In my previous article about the road map for reforms in the Gulf Cooperation Council, I talked about the importance of human capital.
Today, and as the world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, it is a good moment to take stock of the impressive progress that some countries in the GCC are making in expanding opportunities for women in order to use all their human capital to achieve the developmental goals that they set for themselves.
Over the past couple of years, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have emerged as the region’s leaders in this effort. Along with Bahrain, they have introduced groundbreaking reforms that allow women to fully participate in economic activities, as they also support equal treatment for women in their personal lives.
The benefits of such trend-setting reforms for the societies and economies of these three countries cannot be overstated. Furthermore, a spillover effect is taking hold across the rest of the Mena region.
The reforms focused on gender not only allow reforming countries’ economies to tap into the productivity of half of their populations, they also contribute to poverty reduction, sustainable growth and, most importantly, equality for women in public and private spheres.
To ensure the maximum impact of these benefits, GCC countries that have introduced reforms must keep a laser focus on effective enactment, while those in the region that have yet to expand opportunities for women can look to their neighbours for inspiration.
In 2019, Saudi Arabia's ranking in the World Bank Group's Women, Business and the Law report jumped by the largest number of places of any country in the world, as compared to its 2018 ranking.
That was in large part due to the kingdom’s historic enactment in July 2019 of a series of measures to expand the role of women in Saudi society and give them economic freedoms.
The reforms included increased freedom of travel and movement by giving women the right to obtain passports on their own, as well as measures that enable women to become heads of households in the same way as men and allow them to choose a place of residency.
They also included a workplace prohibitions on gender discrimination and the dismissal of pregnant women, a mandate of non-discrimination based on gender in securing access to credit, the alignment of the retirement ages of men and women and a removal of the obedience provision for women.
A year later, there were amendments to the Labour Law that lifted restrictions on women’s ability to work at night and opened all industries to women, including mining.
In September 2020, the UAE became the first country in the Mena region to introduce paid parental leave for employees in the private sector.
This historic reform was part of a broad package to support women’s labour force participation, which, at 57.5 per cent, is one of the highest in the Mena region.
The 2020 reform package builds on work the UAE has engaged in since 2019 to prioritise gender equality and the economic empowerment of women.
In 2019, the Emirates introduced a first set of reforms to guarantee equality between sexes in passport applications and measures allowing women to head households.
It also passed laws to combat domestic violence, imposed criminal penalties on sexual harassment in the workplace, removed job restrictions for women in specific sectors such as mining and prohibited gender-based discrimination in employment, including the dismissal of pregnant women.
These reforms were recognised in the World Bank's Women, Business and the Law 2021 report, in which the UAE was the highest-ranked country in the Mena region.
The additional reforms introduced last year address persistent legal inequalities, including those related to women’s mobility, their rights within a marriage and with respect to parenthood, and their ability to manage assets.
Specifically, the reforms lift restrictions on women's ability to travel outside the country and include the amendment of the Personal Status Law to remove the provision on women’s obligation to obey husbands.
They also introduce provisions that allow women to choose where to live and to travel outside the home in the same way as men, and amend the Labour Law to mandate equal pay for work of equal value across different industries and sectors.
Lessons learned and ingredients for success
Three common elements underpin the success of these reform efforts: strong government commitment, effective collaboration across ministries and the use of information campaigns to support the reforms.
Strong government commitment is crucial because it ensures not only that reform-minded legislation is passed in the first place, but that it is underpinned by tools to ensure it is carried out.
For example, the UAE government updated the Explanatory Note of the Personal Status Law to support the effective enforcement of family-related reforms in the courts and to ensure accurate interpretation of new provisions by judges. Saudi Arabia updated all employment regulations to reflect the new legislative reforms.
Effective collaboration and co-operation among government ministries is also important. In both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the recent reforms were championed by several government entities. And in Saudi Arabia, specifically, a June 2019 royal decree established the Women’s Empowerment Committee, which includes representatives from a wide range of ministries and has, as its mandate, the co-ordination of efforts to achieve women’s empowerment through legal reforms.
Such cooperation among ministries is important because it can help support governments' effective decision-making going forward. Specifically, all ministries whose mandates touch on issues related to women can collect reliable, uniform data to be used to support policy choices aimed at helping both women and the economy. In the UAE, for example, ministries are collecting gender disaggregated data on topics ranging from women's opportunities for entrepreneurship to their dropout rate from the labour market and the incidence of domestic violence.
Effective efforts have also included strong communication and information dissemination campaigns. The governments of the UAE and Saudi Arabia have placed great emphasis on raising awareness of the new provisions to ensure compliance with the legal framework and to show the economic and social benefits of these reforms.
The reforms were widely covered by local and international media. The government also used social media, government websites, and government-sponsored seminars and workshops with various stakeholders to spread the word.
Throughout history, women have played a critical role in economic recovery after global crises. As the world continues to adapt to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the legal reforms in the Gulf are enabling women to contribute more effectively to recovery this time, as well.
The role of regional leaders such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain will be critical going forward, not only for inspiring reforms but for sharing reform experiences, success factors and lessons learnt from the reform effort.
These three countries can play a transformational role in the Mena region and beyond in encouraging and supporting the enforcement of gender-neutral laws.
Issam Abousleiman is the World Bank's GCC country director.
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
RESULTS
5pm Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Munfared, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Sawt Assalam, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dergham Athbah, Pat Dobbs, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Rajee, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Kerless Del Roc, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Pharoah King, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8pm Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Sauternes Al Maury, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
SPEC SHEET
Display: 10.4-inch IPS LCD, 400 nits, toughened glass
CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU
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Storage: 64GB, up to 512GB microSD
Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio
Battery: 8200mAh, up to 10 hours video
Platform: Android 11
Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics
Durability: IP52
Biometrics: Face unlock
Price: Dh849
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
