His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that the Gulf woman has moved from the stage of empowerment to the stage of actual impact in policy-making and decision-making. This, he said, came in light of the GCC states' adoption of an integrated system of Gulf initiatives and strategies.
These remarks were made during His Excellency's speech at the event titled "Women at the Heart of Development: From Empowerment to Impact". The event was held on the sidelines of the 2nd World Summit for Social Development, today, Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in the Qatari capital, Doha, with the participation of several ministers, representatives of countries, regional and international organisations, and experts in the field.
At the beginning of his speech, His Excellency expressed his profound thanks and appreciation to Her Excellency Dr Laila bint Ahmed bin Awad Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development in the Sultanate of Oman, for her initiative in organising the event in partnership with the State of Kuwait and the GCC General Secretariat.
"The GCC states, under the leadership of Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the Cooperation Council, have made women's empowerment a fundamental pillar in national and Gulf development strategies, including the GCC Joint Action Strategy for Women's Affairs (2024–2030)." His Excellency said.
Moreover, he pointed to statistics from the GCC Statistical Centre, which reflect the qualitative development in the participation of Gulf women. He noted that the percentage of female employees in the government sector exceeds 40%, and in the private sector, over 39%.
"Meanwhile, women occupy about 49% of leadership positions in the government sector and 31% in the private sector, alongside a prominent diplomatic representation, reaching 41% of ambassadorial posts in some GCC states." His Excellency explained.
Additionally, His Excellency clarified that these figures embody the success of Gulf women in the comprehensive development journey and confirm their influential presence in various sectors. He also underlined the importance of continuing to support and empower women in technology, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship, and elevating their participation in executive leadership positions.
In concluding his speech, His Excellency Mr Albudaiwi underscored that empowering Gulf women is empowering the nations, and that their achievements have become a fundamental pillar in shaping the future of the GCC states and accomplishing sustainable prosperity.
