Equal pay for men and women: the UAE lead the way!

The law was passed in April 2018. At the time, it was hailed by the country’s leaders, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid (Vice President and leader of the emirate of Dubai), as a crucial step towards gender equality in the country.

On paper, the new law states that “women shall be granted a salary similar to that of a man if they perform the same work, or work of equal value”. And while in practice it will probably be difficult to ensure that all companies comply with the law, it is a strong promise for women wishing to pursue a career in the private sector in the Emirates.

Committed management bodies

Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed said: “”Congratulations to all women working in the private sector in the UAE, especially in her capacity as President of the UAE Gender Equality Council. This will undoubtedly strengthen the social integration of women, support their role in national development and advance the UAE’s status in the global gender equality index”.

 

 

The emirates have already met this indicator in 2019. They had then made a 23-place leap forward to find themselves in 26th place in the world, leading the Arab countries.

It should be remembered that the country pays particular attention to the place of women in its governing bodies, since the Federal National Council, the country’s key governing body, is half chaired by female representatives.

The Arab world ahead

This is a trend that is quite widely found in the Gulf countries. In Saudi Arabia, for example, Princess Lamia Bint Majid claims special attention to women’s rights, with strict laws on equal pay for men and women. In the event of a breach of the rule, the princess said that women could even be prosecuted. So the Western world still has a lot to learn from the Middle East in this regard….