(CNN) And the winner is... men.

That might sound unlikely at an awards ceremony to promote gender equality, but it's exactly what happened in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the vice-president of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, presented prizes to award winners at the Gender Balance Index 2018 in three categories, all of which were collected by men.

Award for Best Federal Entity Supporting Gender Balance went to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and was received by director general Abdulla Nasser Lootah.

Awards for Best Personality for Supporting Gender Balance, Best Federal Entity for Supporting Gender Balance, and the Best Initiative for Supporting Gender Balance were part of an event designed to celebrate initiatives and programs that promote equal opportunities for men and women, according to a government statement.

The best personality award was won by Lieutenant General His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, for his work to introduce maternity leave for female soldiers in the UAE armed forces.

Read More