The Emirates Council for Gender Balance participates in the meetings of the BRICS group for women’s affairs in India

The United Arab Emirates, represented by the Emirates Council for Gender Balance, participated in the BRICS Women’s Track meetings, which were held during the period from 6 to 9 July 2026 in the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala in the Republic of India, within the framework of the Republic of India’s presidency of the group for the year 2026, which reflects the UAE’s commitment to contribute to developing practical outcomes that enhance international cooperation and support policies and initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable development led by women.

The meetings witnessed the participation of ministers and officials concerned with women’s affairs in member states, where they discussed the draft joint ministerial statement, along with four main axes that included leadership and governance, financial and digital inclusion, entrepreneurship and skills development, climate action, food security and nutrition, within the framework of the priorities of the Indian presidency that it adopted to enhance the role of women in sustainable development, economy and innovation, capacity building, enhancing international cooperation and exchanging best practices.

On this occasion, the wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the State, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chief of the Presidential Cabinet, Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Emirates Gender Balance Council, confirmed that the UAE views gender balance as an essential pillar for achieving sustainable development and enhancing the competitiveness of countries, noting that investing in women is an investment in the future of societies, and in building more innovative economies and more flexible institutions and the ability to face challenges.

Her Highness also praised the efforts made by the Republic of India during its presidency of the women’s track in the BRICS group, which contributed to consolidating constructive dialogue, enhancing coordination among member states, and developing practical outcomes that respond to common development priorities.

Her Highness said: “The UAE believes that international partnerships, constructive dialogue and the exchange of experiences represent essential elements for accelerating progress and transforming commitments into practical and sustainable results. From this standpoint, the UAE continues to work with its partners in the BRICS group and around the world to translate joint outcomes into practical policies, partnerships and initiatives that expand opportunities for women and enhance their role in sustainable development.”

During the ministerial meeting, the UAE stressed that gender balance represents a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development and enhancing the ability of societies and economies to face challenges, noting that building strong institutions and supportive environments constitutes the basis for ensuring the full and effective participation of women in economic and social life and decision-making.

The country reviewed its national experience in establishing gender balance through an integrated system of national policies, legislation, and strategies, most notably “We are the Emirates 2031,” the national policy to empower Emirati women 2031, and the Emirates Council’s strategy for gender balance. It also highlighted the country’s achievements in the fields of leadership, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and climate action, which strengthened its position regionally and internationally, and was reflected in its leadership. Arab countries in the 2025 gender gap report, and ranked first regionally in the gender equality index issued by the United Nations Development Programme.

The country also reviewed its pioneering national initiatives, most notably the “Pledge to Accelerate the Fifth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 5 Pledge),” to which 88 private sector companies joined and committed to raising the percentage of women’s representation in middle and senior management positions to 30% by 2028, in addition to family-supporting initiatives, capacity-building programs in the fields of technology and artificial intelligence, and enhancing women’s participation in climate action.

Vice President of the Emirates Council for Gender Balance, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, said: “The women’s path in the BRICS group constitutes a strategic platform for enhancing international dialogue, building partnerships and exchanging experiences, in a way that supports the development of more comprehensive and sustainable policies, and enhances the role of women as a major partner in achieving economic growth and sustainable development. The UAE believes that international cooperation constitutes an essential foundation for accelerating progress and transforming common ambitions into initiatives that achieve a tangible impact.”

The UAE participated in discussing the draft joint ministerial statement, along with the BRICS guidelines for building women’s digital capabilities, and the joint digital library of leading practices, which aim to support the exchange of experiences, enhance capacity building, and develop practical solutions that respond to the priorities of member states.

The Secretary-General of the Emirates Council for Gender Balance, Moza Mohammed Al Ghuwais Al Suwaidi, confirmed that the UAE’s participation in the work of the BRICS group reflects its approach to transforming international dialogue into practical initiatives and partnerships that contribute to developing policies that support gender balance and the empowerment of women.

She added: “We look forward to building on the outcomes of this meeting by expanding partnerships, exchanging experiences, and working with our partners to transform shared visions into initiatives and policies that achieve a sustainable impact, enhancing women’s participation in various sectors and supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals.”

On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, the UAE delegation held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Women and Child Development of the Republic of India, Annapurna Devi, the Minister of Women of the Federal Republic of Brazil, Marcia Lopez, and the First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, Olga Batalina. The meetings discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the areas of women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, the digital economy, skills development, climate action, and welfare policies, in addition to exchanging best practices in developing policies and legislation that support gender balance.

The UAE welcomed the adoption of the joint ministerial statement, and the directions and outcomes it contains that enhance international cooperation and support the development of policies and initiatives aimed at expanding women’s participation in sustainable economic and social development, stressing its keenness to continue working with member states to translate these outcomes into practical initiatives and partnerships with a tangible impact.

The UAE concluded its participation by emphasizing its commitment to continuing cooperation with the BRICS countries and international partners to enhance knowledge exchange and support joint initiatives that establish gender balance, empower women, and contribute to building a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.