The UAE’s pension and social security framework is helping strengthen the financial security of Emirati women by providing protections that address different stages of their professional, family and retirement lives, according to the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA).
The authority highlighted the role of pension legislation in supporting Emirati women as part of Emirati Women’s Month, pointing to provisions designed to enhance financial stability, support families and provide greater flexibility around retirement planning.
GPSSA data for 2026 shows 133,514 Emirati women are registered as insured individuals with the authority, reflecting their strong participation in both the government and private sectors. A further 13,238 Emirati women are retirees receiving benefits from GPSSA, while 16,717 are registered as eligible female beneficiaries. Seventeen Emirati women are also registered under the Self-Employment Scheme.
Hind Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Pensions Sector at GPSSA, said supporting women’s financial security has wider implications for families and communities.
“The impact of empowering women goes beyond simply highlighting their achievements; it is a direct investment in family stability and social cohesion,” Al Suwaidi said. She added that strengthening women’s financial security contributes to the quality of life of their families and communities.
One of the provisions highlighted by GPSSA allows a widow to combine her own employment salary or personal retirement pension with her eligible share of her deceased husband’s pension. The provision is intended to help maintain household income following the loss of a family provider.
Federal Law by Decree No. 57 of 2023 Concerning Pension and Social Security also introduced changes to the distribution of pension benefits among eligible family members following the death of an insured person or pensioner. Under the framework cited by GPSSA, the widow or widows receive 40 percent of the pension, children collectively receive 40 percent, while the father, mother or both receive the remaining 20 percent.
The legislation also includes provisions aimed at working mothers, linking certain retirement benefits to the number of children. These provisions are intended to give women greater flexibility when planning their careers and retirement while balancing professional and family responsibilities.
Under the law, an insured married, divorced or widowed woman can qualify for a pension upon terminating her service at her request if she has reached the age of 55 and completed 30 years of subscription.
The legislation also provides reductions in the required subscription period and retirement age for women based on the number of children. For a fifth and sixth child, the required subscription period can be reduced by two years and the retirement age by three years. For a seventh child, the subscription period can be reduced by three and a half years and the retirement age by four years.
GPSSA said the provisions form part of a broader social protection framework covering Emirati women from their working years through retirement and beyond.
The authority said the measures are intended to provide sustainable financial protection while giving Emirati women greater options in managing their careers, family responsibilities and long-term financial planning.
The focus on pension protection comes as Emirati women continue to play a significant role in the UAE’s labour market and in the country’s broader economic and social development.