The Middle East is experiencing a paradigm shift as businesses recognize the positive impact of running a gender-balanced business model. According to the PwC Middle East MENA Women In Work Survey, gender diversity in the workplace can boost the national gross domestic product (GDP) of regional countries by 57%, equivalent to US$2 trillion, with 34-54% of STEM graduates in the Middle East being women.
Leading by example, countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are proactively reinforcing national legislation to diversify their economies, further bridging the gender-parity gap in the workplace. Most recently, the UAE Gender Balance Council launched the 2026 strategy aiming to reduce the gender gap across four principles: economic participation, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, wellbeing, protection and international partnerships, and leadership.
