UAE women investors’ hold 20B dirhams

The ADX in Abu Dhabi There are 220,000 women investors in the United Arab Emirates and they hold 3.5 billion shares valued at 20 billion dirhams or $5.4 billion, according to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).

The trading value of the shares in 2017 was 5 billion dirhams or $1.36 billion and 1.8 billion dirhams or $490 million during the first half of 2018, ADX statistics show.

ADX released the data on the occasion of the fourth Emirati Women’s Day on Tuesday when officials of the exchange also recognized its women workers for their pioneering role and outstanding contribution to society and to various fields of work.

The celebration also included the presentation of certificates of appreciation and symbolic gifts to Emirati female employees of the exchange.

Rashed Al Blooshi, chief executive of the ADX, said Emirati female employees hold more than 58 positions in various market departments in the exchange, 31 percent of which are supervisory posts. They accountfor 46 percent of the total number of employees.

Meanwhile, Emirati women represent more than 66 percent of the UAE’s workforce and have a strong presence, exceeding the presence of men, in education, health and banking, according to government statistics.

Emirati women are prominent in legal civil society institutions, the media and the community sector with the General Women’s Union and the Gender Balance Council leading efforts to expand the participation of women in society and improve their lives.

In 2015, the UAE launched a strategic plan to empower Emirati women which will extend to 2021 and provide a framework for the government and private sectors and civil society organizations to adopt plans that aim to strengthen the UAE’s stature among advanced countries in the area of women’s empowerment.

In 2017, the UAE Gender Balance Council launched its “Gender Balance Guide” which was the first guide of its kind in the world and aimed to create a working balance between the genders. The guide was the main reference for the country’s institutions, in both the public and private sectors, and aimed to reduce the gender gap.

The UAE also issued a decision in December 2012 which obligated the Boards of Directors of federal authorities to appoint female members. WAM