UAE Gender Balance Council & World Bank Join Forces to Promote Equal Pay for Equal Work

By: WE staff | Wednesday, 25 June 2025

• A high-level workshop on "Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value" was jointly organized by the UAE Gender Balance Council and the World Bank in Dubai
• Aim was to promote pay equity across a range of sectors

The UAE Gender Balance Council recently held a high-level workshop called "Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value," with assistance from the World Bank. The goal of the workshop was to promote pay equity in industries by implementing practical tactics and resources.

Top government ministers, business executives, ministry representatives, and foreign specialists attended the workshop, which was sponsored by the UAE Gender Balance Centre of Excellence and Knowledge Exchange. In order to close the gender pay gap, the workshops covered how to improve existing policies, examine institutional and legal frameworks, employ job evaluation techniques, and identify best practices.

Through a series of interactive workshops, the members learned how to create inclusive workplaces where pay equity is a fundamental value. The conference emphasized the significance of conducting an objective assessment of employment and putting in place systems that ensure all workers, regardless of gender, receive fair compensation.

Gender balance has long been practiced in the United Arab Emirates, according to Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Gender Balance Council's president and the spouse of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. She also mentioned that the UAE was the first country in the region to implement equal pay for men and women in the public sector in 2019, and the private sector followed suit in 2020.

"The principle of pay equity is the cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable development," Sheikha stated. Establishing workplaces where men and women are treated equally requires more than just dedication; it also requires ongoing collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Mona Al Marri, the vice president of the UAE Gender Balance Council, described the workshop as a significant step in turning the UAE's goals for gender balance into real progress. "By bringing together government agencies, private companies, and international experts, we are focusing on a national priority that directly affects economic growth and global competitiveness," she continued.

The event also emphasized how the private sector can help close the gender pay gap by exchanging experiences and best practices. The Gender Balance Council's UAE Secretary General, Mouza Al Suwaidi, emphasized the importance of robust procedures and consistent commitment to advancing pay parity. "By collaborating, we can create new standards for inclusive and equitable workplaces," she stated.