The United Arab Emirates has just announced a cabinet with more women than the US government’s equivalent, and created a slate of truly progressive new positions.

The nation’s leader, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed, named 8 women to his 29 member cabinet. The new Cabinet has positions specifically focusing on The Future, Climate Change, Tolerance, Happiness and Youth Affairs as well as an expanded focus on education.

The UAE now has 2 more women in its national Cabinet than the United States. 27% of the UAE Cabinet is female, which is higher than the US percentage of only 24% (only 6 Cabinet members are female in the US). Though the UAE still lags behind the UK by one female minister after UK David Cameron appointed a Cabinet with a record 32% women. And of course this does not match Canada’s gender equal cabinet--but not everyone is Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

It’s not all good news in the UAE. Only about a quarter of the population has the right to vote and the working conditions for a largely foreign labor force comes under regular criticism. The UAE has managed to avoid the turmoil of its neighbors since the Arab Spring but it still has a long way to go till most human rights activists are happy. That said, the new Cabinet is something to celebrate.  As is the way it was presented.

Sheikh Mohammed took to Twitter (in English and Arabic) to release the full cabinet list and give the backstory on some of the more notable new ministers.

It becomes clear through these tweets that the leader of the UAE picked experienced and committed people, not window dressing.

He also embraced a youth movement by appointing a 32 year old PhD holder as his Climate Minister.

And an actual youth minister who is 22 years old.

The Prime Minister made it clear that the new youth minister “will be empowered and expected to deliver tangible results.”

But the presence of women and young people is not the only innovative part of the new cabinet. New ministerial portfolios for The Future, Tolerance and Happiness truly set this new government apart.

The Minister of Happiness sounds like a light title but considering the Prime Minister appointed a woman who has been in charge of the Prime Minister’s office (and will continue to do so) shows he wanted an effective and empowered operator.

The new minister of Tolerance is perhaps the most exciting. In a region embroiled in conflict, appointing a person to lead on building community and cultural tolerance is a bold move. As is the Prime Minister’s vision for the scope of the new role:

Finally there is the new Minister for the Future. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi is the Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Future. Global Citizen is often calling on world leaders to think about the future so it is empowering to see a government actually charge a Minister with specifically planning for and preparing a nation for a more dynamic future. A future that, if we work together, will be free of extreme poverty.

The UAE has plenty of poverty and injustices within its borders to contend with. But this cabinet is an encouraging sign that the government is prepared to take on serious issues and potentially be a leader in promoting regional and international change. They’ve taken a big step forward to support identity politics, now it’s time to hope for action from the politics. 

TopicsGender EqualityFinance & InnovationGirls & WomenuaeGovernanceMiddle East

Editorial

Defeat Poverty

The UAE now has more female cabinet ministers than the US plus ministers for Happiness, Tolerance and the Future

By Brandon Blackburn-Dwyer