Welcome to the UAE Gender Balance Council SDG 5 Pledge Platform

Launched in 2022, the voluntary SDG 5 Pledge is an initiative of the UAE Gender Balance Council that invites private-sector partners to contribute to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) — achieving gender balance and empowering all women and girls.

The Pledge focuses specifically on Target 5.5, which calls for ensuring women’s full and effective participation and providing equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.

The Pledge is open to UAE-based companies that are committed to advancing gender balance and interested in learning from national and global best practices.

To participate, companies should have 20 or more mid-to-senior-level employees, as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the ISCO-08 classification.

The reporting template has been developed to help signatories of the UAE’s SDG 5 Pledge track and report their progress toward the national goal of 30% women in middle and senior management roles — by 2025 for the first cohort of companies and by 2028 for newer signatories.

Annual reporting allows the Council to assess progress against set targets and recognize outstanding achievements through national awards.

Employment includes all individuals of working age who, during a short reference period (typically one week), are engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit.

Employment in management is determined based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08), which groups jobs according to their tasks and responsibilities.

Senior and middle management correspond to sub-major groups 11, 12, and 13 in ISCO-08 (and 11 and 12 in ISCO-88).

For reporting purposes, companies may define junior, middle, and senior leadership according to their internal employment classifications and organizational structures.

In a landmark initiative supporting the UAE's national gender balance agenda, Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the UAE Gender Balance Council SDG 5 Pledge Awards in May 2025. The awards recognise SDG 5 Pledge signatories that demonstrate outstanding leadership in advancing gender balance, increasing women's representation in leadership, and embedding inclusive policies and practices across their organisations. The three annual awards are: Champions of Gender Balance in Policies, Pioneer of Women’s Leadership Representation and Exemplary Initiative Advancing Gender Balance in the Private Sector. Eligible signatories may submit nominations through the SDG 5 Pledge Platform to all three awards. The submission deadline for the 2026 cycle has now closed.

Special Edition: Family-Focused Award

In line with the declaration by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, designating 2026 as the "Year of the Family," the UAE Gender Balance Council has also launched the Family-Focused Employer of the Year Award exclusively for SDG 5 Pledge signatories.

This special award recognises organisations that place families at the heart of their workplace culture by implementing inclusive, supportive, and flexible policies and practices that enable employees to thrive both professionally and personally. The award celebrates organisations that advance family wellbeing, gender balance, employee engagement, and long-term organisational excellence.

The submission deadline is 21 August 2026. Applications can be submitted through this link.