Agency, WAM