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Women in the United Arab Emirates

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Women in the United Arab Emirates
Maitha Salem Al-Shamsi, female Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates.
General Statistics
Maternal mortality (per 100,000)12 (2010)
Women in parliament17.5% (2012)
Women over 25 with secondary education73.1% (2010)
Women in labour force43.5% (2011)
Gender Inequality Index
Value0.241 (2012)
Rank40th
Global Gender Gap Index[1]
Value0.6372 (2013)
Rank109th
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Women in United Arab Emirates have achieved some measures of legal protection in recent years. In 2008-2009, only 22% of Emirati women were part of the labor force, whereas more than 45% of Kuwaiti women were part of the labor force.[2] Kuwait has the highest percentage of local female labor participation in the Gulf region.[2]

UAE has the highest percentage of total female labor participation in the region (including expatriate women), while Kuwait has the highest percentage of local female labor participation in the GCC.[2] Some laws continue to discriminate Emirati women. Emirati women must receive permission from "male guardian" to re-marry.[3] The requirement is derived from Sharia law, and has been federal law since 2005.[3]

History

The role of women in UAE society has gradually expanded since the discovery of oil. Before 1960 there were few opportunities for them outside the realm of home and family. In the early 1990s, there were five women's societies promoting various issues of importance to women, including literacy and health.[4]

Employment

In 2006, less than 20% of Emirati women were part of the national labor force.[5] UAE has the second lowest percentage of local women working in the GCC.[2] In 2008-2009, only 22% of Emirati women were part of the labor force.[2] UAE has the highest percentage of total female labor participation in the GCC (including expatriate women). However, Kuwait has the highest percentage of local female labor participation in the GCC because more than 45% of Kuwaiti women are part of the national labor force.[2] 80% of women in UAE are classified as household workers (maids).[6] Within the business sector, the UAE possess the largest number of businesswomen in the region where entrepreneurship is becoming increasingly popular. At the nine year old Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, women constitute 43% of its investors while the city’s Businesswomen’s association boasts 14,000 members.[7] At the forefront of Emirati women in business is Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan al Qasimi, appointed Minister for Economy and Planning in November 2004 and subsequently promoted to her current post as Minister of Foreign Trade. Sheikha Lubna holds the distinction of being the first woman to hold a ministerial post in the country. Her efforts have led her to be rated within the Forbes Magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Women.[8]

Politics and government

Within the public sector, governmental employment for Emirati women has increased from 11.6% in 1995, 22% in 2005 and 66% as of June 2007.[7] In September 2008, Hassa Al Otaiba and Sheikha Najla Al Qasimi became the UAE’s first female ambassadors, serving Spain and Sweden respectively.[9]

In a region where the testimony of a woman is widely questioned to have equal value to a man’s, the UAE became only the second Arab country with a female marriage registrar after Egypt.[10] By 2006, women have accounted for over 22% of the Federal National Council.[11] The UAE's minister of state post is Reem Al Hashimi, who is the first female minister to be in this role.[12]

Sexual assault

Human rights groups express concern over what they consider a criminalization of rape victims.[13] In two cases, women who reported being raped were sentenced to prison for "engaging in extramarital relations", as their allegations were considered unfounded by authorities.

Over 50% of women residents in the UAE say that they would not report a rape to police.[14]

In 2008, an Australian woman working in the UAE reported a rape to the authorities and was imprisoned for 8 months for having sex outside of marriage.[15] In 2010, a Muslim woman in Abu Dhabi recanted her allegations of being gang-raped by 6 men, claiming that the police threatened her with corporal punishment for premarital sex.[16] In 2013 a Norwegian woman, Marte Dalelv, received a prison sentence of sixteen months in Dubai for perjury, consensual extramarital sex and alcohol consumption, after she reported her boss to the police for an alleged rape; she was later fully pardoned and allowed to leave the country.[13] Men involved in these alleged rapes were also convicted for extramarital sex.

Nadya Khalife, a researcher for Human Rights Watch, says that "these charges will make young women in the UAE, citizens and tourists alike, think twice about seeking justice and reporting sexual assaults for fear of being charged themselves".[17] She also stated that "the message to women is clear: victims will be punished for speaking out and seeking justice, but sexual assault itself will not be properly investigated".[18]

The most significant accomplishment towards gender equality in the UAE, and even the region, is most visible through women’s participation in the military. Pursuant the 1991 Gulf War, Emirati women expressed a desire for preparation in defending their country. Subsequently, the Gulf region’s first military college for women – the Khawla bint Al Azwar Training College was established along with a women’s corps within the Armed Forces. Females are granted the same training and responsibilities as their male counterparts including serving as fighter pilots, but were prohibited from serving in front line combat.[7] The Dubai Police College, promotes the highest-ranked graduates of a six-month training course to the VIP Protection Corps where twenty women have thus far been accepted.[19]

Male guardianship

All Emirati women have a male guardian. Emirati women must receive permission from male guardian to re-marry.[3] The requirement is derived from Sharia, and has been federal law since 2005.[3]

International involvement

Exceeding standard international obligations as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the UAE regularly participates and hosts international conferences on women’s issues. Among the most recent have been the Women’s Global Economic Forum in Abu Dhabi during November 2007 and the Arab Women’s conference in November 2008. Often under the patronage of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, participation and agendas are frequently conjoined with local initiatives such as the Ewaa Shelters for Women and Children (founded in 2008); the Social Support Center (affiliated to Abu Dhabi Police and Human Rights Care Department); Dubai Foundation for Women and children Establishment (initiated in November 2006 under the presidency of HH Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum); the National Strategy for the Advancement of Women, a joint initiative with the United Nations Development Fund for Women; and the Family Development Foundation (established in 2006)[7]

Education

The 2007 report on the progress of MDGs in the UAE states, “the proportion of females in higher education has risen remarkably at a rate that has not been achieved in any other country in the world. During the years 1990 to 2004 the number of female university students has grown to double that of male students. This is the result of the promotion and encouragement of women’s education by state and family.”[20] The ratio of literate females within the 15- to 24- year age group rose from 100.5% in 1990 to 110% in 2004, reaching 90% literacy overall in 2007. Upon completion of high school, 95% of Emirati women continue on to higher education and comprise 75% of the student population at the Al Ain national university. Women comprise 70% of college graduates in the UAE.[11][11] According to Dubai Women’s College, 50-60% of its 2,300 students proceed to seek employment upon graduation.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Global Gender Gap Report 2013" (PDF). World Economic Forum. pp. 12–13.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Kuwait: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix". International Monetary Fund. 2012. p. 43.
  3. ^ a b c d "Divorcees, widows concerned about receiving 'permission' before remarrying".
  4. ^ Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. United Arab Emirates: A Country Study. Federal Research Division. January 1993. Status of women.
  5. ^ The Emirati Workforce Page 30
  6. ^ Glass, Amy. "Working women contribute US$3.4bn to the UAE’s economy". Arabian Business (December 2007).
  7. ^ a b c d "Women in the United Arab Emirates: A Portrait of Progress" (PDF). UAE Ministry of State and Federal National Council Affairs (June 2007).
  8. ^ “The 100 Most Powerful Women.” Forbes (2007).
  9. ^ "Sheikha Fatima hails ability of UAE women to undertake national responsibilities." The National Media Council: UAE Interact (September 2008).
  10. ^ “Fatima is UAE's first woman marriage registrar.” Gulf News.com (November 2008).
  11. ^ a b c "On Human rights day, Emirates first among Arab countries and (95%) women's participation in higher education" Cite error: The named reference "brief" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ http://www.thebusinessyear.com/publication/article/10/1233/uae_dubai_2012/show-and-tell
  13. ^ a b The Associated Press (22 July 2013). "Dubai Pardons Woman at Center of Rape Dispute". New York Times. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  14. ^ “Survey says Arab women unlikely to Report Rape.” Muslim Women News.com (January 2010).
  15. ^ “Brisbane rape victim sues UAE luxury hotel.” ABC.net.au (March 2011).
  16. ^ “Abu Dhabi Rape Case Twist as Victim Recants Allegations” ABCnews (May 2011).
  17. ^ “UK couple charged with illegal sex released in Dubai.” BBC News (January 2010).
  18. ^ “Dubai's Shameful Record on Rape.” Human Rights Watch (January 2010).
  19. ^ "Women in the UAE". Sheikhmohammad.co.ae.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference md was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ "Dubai Women Storm World of Work". BBC News (August 2005).
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