World Bank2025-06-042025-06-042025-06-04https://hdl.handle.net/10986/43297The brief provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal and policy barriers affecting women's economic participation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Based on the persistent gender disparities in labor force participation and unemployment rates, the brief leverages insights from the Women, Business and the Law (WBL) dataset to identify key legal constraints, evaluate reform progress, and offer actionable recommendations for policymakers to accelerate gender equality reforms. It underscores the transformative potential of comprehensive legal reforms in unlocking economic growth and empowering women across the region.en-USCC BY-NC 3.0 IGOGENDER EQUALITYGENDER AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENTGENDER AND EMPLOYMENTUNEMPLOYMENT RATES AND GENDER GAPSDECENT WORKReportWorld Bankhttps://doi.org/10.1596/43297