Equity and women’s empowerment, embedded in national policy since the UAE’s establishment, are deeply instilled in local culture and heritage.
This commitment has translated into tangible outcomes, from mandating female representation on private sector boards and gender parity in the Federal National Council, to sustaining national support of women in STEM fields, where Emirati women now account for more than 60 per cent of STEM graduates nationwide.
This progress is significant, reinforced by research that consistently shows how women play a crucial role in shaping resilient cities and communities and delivering measurable economic gains in the workforce.
At Expo City Dubai, we are continuing the legacy of the Women’s Pavilion at the 2020 World Expo to celebrate and advance the role of women in society, driving this agenda through future-focused programming that supports women and girls.
Through collaboration and mentorship, we ensure our initiatives align closely with national priorities, strengthening the women’s contributions in driving prosperity, innovation and social progress.
In our efforts to empower women at all stages of life, we work closely with our partners to identify and tackle any challenges they may face. One barrier that has consistently emerged is the struggles of experienced professionals attempting to re-enter the workforce after time away.
Too often, these pauses are viewed as obstacles, resulting in a ready pool of talented professionals being ignored by employers.
Recognising this gap – and the lost opportunity to employers and society – we offer a supportive pathway for women navigating this journey.
The objective of Expo City’s Return to Work programme is simple: to increase female workforce representation by equipping women with the tools, networks and confidence to thrive in today’s job market.
Working with our partners – HSBC, Expo City Dubai Foundation and C3 (Companies Creating Change) – the programme addresses structural barriers to workforce re-entry, providing targeted upskilling in digital fluency, interview preparation, networking and more.
This, like all our women’s programmes, is resolutely focused on supporting women across various stages of life, creating environments in which they can thrive and supporting a generation of confident, skilled women equipped with the ideas, expertise and vision our future cities and communities need. Because empowering women in their professional journey is not only an act of fairness; it’s a smart business decision.
