Economic role of Arab Gulf women in progress particularly in the Emirates || Newspapers (Arabic)

Al-Hayat newspaper reported that women economic empowering in gulf region has recorded clear advances, according to experts that are participating in the Third Women Leadership Forum which was launched in Dubai yesterday. According to these experts, Arab women, especially in the gulf region, control a wealth estimated at around US$ 385 billion, while the total number of women in the job market grew from 1.5 million in the early 90s to 2.2 million women presently. KSA and UAE alone account for around three quarter of the total number of working women in the gulf region with  KSA accounting for 54% and EAU, while Kuwait holds the third position with  10%, followed by Oman 6%, Qatar 4% and Bahrain 4%.

Official statistics also point out to the increase Emirati women participation in the national economy, as they now occupy 66% of jobs in the public sector, and 25% of total labor in the country. The growth in their participation in the economic sectors is remarkable recording an annual rate of 25.3 per cent. For its part, the government is very keen to develop women’s expertise and capabilities aiming at strengthening their participation in the economy. Thus several business women committees were established by the strong business woman community which is estimated to number some 12 thousand women who now control around AED 12.4 billion worth of investments. Moreover, women are now excelling in many new sectors such as the armed forces in addition to their traditional presence in hospitals and the media.

Source: Al-Hayat 20 November 2012