FUTURE PROOFING

Empowering women in business and nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs means offering community support where it's needed. Rym AI Falasy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, is championing initiatives in the U.A.E. to foster the well-being and advancement of mothers and children across different fields.

- RAWAN HASSAN

Women in MENA have made significant strides over the past few decades, propelled by a highly educated and ambitious female workforce. However, according to the International Labour Organization, the region continues to trail globally in female labor force participation, with just 18% of women aged 15 and older actively engaged in the workforce as of 2023. Countries like Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the U.A.E. exceed the regional average, with rates approaching 50%.

This progress is reflected in the Emirati women who have excelled across various sectors in the U.A.E. "I have never encountered any barriers preventing me from pursuing opportunities in any field or location," says Rym AI Falasy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC). "On the contrary, the U.A.E.'s culture is deeply supportive of women, and this is something I truly value." AI Falasy rejects the term "challenges" and denies the existence of a glass ceiling, stating, "Success depends entirely on will and determination."

A 2024 PwC report, Navigating the Path Back: Women Returners in MENA, revealed that nearly half of working women in the region have taken a career break during their professional journeys. Among the 44% who paused their careers, family care, raising children, and recovery from childbirth were cited as the top reasons. Unlocking the potential of these professionals is more than an issue of inclusion-it's an economic opportunity. According to the report, successfully reintegrating women into the workforce across nine MENA countries, including the U.A.E., could inject $385 billion into GDP, underscoring the critical need for actionable strategies to support their return.