DEI and gender balance glossary
Aurora50’s guide to terms and acronyms used in the world of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and boardroom, from DEIA to NED.
ESCA
The Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (ESCA, or sometimes known as the UAE SCA) is the regulator of the two main UAE stock exchanges, the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). In 2021 it mandated a quota for women to hold at least one board seat in each listed company by 2025 and is aiming for a 20 percent representation of women on boards.
![[Aurora50 template] Collage 10 listed UAE women board directors to know: Top row (L-R): HE Aarefa Al Falahi, Maha AlQattan, Hind Al Ali, Mariam Balfaqeh, HE Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Elham Al Qasim. Bottom row (L-R): Fatima Al Fahim, Dr Moza Sweidan, Raja Almazrouei, HE Dr Raja Al Gurg](https://aurora50.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022_08_22-Blog-post-Emirati-Womens-Day-SCA-data-1024x560.png)
Be seated: 10 UAE women board directors to know
As the UAE celebrates Emirati Women’s Day, we highlight 10 women to know on the UAE’s listed boards, including several chairs.
Spotlight: UAE’s listed companies with 20% women on board
Some 24 companies on Dubai Financial Market (DFM) have women on boards and 44 companies on Abu Dhabi Exchange (ADX), while 19 UAE companies have achieved 20% representation by women on their boards.
Asharq Business Bloomberg: Emirati law increases representation of women on boards
Reporting on the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (ESCA)’s mandate to put one woman director on every UAE listed board, Asharq Business Bloomberg says that women have only taken four new seats at listed companies on the two main UAE stock exchanges in the two months since, with 96 percent of positions held by men.
The National: The many benefits of more women on boards
Aurora50’s Diana Wilde writes in The National about how diverse boardrooms are both fairer and more profitable.
Arabian Business: How Aurora50 is supporting female representation on boards
The UAE leadership understands the link between the representation of women in organisations and better financial results, Aurora50 co-founder Diana Wilde said in an interview with Arabian Business.
Asharq Business Bloomberg: UAE economy will grow with gender balance, says Aurora50’s Wilde
Interviewed on Asharq Business Bloomberg after a quota of one woman per listed UAE board was mandated by the Emirates and Securities Commodities Authority (ESCA), Aurora50 co-founder Diana Wilde said: “We have a clear message from the government in the UAE that the economy will grow substantially if gender balance is achieved. The challenge lies in creating a pipeline of women, and the extent of women’s access to boards.”
Dubai One’s Emirates News: Interview with Diana Wilde on board diversity
Aurora50 co-founder Diana Wilde was interviewed on Dubai One’s Emirates News television show to discuss the new Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (ESCA) quota of one woman per listed board in the UAE by 2025 and the agreement signed with the UAE Central Bank to enhance gender diversity.
Bloomberg: Aurora50 CEO on increasing women on UAE boards
Aurora50’s Diana Wilde speaks to Bloomberg Daybreak: Middle East about gender parity on boards in the UAE, as ESCA sets a quota for listed companies of one woman per board.
Dubai Eye Business Breakfast: Women hold just 3% of UAE board director roles
Speaking to Dubai Eye’s The Business Breakfast after the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority announced a quota of one woman per listed board in March 2021, Aurora50 co-founder Diana Wilde said the quota was “not tokenistic”.
