UAE Gender Balance Council Takes Center Stage at Global Aviation Gender Summit 2023 in Madrid

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recently hosted the Global Aviation Gender Summit 2023 in Madrid, where the UAE Gender Balance Council (UAE GBC) played a significant role. The summit focused on achieving gender equality and empowering women in the aviation industry by discussing enabling conditions and forming alliances.

Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, attended the summit along with a delegation from the UAE. The delegation, led by Huda Al Hashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, reviewed the UAE's efforts to establish gender balance in all sectors and highlighted the country's regional and global achievements in this field. Their participation demonstrated the UAE's commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the vision of its wise leadership.

During the summit, Huda Al Hashimi had a meeting with Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of ICAO, to discuss cooperation in promoting gender equality at regional and global levels. They emphasized the importance of the Global Accelerators Ambassadors Programme, established by ICAO, which equips leaders with tools and methodologies to support gender balance goals and the organization's transformational vision.

The summit provided a platform for governments, international organizations, experts, academics, and private sector representatives to discuss the current status and prospects of partnerships in achieving gender equality in the aviation industry. It highlighted the need to address the gender gap in aviation workers and emphasized the importance of gender equality for a more inclusive and competitive industry.

One positive point mentioned was the increase in women's participation in aviation positions such as pilots, air traffic controllers, and maintenance technicians. The percentage of women's participation in these roles increased from 4.5% in 2016 to 4.9% in 2021.

The summit also focused on gender-responsive policies and financing. Huda Al Hashimi participated as a keynote speaker in the session titled "Harnessing the power of gender-responsive policies and financing." The session explored integrating a gender equality perspective into aviation policies and creating a favorable environment for women in the industry through flexible working arrangements, work-life balance promotion, and inclusive human resources policies.

Huda Al Hashimi highlighted the UAE's efforts to enhance its successes in the aviation industry through collaboration with ICAO. She discussed the UAE Gender Balance Council's initiatives and projects aimed at reducing the gender gap, promoting gender balance in leadership positions, and making the UAE a role model in gender equality. She also mentioned the significant representation of women in the aviation sector in the UAE, with approximately 27,000 women employed, accounting for 42% of the workforce.

Efforts to enhance women's participation extended to the UAE private sector through the "SDG5 Pledge to Accelerate Gender Balance in the UAE Private Sector." Several companies, including those in aviation, financial services, and energy sectors, voluntarily committed to increasing the representation of women in middle and senior management positions to at least 30% by 2025.

Huda Al Hashimi highlighted the Gender Balance Index for the UAE, which evaluates participating entities based on specific criteria. Recognizing and honoring the entities that win the index annually aligns with the UAE's strategic plans to achieve gender balance and inspires other institutions and individuals to take similar steps.

The Global Aviation Gender Summit 2023 provided valuable insights, discussions, and partnerships to accelerate progress towards gender equality in the aviation industry. The UAE's active participation and commitment demonstrated its dedication to empowering women and achieving gender balance across sectors.