postdeparture paper / Section 3

3) Cultural influence the organizational and social practices in different ways in the
UAE.
Due to religious and traditional issues females and males go to separate schools and
universities, this resulted in having many women who prefer to work in female sectors
only .Thus , the majority of the female manpower is in education and health care .
Women in the UAE are lucky enough to have various employment alternatives. A girl can
choose to either work in an only women institution or get engaged with men.
Women from wealthier families who have a better chance for higher education often fail to
realize their full potential. Most educated women prefer jobs more suited to their social
status rather than jobs consistent with their qualifications or abilities. Despite all
the incentives and official encouragement given to them to continue education, many young
women and girls leave school early to marry and raise children.
Though, according to the Labor Law, there is no discrimination between men and women in
terms of salaries for the same posts, the architects of the law have taken into account
the fact that certain special conditions apply to women.
The government approved a law to give women entitlement to three months' maternity leave
with full pay and six months at half pay to look after her newborn child.
Also, Muslim female employees are granted special paid leave for a period of four months
and ten days if their spouse dies, in accordance with the Islamic Sharia law.
Women can be granted at least two months' leave if they are obliged to accompany a
parent or a child abroad for medical treatment, a facility available to both men and
women, but one which is, at the same time, likely to be of more importance to mothers and
to daughters.
Today, Emiratis are a minority in their own country. With the immersion of East and West,
144 nationalities coexist in one nation making the UAE a very diverse culture. Many
Emiratis feel their culture is under siege due to globalization. The government has
responded to these growing concerns by offering incentives and privileges to Emriatis
such as free education and health care, interest free loans through Islamic banks, and
other financial assistance in starting a business.
Moreover, when it comes to employment many capable Emarati women are pulled back. The two
greatest hardships women face are obstacles within employment and the lack of career
training. Women in the UAE are challenged in their workforce and especially by men .They
defend their right for equal opportunity and are taking advantages of modernization and
globalization.
During the Leadership Conference held in Zayed University, we interacted with some
Emarati students. Professor Gupta asked the students: "What motivates you to work ?"
Few students think of work as something to do with their free time, yet the majority
said that their main motivation for working is career development and also pursing their
financial needs.
One of the major issues that women face in their workforce is that the payment isn't the
same with opposite genders. Also, decision making positions are mostly male dominant.
During our visit to the career plan services in Zayed's University, an Emarti woman
mentioned how some parents refuse that their daughters apply to jobs. In some cases,
parents become overprotective of their daughters and show up during their job interviews.
There are many women working in various sectors such as businesses, commerce, oil
industry, and media besides the traditional work fields in education and health.
The employment of women is helped by the active involvement of women in the media. There
are television and radio programs aimed exclusively at the female audience and magazines
devoted to topics of interest to women.
In our visit to Zayed University , we met with a successful figure in the UAE who was a
great source of inspiration to me. He is Mohammad Al Fahim, a very successful business
man who supports and persuades females to take the lead and reach the top. He is also the
Chairman and managing director of al Fahim Group and companies and the author of the book
( From Rags to Riches).
He is an outspoken man who inspired me with his stories of success and also motivated me
as a female student to start thinking "business wise ", and to take the initiative to
innovate.
Al Fahim is an activist in the Abu Dhabi economy who emphasizes the prominent role of
women in leadership positions throughout the workplace.
I was actually impressed when I heard him say that Emarati women are now holding most of
the decision-making positions in his companies. Women would start by holding secretary
positions and in no time dominating the whole workplace. He has such an enthusiastic
attitude when it comes to supporting women and giving them great privileges in the
business field, such as the flexibility in the working hours and the good salaries.
He also discussed some major challenges that might hinder the participation of women in
such private sector positions .He emphasized the need for women to participate and fill
the gaps .He believes that with easier access to a driver's license and public
transportation, more women will be able to commute to work and earn an income.
Fahim has implemented his ideas into his realty business by extending flexible work hours
to his employees. " Women need flexible hours so that they can raise children, maintain a
household, and pursue a career without sacrificing herself or feeling neglectful toward
her family".
With all these advancements that Fahim points out, Emirati women are still being held
back by local tradition and culture.

Also, we met a successful business woman in Zayed University who gave us an inspiring
presentation.
Huda Al Matroushi ,a women who has a great zeal for learning, initially started her
business on a small scale. She did much of the art and crafts work at home after working
hours, making give-away items for her friends. When she realised that people had a real
interest in her heritage items, she was encouraged to set up her own business which, in
her opinion, is benefiting her both professionally and culturally by bringing a new
vitality to the traditional life that the younger generation are beginning to forget. The
real challenge Huda faces is balancing her different roles; a businesswoman, a member of
the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, and a proud mother of five.
She mentioned that young ladies in the UAE are highly encouraged to enter the private
sector and become successful entrepreneurs. They are privileged to be sponsored with a
30, 000 AED and a free exhibition shop for a year long. The government also provides
special funds for young entrepreneurs.
Although the challenges still remain, women are being sponsored financially and
emotionally by their governments. In return, the UAE is proud to announce such great
women role models to the whole world.
The question remains, however, how can a society create a working environment that
fosters a balance between work and home life for working parents? A multitask as this is
not impossible for women in UAE because their government is providing incentives in
order to encourage young girls to enter the workforce.