Emirati women in private-sector jobs increase 128 per cent since 2023.
More than 123,000 Emirati women are now employed in the UAE’s private sector, marking an increase of over 128 per cent compared with 2023, according to new figures from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
The number stood at 123,388 women by the end of the first half of 2026, with more than 26,000 private-sector companies having hired Emirati women, the ministry said.
The figures highlight the rapid growth of women’s participation in the UAE’s private-sector workforce, which has been a key focus of the country’s Emiratisation efforts.
The ministry attributed the increase to policies designed to expand access to employment, promote equal opportunities and support Emirati women in pursuing a wider range of careers and advancing into senior positions.
According to the ministry, 98 per cent of Emirati women employed in the private sector hold skilled positions, including specialist and technical roles.
Women accounted for 55 per cent of Emiratis holding leadership and executive positions in the private sector, according to the ministry.
Their representation was even higher in senior professional roles, where women made up 70 per cent of Emirati employees.
The ministry also said women represented 70 per cent of young Emiratis working in the private sector, highlighting a strong female presence among the latest generation entering the workforce.
The figures come as the UAE continues to expand Emiratisation requirements and incentives aimed at increasing the number of citizens employed in the private sector.
By the end of the first half of 2026, more than 190,000 Emiratis were working in the UAE’s private sector, according to the ministry.
The ministry also reported that Emirati women accounted for 71 per cent of the national private-sector workforce. However, the published figures do not appear to align mathematically with the separate totals of 123,388 Emirati women and more than 190,000 Emirati employees.
