RTA celebrates women’s contributions across all sectors

All services are tailored to meet women’s specific needs

8,000 seats in public buses, 129 metro carriages, and 17 tram cars allocated for women and children

Dubai has issued over 700,000 driving licences to women, with 230 women drivers operating Family Taxi

 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 26, 2024 – Muna Al-Osaimi, CEO of the Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), lauded the UAE’s visionary leadership for championing the empowerment of Emirati women. She emphasised that through unwavering trust and robust support, women have excelled across diverse disciplines and achieved remarkable milestones, earning acclaim and prominence locally, regionally, and globally.

She noted the UAE’s leadership had cultivated an empowering environment that enhances women’s contributions across all sectors. Emirati women have emerged as role models in empowerment, securing rights, and achieving gender balance.

Al-Osaimi made these remarks during a session at the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024, being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on 26–27 November at Madinat Jumeirah. During the session titled ‘Women at the Forefront of Green Mobility’, moderated by Sahar Al-Mezairy, Al-Osaimi shed light on the key role women play in shaping the future of green mobility. She emphasised the transformative potential of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, in enhancing women’s participation and leadership in green transport.

“RTA is dedicated to nurturing Emirati female talent, aligning with national strategic priorities and building on the remarkable achievements of women in the UAE. It takes pride in the diverse contributions of women, particularly in driving technological advancements, harnessing the Internet of Things, and developing sustainable transport solutions. RTA also actively promotes women’s participation in leadership, supervisory, technical, and support roles, offering them a platform to excel and thrive,” she remarked.

Positive Changes

Al-Osaimi commended the key role of women in driving positive change in the transport sector through various means, noting that their involvement in decision-making processes, innovation, planning, and design enabled them to contribute to the development of new solutions that enhanced the efficiency of transport systems and reduced carbon emissions. She further emphasised the importance of investing in education and training for women specialising in transport and urban planning, highlighting that such efforts strengthened their capabilities in creating sustainable and effective solutions.

She emphasised the crucial role of women in shaping policies that promote sustainability in transport and advancing the concept of multimodal mobility. Additionally, she highlighted women’s contributions to diverse community initiatives and efforts to raise awareness about the importance of green transport.

“RTA has made significant contributions to integrating women into sustainable transport, spearheading campaigns and initiatives that promote a more inclusive environment catering to all segments of society. Since the UAE’s inception, women have been empowered to drive and own vehicles, with Dubai now having issued over 700,000 driving licences to women. Every service provided by the RTA is thoughtfully designed to address women’s specific needs. This commitment is evident in the development of public transport systems, with 8,000 seats allocated for women and children in buses, 129 dedicated metro carriages, and 17 tram cars. Additionally, family taxis are operated by 230 female drivers, and the RTA has recently begun employing female bus drivers and captains for water taxis,” noted Al-Osaimi.
Green Mobility
Al-Osaimi addressed the concept of green and sustainable mobility in Dubai, highlighting the emirate’s strategic efforts to enhance sustainability, improve air quality, and reduce carbon emissions. She discussed Dubai’s Green Mobility Strategy and RTA’s ambitious vision of achieving “Zero-Emission Public Transport in Dubai by 2050.” As the first entity in the Middle East to implement a long-term strategy for net-zero emissions by 2050, RTA focuses on three core pillars: green public transport, buildings & facilities, and effective waste management.

The session highlighted the critical need to enhance women’s representation in the transport sector, strengthen public-private partnerships to support their inclusion and harness their leadership in shaping a sustainable future. It also stressed the crucial role of female leaders in driving transformative change within the green transport sector.

-ENDS- 

 

About Dubai Women Establishment

Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) was formed as a statutory body of Dubai Government in 2006 under law no. (24) by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. DWE aims to enhance the professional and leadership capabilities of women, increase their participation in the comprehensive development journey, and strengthen their role in shaping the economic and social future of Dubai, by proposing and developing relevant and impactful policies. DWE is headed by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of DWE and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. DWE’s strategic plan for 2023-2027 includes three pillars: creating an enabling environment for women in the labour market, developing women leaders, and enhancing the quality of life for women in society, through which DWE seeks to achieve its vision of “Dubai as a pioneering model for women-friendly cities.” The new strategic plan focuses on contributing to the strengthening of supporting legislation and policies, consolidating partnerships and allowing women to influence locally and globally.

About Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024

The Global Women’s Forum Dubai (GWFD) provides a platform to explore new strategies for enhancing gender balance and raising women’s participation in the economy and society worldwide. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, GWFD reflects the UAE’s leadership in advancing gender equality and its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality. Since its inception eight years ago, the forum has become a leading international gathering for fostering dialogue and collaboration to address challenges and opportunities for women worldwide. With a rich agenda featuring diverse discussions, transformative workshops, and impactful speakers, GWFD brings together thought leaders, policymakers, and innovators to inspire progress toward building a more inclusive and sustainable future. The 2024 edition of GWFD, themed The Power of Influence, takes place on November 26-27 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, gathering over 4,000 participants, 250 speakers and 25 prominent figures and ministers from across the globe. The 130 panel discussions at the forum centre on three pillars: Future Economies and Societies, Collective Engagements and Actions, and Impactful Technologies and Innovations.