As women leaders and entrepreneurs continue to emerge in the Middle East, UAE has launched the UAE Gender Balance Center for Excellence in Dubai in partnership with the UAE Gender Balance Council and the World Bank to promote gender balance in the region.

The breakthrough initiative seeks to explore a new gender balance strategy that would prioritize the future and transform challenges into opportunities.

The three key objectives of the center include sharing the UAE’s gender balance knowledge, finding and building solutions for gender balance by exchanging ideas and initiatives across the region, and streamlining the woman’s economy.

Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, the wife of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, said the new regional center is an example of the commitment and achievements made by the UAE. It is aligned with the UAE government’s priorities under the 2026 UAE Gender Balance Strategy, particularly through its commitment to gender mainstreaming in the region through local and international partnerships.

The Emirati experience in promoting women and gender equality has gained international recognition and is now a model for the region to adopt, officials said at the launch event.