Dubai- Asharq Al-Awsat

The cabinet of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) approved on Tuesday a new batch of national legislative policies and initiatives to empower Emirati women and enhance their role in the nation, official WAM news agency reported.

Approved in a special session chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president, prime minister and Dubai ruler, the policies will seek to include more female participation in the UAE's judicial system as well as other leadership positions in business, according to the report.

"Today, we have adopted a well-rounded package of new policies and legislation favoring Emirati women's empowerment and leadership," said the Emirati vice president in the session held at the General Women's Union headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

“Women constitute over half of society; they build the foundations of our renaissance whether in education, medicine or engineering. We must, therefore, enhance their dynamic role in both the UAE and global communities, across multiple sectors.”

He also stressed the necessity for enhancing women's dynamic role in both the UAE and global communities across multiple sectors.

The new empowerment package is based on three principal axes: Legislation and Policy, Services, and International Representation, all of which include resources to support the advancement of Emirati women as active partners in local, regional and global arenas.

As for international representation, the new policies will ensure the increased participation of female diplomatic missions and representatives of international organizations, including UN peace-keeping missions.

The UAE cabinet has also agreed to set up a media hub that monitors and reports the success of UAE women, led by the UAE Gender Balance Council, in cooperation with relative national institutions.