WOMEN

Introduction

The women of the UAE have traditionally been heavily involved in agriculture. In the era before oil, while the men would travel with their camels, or to take part in the pearling and fishing industry, the women stayed at home to look after not only the children, but also the agricultural livelihood of the family. The woman's role was never totally confined to raising children and looking after the family.

Over the course of the past few years, a number of achievements have underlined the progress made by the women of the UAE in the years since the establishment of the federation in 1971. Building on their traditional involvement in the country's economic life, women in the UAE are now emerging as tertiary students, teachers, doctors, workers and leaders. The first locally-trained women doctors graduated from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences of the Emirates University, the first woman pilot, graduated from the Dubai Aviation College and the first class of professional women soldiers passed out from their basic training in the UAE Armed Forces, all entering professions that, a mere 20 years ago, would have been almost inconceivable for the women of this fast changing state. The catalyst of this quiet revolution has been education, and today 98% of the female population of school going age, is attending school at one level or another. They also dominate the UAE's higher education establishments, forming 70% of the students at the Higher Colleges of Technology and over 60% at the UAE University.

The freedom UAE women enjoy to acquire a skill or an education, to join a profession, or conduct business, has not been obtained overnight. They have had the active support of not only the President, Sheikh Zayed, but also of his wife Sheikha Fatima, as well as the wives of the rulers of the other emirates. As His Highness Sheikh Zayed said "Women have the right to work everywhere as long as they are given the appropriate respect...their basic role is that of bringing up children but, over and above that, we have to support a woman who chooses to perform other functions as well."

Women's Organizations

In 1973, Sheikha Fatima set up the first women's organization, pioneering the establishment of similar bodies countrywide. Many of the factors that helped transform the life of women came after the establishment, in 1975, of the UAE Women's Federation. It was set up by Sheikha Fatima as an umbrella organization, covering women's societies functioning at the emirate level. Today member associations are: Abu Dhabi Women's Development Society, Dubai Women's Development Society, Sharjah Women’s Development Society, Umm Al Mou'meneen Society in Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain Women's Development Society and the Ras Al Khaimah Women's Development Society. Depending on the geographical size of the emirate, the individual societies may have more than one branch, and there are now 31 branches of the 6 societies, many of these societies operate out-reach programs in remote rural areas.

The UAE Women's Federation has as its objectives: developing women's image and self-esteem, encouraging education and eliminating illiteracy among adult women, conducting evening classes for their further education, ensuring that social services and care reach women and their families, and helping women take better care of their families.

Local women have learned to organize themselves, set up literacy campaigns, establish craft and vocational centers. Above all, the women's societies have prepared local women to play an increasingly active role in social development. Under Sheikha Fatima's leadership the Women's Federation has influenced many of the social developments which have given women a greater role in drawing up and executing social welfare projects, and in influencing future social policy.

Legal Status

The UAE Constitution guarantees the rights of the country's women and influences the laws framed to regulate their status as equal partners to men. Article 14 of the UAE Constitution states that "Equality and social justice, ensuring safety and security and equality of opportunity for all citizens shall be the pillars of the Society." In terms of these basic rights the Constitution does not distinguish between men and women.

The sources of their freedom are tribal tradition which gives women the right to earn or inherit wealth, Islamic law which additionally confers on them social choice and the UAE Constitution which confers 'cradle to grave' benefits. The UAE Constitution stipulates that the family is the basis of society and that "society shall be responsible for protecting childhood and motherhood." Legislation covering this aspect preserves the rights of women, and provides them with opportunities for income and employment that are both suitable and in keeping with their traditional role.

The Federal Law on Social Security (no. 15 of 1981) provides women with income supplements in the event of their husbands' death, if they are divorced or separated, spinsters, or become disabled due to illness or old age. Under this law, women are also entitled to receive social security allowances if their income falls below the minimum fixed by the government. In 1980, there were 83,076 people receiving assistance with the total sum paid out amounting to Dh 279 million. By 1992, the number of recipients had fallen to 75,867 but assistance had risen to Dh 529 million. Women accounted for 60.6 % of all recipients compared to 39.4% for men. Overall, more of the UAE's women are recipients than men, with 5.74% of women and 2.49% of men receiving assistance from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

Employment is governed by the federal Labor Law and it enshrines the concept of equal pay for equal work. Men and women receive the same salaries for the same jobs. However, certain special conditions apply to women. Article 51 prescribes that women shall receive 40 days paid maternity leave, which shall be additional to any normal entitlement. Article 52 states that Muslim female employees shall be granted special paid leave for a period of 4 months and 10 days if their spouse dies, in accordance with the Islamic Sharia law, once again in addition to any normal entitlement to leave. Article 54 states that civil servants may be granted at least two months leave if they are obliged to accompany a parent or child abroad for medical treatment. This applies to both men and women.

The UAE Women's Federation is currently campaigning for the maternity leave period to be extended to 90 days, to promote further employment of women in the government, and for the introduction of leave for up to two years, on reduced salary, for mothers to care for infants.

Education of Women

Women have taken full advantage of the educational opportunities afforded to them. In 1992/93, 98% of girls were attending primary or intermediate school. In the secondary stage, where students can drop out, the percentage of girls finishing their education stood at 70%, while that of boys was 61.4%. More and more women are also continuing on to higher education. For example of the Emirates students who began schooling in the school year 1980-81, about 60% of them were girls who eventually entered higher education. Women form a large part of the enrollment at the UAE University and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). In 1995-96 at the HCT, a total of 4,176 students were registered, out of which 2,336 were women. Female enrollment at the HCT has increased to 3,027 for the academic year of 1996-97. At the UAE University, in 1994-95, there were 8,968 female students and 2,608 male students. The number of graduating students from both institutions reflects a corresponding higher percentage of women.

UAE women, by virtue of educational and employment opportunities, are well-placed to have an effective impact upon the development of the country's political, economic, educational and social goals. The first batch of 59 UAE women soldiers graduated in 1991 after completing training in all military fields. The first students to graduate from the Emirates University with its recently-introduced Masters Degree in Environmental Sciences were women.

Older women, who may not have had the opportunity of education in their youth, are now benefiting from classes at adult education centers. The centers offer literacy classes and schooling from primary to secondary. There are also vocational training centers which pay special attention to the preservation and revival of traditional handicrafts as well as helping to generate income for those who work within them.

A rising population with an increasing percentage of women, together with a rapid expansion of the educational opportunities available has coincided with a gradual change in traditional attitudes towards the role of women in society.

Employment of Women

A natural progression of the expansion of educational opportunities for women, has been their entrance to the work force. The number of working women almost quadrupled from 1980 to 1990, jumping from 5.3% to 16.3% of the total work force. Many are absorbed into the public sector, particularly in traditional areas such as education and health, accounting for 39.8% of total employees in the federal civil service by the end of 1993.

In some traditional areas, female employees are in the majority, representing 100% of nursery school teachers and 65% of intermediate and secondary school teachers. In the health services, women are also playing a greater role than men, accounting for 54.3% of the total number of employees, both UAE citizens and expatriates.

UAE women are also making their mark in the armed forces and the police. There is a special women's corps within the armed forces, and a training college named after one of the great heroines of Arab history, Khawla bint al Azwar, has been created. The first batch of 59 women graduated from the school in 1992 after a six-month practical and theoretical military training course. At the Dubai Police College, following a 6 month training course, the most qualified officers are chosen to join the VIP Protection Corps. Presently there are 20 such females in the squad, who have undergone a highly specialized training course to prepare them for their work. According to the Department Director, "The Female Squad addition is vital to the crack team of bodyguards because many of the people needing protection are themselves women." The women are taught to remain alert, anticipate danger and deal with it effectively. The physical nature of the job requires the women to remain extremely fit.

Of the growing number of women seeking employment, however, many are qualified to enter a wide variety of other careers beyond education and the health services. The UAE University is producing female graduates in disciplines such as the arts, engineering, sciences and communications, while the Higher Colleges of Technology graduates specialize in office and business administration, information systems and more recently, communication. A number of UAE women can now be found in commerce, banking and the oil industry, as well as in administration in both the government and the private sector. Dubai Municipality reports that of the 750 UAE citizens it employs, 150 are women. The Ministry of Education is in the process of setting up vocational training schools for women to cater to the needs of the labor market and prepare nationals for private sector jobs. Retaining women in the work force is a concern, however. Because of existing traditional attitudes, some women will only work in areas in which they do not come into contact with men. Their job choices and career expansion are therefore limited. Many women cease employment once they are married and others do not continue their education once they have completed secondary school or higher education. The president of the Dubai Women's College Alumni Association of the Higher Colleges of Technology reports, in 1996, that of 143 graduates, only 8 are pursuing further studies.

At a Glance

 

 

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