As the UAE marks Emirati Women’s Day today to celebrate its women and their critical role in society, it’s important to remember the great social and economic benefits that come with women’s active participation in public life and society.
One of the things that sets the UAE apart in this region is its long tradition of education for women and their subsequent representation in the workplace. Indeed, it can be argued that our success has always hinged on the representation of women in the workplace.
Working women raise an economy. This makes intuitive sense – the more bodies there are contributing to an economy's growth, the faster that economy can grow. But exactly how much can be surprising: The Economist pointed out that, in the first decade of the 21st century, the increased employment of women in developed economies contributed more to growth across the world than even the huge growth in China.
Such employment is, indeed, a part of the history of the region. Long before the establishment of the UAE, men had to leave for months to work in the pearling and fishing industries, leaving the women to take responsibility for the family’s economic and social affairs. As well as looking after children, fetching water and gathering food, they also played a vital role in trade, keeping the country’s economy progressing in the absence of large numbers of the menfolk. The idea that women’s active participation in the world of work is new is belied by history.
But this participation also has benefits to women individually and to the society as a whole. Take higher education: the increase in women studying at university has contributed half the total economic growth in the world’s richest countries over the past 50 years. Educating women doesn’t only bring them benefits, it also raises up an entire economy.
The country’s greatest resource is also its scarcest resource: people. It makes moral sense to educate women to achieve their highest potential. But it also makes good economic sense. On Emirati Women’s Day, we reflect that the empowerment of half the country is not only something to celebrate from our past; it is the foundation of our future.