68% of insured subscribers are women

The General Pensions and Social Security Authority said that women’s empowerment is not viewed in the UAE as a separate goal, but rather as an integral part of a comprehensive development vision, which sees supporting working mothers in particular as an essential pillar for enhancing family stability and, consequently, the cohesion of the entire society. The presence of the mother in the labor market is no longer an exception, but rather the rule that reflects her vitality and effective contribution.

The Authority’s statements came in a statement issued today, on the occasion of Mother’s Day, where the pivotal role that the mother plays within the family and her impact on the stability of the entire society is emphasized. The regulations and legislation kept pace with the reality of the working mother and supported her in achieving a balance between her professional responsibilities and her family role, as the UAE provided a pioneering model in translating appreciation into action through an integrated social protection system, which makes empowering the mother a strategic investment in the future of generations.

Numbers are the best guide
This vision is translated into a tangible reality reflected in the figures of the General Authority for Pensions and Social Security, where women constitute approximately 68% of the total subscribers insured by the Authority, according to the latest statistics for the year 2025. This remarkable presence embodies the story of the dual responsibility that women bear between their professional role and their greater responsibility in building generations.

Financial security of the mother
The authority stressed that financial security represents the core of a mother’s life and the basis of reassurance and planning for the future. From this standpoint, pension laws and legislation in the UAE are designed to be a real safety net. The laws have allowed women, unlike other beneficiaries, to combine their salary or pension in their personal capacity with their share of their deceased husband’s pension, in an exceptional step that enhances their financial stability and gives them greater ability to manage their family life with confidence and independence.
Decree Law No. 57 of 2023 also redistributed the pension percentages among those entitled to it, raising the entitlement shares of the widow or widows, if multiple, to (40%) of the pension, compared to (40%) for the children (male and female), and (20%) for the father or mother, or both, which reflects a clear awareness of the woman’s responsibility to support the family after the death of the breadwinner.

Legislative flexibility
The Authority’s pension laws legislation also took into account the reality of mothers by reducing the retirement age and the required contribution period based on the number of children, which gives the mother more space to balance her family responsibilities and her professional ambitions without feeling pressure. Decree Law No. 57 of 2023 stipulates that a woman is entitled to a pension in the event that the service of a married, divorced or widowed insured woman ends based on her request when she reaches the age of (55) years, if her contribution period reaches (30) years. The subscription period is reduced by two years and the retirement age is reduced by three years for each of the fifth and sixth children. The subscription period is reduced by three and a half years and the retirement age is reduced by four years for the seventh child. This update in the laws aims to emphasize the role of working women in society as it is considered To it as an essential partner in the process of sustainable development, it enjoys support from the wise leadership to enable it, in all areas of education, work, leadership, space, entrepreneurship and others.

Independence
The Commission stressed that the ultimate goal of this legislation is to build sustainable independence for women. To achieve this, the laws gave her tools to plan her future with flexibility and confidence. Pensions Law No. 7 of 1999 allowed her to purchase up to 10 years of nominal service to enhance her retirement pension, compared to only five years for men, giving her greater flexibility in planning her career and retirement. The law also established the principle of complete equality between men and women in distributing the pension to those entitled to it, in a step that enhances justice and supports women’s status as equal partners. The safety net is complemented by the flexibility of the laws to cover various circumstances and stages of life, such as repaying a daughter or sister’s share of the pension that was stopped due to marriage or work, in the event of divorce or leaving work. The law also allowed for the creation of a new share for the daughter, sister, or mother in the event of the death of the husband, or divorce, without prejudice to the rights of the remaining beneficiaries. This is in accordance with Law No. 7 of 1999.

Family support starts with supporting the mother

In this context, Hind Al-Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Pensions Sector at the General Pensions and Social Security Authority, confirmed that “these policies have positive effects that extend not only to the family but also to society as a whole. When the mother feels safe and stable, this is directly reflected in the environment in which the children grow up, and in the cohesion of society as a whole. It is a simple equation on its surface, but it is very profound in its strategic and social impact.”
Al Suwaidi added: “On Mother’s Day, we not only celebrate the female creators of generations, but we also celebrate the wise vision of the leadership of the UAE, which built a system that supports and empowers them at all levels,” stressing that every legislation that takes into account the mother’s circumstances, and every policy that supports her, is in essence an investment in a more stable and prosperous future for the family and society.