“A great honour and an even greater responsibility.” This is how Aisha Al Merri describes serving in the UAE's Federal National Council (FNC), where women hold half the seats.“This means that women's voices are now as audible as men's, and together we make decisions for the benefit of the nation.”

Her words capture the reality of a parliament that has reached full gender parity. With women occupying 50 per cent of the FNC, the highest share of any national parliament in the world, the UAE has turned representation into action.

As the country marks Emirati Women's Day on August 28, Al Merri and fellow FNC member Amna Ali Aladidi spoke to Khaleej Times about how parity has reshaped debates, priorities and expectations in the council.

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From representation to impact

Aladidi says equal representation has brought positive diversity to FNC discussions, enriching perspectives and ensuring issues are addressed from multiple angles, particularly those concerning family, women, education and youth.

She is proud of contributing to legislation that serves the public good, including policies on maternity leave, family protection, digital education and women's economic empowerment, alongside her international participation in artificial intelligence and the global economy.

Al Merri has supported initiatives for family stability, safe environments for women and children, and legislation backing working mothers. She is especially passionate about strengthening education quality, empowering youth with future skills and preserving Emirati national identity.

Inclusive decisions

Her words reflect a chamber where parity is more than symbolic.“The balance in representation has brought diversity of opinions and enriched discussions,” Al Merri says.“This diversity has helped formulate more inclusive and just decisions.”

For Al Merri, future priorities include increasing women's participation in the national economy, supporting family protection policies and fostering an environment for women's innovation.

Aladidi, meanwhile, is focused on empowering youth, localising leadership positions, supporting families and advancing legislation on digital education, artificial intelligence and women's economic empowerment.

Steady progress

The UAE's path to this point has been steady. The FNC saw its female representation grow from 22.5 per cent in 2007 (nine women) to 17.5 per cent in 2011 (seven women), and 22 per cent in 2015 (eight women), before reaching the 50 per cent milestone in the seventeenth legislative term in 2019. That figure has been maintained in the current eighteenth term.

Notable achievements along the way include the presidency of the council in 2015, marking the first time a woman led a parliament in the region. Women have also served as first and second deputy chairpersons and chaired numerous permanent committees.

For Aladidi, the UAE's commitment to parity has earned respect worldwide. She recalls the admiration expressed by international parliaments when the UAE presented its decision on global platforms, calling it“definitive evidence” of the country's commitment to actual equality.

For young Emiratis watching, both MPs offer clear advice.“Success requires determination and hard work; it does not come by chance,” says Al Merri.

Aladidi adds:“Trust yourself and work sincerely, there is no ceiling to your ambitions under this leadership's support.”

Parity in the FNC, they stress, is not a symbolic milestone but a lived reality, reshaping governance, influencing legislation and inspiring the next generation of Emirati women to step forward.

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