In a landmark step toward reshaping the role of Emirati women in the national economy, the General Women’s Union (GWU) has unveiled the world’s first official employment programme dedicated to Productive Families. Designed as a practical expression of the long-term “Mother of the Nation’s 50:50 Vision,” the initiative introduces a pioneering employment framework that offers fixed salaries, legal protections, and pension coverage to women engaged in home-based traditional industries, redefining their contributions as formal, sustainable, and economically impactful.

The General Women’s Union, the UAE’s national authority for women’s empowerment and policy development, has formally introduced the world’s first official employment programme exclusively for Productive Families, a category that typically includes women producing traditional handicrafts and goods from home. Under this new initiative, participants will receive a fixed monthly salary, along with a share of net profits generated from the sale of their products through the GWU’s Centre for Traditional Industries and Handicrafts. Unlike conventional employment, this programme removes the requirement of physical attendance or fixed daily working hours. Instead, participating women are expected to deliver a specified number of products each week, meeting clearly defined quality standards, while enjoying full flexibility to work from their own homes. This approach not only accommodates the nature of family-based and creative work, but also ensures a balance between economic participation and domestic responsibilities. Crucially, the programme includes registration with the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund, granting women insurance and future security — protections that were previously unavailable to informal or home-based workers. By granting Productive Families the status of official employees, the GWU has created a legal and institutional structure for their economic participation, setting a new global precedent. Speaking at the launch, Noura Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the GWU, described the initiative as a testament to the confidence placed by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in the potential of Emirati women. “This initiative does not only offer a stable source of income to families,” she said, “but it also opens new pathways for institutional and sustainable contributions to the national economy.” Eng. Ghalia Ali Al Mannai, Head of Strategic and Development Affairs at GWU, further emphasised that this employment model offers full legal and professional protection while retaining flexibility, and that allocating a share of profits enhances motivation and product quality — vital for the sustainability and competitiveness of traditional crafts in the market.

The creatives path programme: Platform for national talent

The announcement took place during the second edition of the Creatives Path Programme in Al Ain City, a national platform dedicated to nurturing Emirati talent in creative and cultural fields. The event showcased a range of new initiatives aimed at expanding employment and training opportunities for Emirati job seekers, particularly in the private sector. The Creatives Path Programme works in coordination with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis) to facilitate career pathways in the cultural economy. The integration of the Productive Families initiative into this platform highlights the GWU’s broader strategy: to promote economic inclusion through innovation while protecting the cultural heritage of traditional industries. This employment model is a strategic extension of the UAE’s vision for diversified, inclusive growth, where traditional skills are transformed into modern, sustainable livelihoods — supported by legal, financial, and social frameworks.

Grounded in the “Mother of the Nation’s 50:50 Vision”

The Productive Families employment model is not a standalone programme. It is a practical embodiment of the “Mother of the Nation’s 50:50 Vision”, a long-term national blueprint launched by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the GWU, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation. This 50-year roadmap, extending to 2075, is aimed at enhancing women’s roles across all sectors by removing obstacles to their full participation in development, and by positioning the UAE as a global leader in women’s empowerment. The three key objectives of the Vision are:

The Vision is guided by three strategic pillars:

The newly launched employment model aligns directly with all these goals and pillars — providing a structured, future-facing mechanism for women’s inclusion in the economy, especially in sectors that blend heritage with innovation.

The General Women’s Union was established on 27th August 1975 under the leadership of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. As the national mechanism for women’s advancement, the GWU plays a central role in shaping policies, programmes, and initiatives that empower Emirati women across all spheres of life. Its mandate includes:

From its inception, the GWU has worked to institutionalise women’s role in national development, not only as contributors but as equal partners and drivers of social and economic progress. The launch of the Productive Families employment model is a direct continuation of this mission — transforming informal labour into structured economic participation, and offering women the dignity of employment with full legal recognition, while preserving the cultural essence of their work.