The United Arab Emirates have been ridiculed for its handing out of awards on gender equality to only men.
Certificates and medals were awarded by Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the vice-president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, in the categories of "best government entity supporting gender balance", "best federal authority supporting gender balance" and 'best gender balance initiative" at a ceremony yesterday, the Guardian reported.
The awards went to the finance ministry, the federal competitiveness and statistics authority and the ministry of human resources, which were all represented by male awardees.
The deputy prime minister and minister of the interior, Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al-Nahyan, was recognised as the "best personality supporting gender balance" for his efforts to implement maternity leave in the UAE’s military, the Guardian reported.
A tweet from the Dubai Media Office celebrating the awards, with photos of an all-male group of winners, was met with mockery from the public.
"Wow really nailed the diversity there. One of those dudes was wearing gray," one person commented.
"Sorry which genders are they balancing? We see only one," posted another.
Reuters reported that the United Arab Emirates vice-president boasted of the country's "significant progress" on gender equality as he handed out awards for promoting equal opportunity.
The UAE had not responded to either publication.
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