Women of the United Arab Emirates
By Gill Hart-Demir
In recent years the UAE has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for westerners. Previously a tribal, patriarchal society, its young women are now overturning traditional attitudes to become a powerful force in this land of contrasts.
Within its 35 years of independence (from the British in 1971), Dubai has emerged as a sophisticated, futuristic and modern emirate. For the first-time visitor, possibly the most surprising aspect is the UAE’s lack of common stereotypes, in terms of a traditional Middle Eastern society.
Marriage and Lifestyle
Whilst local Emirati women wear an abaya (a lightweight, black-mesh coat) and sheyla (black scarf-like head covering), they are not swathed in heavy black garments from head-to–toe like their Saudi or Omani neighbors. It is far more common these days to see young women wearing jeans and t-shirt, covered by a loose fitting, transparent abaya.
With its booming economy, the UAE government is in overdrive to educate and empower women, encouraging them to take up management positions and work in such areas as education, health, banking, telecommunications and the police. The government invests millions of Dirhams in the education of women and training them for the workforce.
According to the Gulf News article, The Future of Today's Women and Children, (10/28/07), the UAE shows the highest rate of females in higher education in the entire world (77 per cent).
Today’s younger generation are freer and more independent. The majority of women are permitted to choose their own husband and many now refuse to marry men who will not allow them to work. Even male attitudes are changing. As one husband, Fahed Qahtani, 25 explains, “I want her (my wife) to know something about life. If she comes home tired she will not annoy me by chattering about some domestic drama.”
Divorce has also become more acceptable. Latest statistics show that the divorce rate in the UAE stands at 46 per cent, which is the highest in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The majority for Emirati women, interviewed for a recent YouGov survey, said that unlike previous generations of women, when faced with spousal abuse or mistreatment by their husbands, they would leave their marriage.
Education and Work
Latest 2005 figures show that 65% of UAE university students are now female. Dubai Women’s College, estimates that 50-60% of its 2,300 students will go on to gainful employment. Having 
taught all ages of women at this college, I can vouch for their enthusiasm and motivation in taking a leading role in the running of their country.
Of the other 40 – 50% of college graduates, women either choose to stay at home and take care of the children, or are not permitted to work by their family. For those who are unable to attend college or university, the UAE now has an initiative to provide online educational programs for women. A local foundation, offers women grants to cover their online education, personal computers and internet subscription.
“Women have emerged as leaders in the economy, cultural and political spheres bringing a new and powerful dynamic to the UAE society, said Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the UAE General Women's Union.
With more and more local women entering the workforce, some employers view them as harder-working and more reliable than men. These women are driven souls, keen to gain financial independence and further their careers. Women now make up 1/3 of middle-senior management positions in the UAE.
Older women are still governed by generations of tradition and culture based on this tribal nation. The younger women of today, far from staying in the home, can be found whiling away their leisure time in local shopping malls and entertainment complexes, like any modern western woman.
Problems and Solutions
Some beliefs are still ingrained however. A new culture brings new problems. The UAE is a society where, in the past, it was considered inappropriate for women to speak to men in public, who were not part of their family.
Given the large expatriate community and the thousands of tourists visiting Dubai, this alone presents issues for local women, as they are forced to have contact with those from other cultures and working with male colleagues and clients. Some husbands or families object to this, preferring their wives or daughters to work in a more ‘closed’ environment, where they will not be forced to deal with males outside of the family.
In some professions, such as medicine or tourism, working nights presents further problems, where it is frowned upon for a young women to be out after 10pm at night.
However, Emirati ladies have many freedoms compared to their counterparts in the Middle East. Given that 84% of the UAE’s population is made up of expatriates, they have emerged as successful women who balance their lives between family, respect for their traditions and culture, and the demands of a futuristic and fast-paced society. It is interesting to note that Dubai, the second largest emirate in the UAE, has the fastest growing population in the world.
Gill is a British freelance writer and educator, married to a Turk. She was the Director of Studies of The English Center, Istanbul and lived in Turkey for a number of years. She has also worked in the United Arab Emirates, teaching Emirati women at the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai.
