The UAE is frequently described as an odd place of opportunity, and there are opportunities for everyone, both men and women.
How Emirati women are more achieving
For the sixth consecutive year, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, The Minister of Development and International Cooperation, was ranked one among 100 influential Arab women in March 2015.
There are four female ministers in the Cabinet. Currently, 17.5% of the Federal National Council is made up of women. There are three female ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates, one general consul, and one representative to the UN in New York. In addition to 17 assistant public prosecutors and marriage officials, there have been four women appointed as judges and two as public prosecutors. Women work in customs, law enforcement, and the armed forces. Women lead prestigious government organizations including the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Dubai), Tecom Business Park (Dubai), and twofour54 Media Free Zone (Abu Dhabi). Compared to the global average of 48%, women make up 66% of the workforce in the public sector, with 30% of those workers holding senior and decision-making roles.
Compared to 80% of male high school graduates, 95% of female graduates attend tertiary level institutions to continue their studies. Nearly two-thirds (71.6%) of students at government universities and more than half (50.1%) of students at private higher institutions are female. Academically, women also routinely surpass their male colleagues, and they are establishing the bar for professors that were hitherto thought to be exclusively male. For instance, women make up 56% of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates from federal universities in the United Arab Emirates. 60% of graduate students at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi are women.
UAE Labor Laws
Let’s look at the ground rules
No woman should work at night
Unless you work in a specific industry, you should not work at night. According to the law, It runs from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. However, this prohibition on working at night does not apply if one of the following conditions applies:
- If the work of your company is disrupted due to force majeure (meaning great force)
- You hold a managerial position or hold a technical position.
- You are employed in both the medical field and other fields of activity specified in the decision of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, unless you usually do physical labor.
Same salary as a male colleague
If your situation is the same as a male colleague, your salary should be the same. If you want to get a good job in the house-maid profession, this website will assist in raising your chance of success https://layboard.in/vacancies/jobs-in-uae/jobs-in-abu-dhabi/speciality/house-maid.
You should not be employed in a dangerous position
No woman can be employed in jobs that are dangerous, difficult, physically or mentally harmful, or in any other jobs determined by the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.
The right to maternity leave
Currently, women working in the public sector are granted three months of maternity leave, as well as the option to leave early for two months within one year from the date of delivery. These modifications have not been made to women working in the public sector, so the current UAE Labor Law applies. Female employees are entitled to 45 days of maternity leave with full pay if they have worked for more than one year. Women who have not worked for one year are entitled to the same maternity leave, but only with half pay.
In the event that your maternity leave has elapsed, you may be absent from work without pay for up to 100 consecutive days, or without pay if such absence is due to an illness that prevents you from returning to work. In the latter case, a medical certification that attests to that the illness is a result of pregnancy or childbirth.
If you are breastfeeding
For 18 months after giving birth, if you are breastfeeding, you are entitled to two additional breaks each day. Neither should exceed half an hour. These two extra breaks must be incorporated into your working time and you should not have a reduction in salary.
Assistance from the government for women
In the United Arab Emirates, women are highly esteemed, they are cherished family members. Women are adding variety to decision-making units and commanding and receiving respect from their peers as they assume more senior roles in the workplace. A variety of initiatives are being put into place by the UAE’s federal government to support women in the workforce and inspire them to aim higher and achieve success.
The UAE Cabinet declared in December 2012 that the presence of women on the boards of directors of government organizations and businesses is mandatory. This was done with the intention of increasing corporate competitiveness and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
What to wear to work in the evening in Dubai
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, there are indeed certain requirements for behavior, especially for women coming from abroad. Here are some guidelines regarding business attire in these cities: Business suits. This is ideal for choosing a job. Make sure that your suit is too classic and does not stand out. Comfortable trousers or a skirt, as well as a jacket are a good option.
- Covered shoulders and knees. This is the main goal. Clothing sleeves should be at least to the elbow, skirts and trousers – at least to the knees.
- Abaya and Sheila. Although foreign women do not have to wear an abaya, in some cases, especially when visiting government institutions, it can be useful. You can wear the surface of a business suit to meet expectations. However, covering your head in such cases is not necessary.
- Conservative style. Even if your suit is appropriate, try to avoid too tight or see-through fabrics.
- Dress code and style. If you are visiting certain institutions or meetings, specify the dress code in advance. Some places may have stricter requirements, so it is better to be prepared.
- Shoes. It is better to choose closed shoes that are not too high. Comfortable and neat shoes are ideal.
- Accessories. Dress with moderate jewelry and avoid bright makeup to avoid attracting attention from strangers.
Your attention to these details will help you feel comfortable and confident in the UAE business environment. So if you have already found a job on Layboard, consider these tips to feel comfortable.
The goal of the Dubai Women Establishment, founded in 2006, is to support and promote Emirati women’s involvement in the labor sector and community. Its goal encompasses efforts to provide further development possibilities for women as well as research aimed at identifying and quantifying the status of women in Dubai’s workforce.
The institution also suggests awareness-raising initiatives and laws that support women in the workforce and provide them the opportunity to assume more leadership roles both domestically in the UAE and globally.
