The Bayt.com Working Women in the Middle East and North Africa Survey passes working women in the Middle East the microphone and asks them directly how they feel they fit in today’s job market. Do they feel on par with their male colleagues? Are they comfortable in mixed gender environments? Are women generally more comfortable being managed by women or men? Do women feel that they receive equal monetary compensation and career growth opportunities to their male co-workers, and what does the reality of the Middle Eastern working woman look like in2017? This survey answers all these questions and more and provides comprehensive insights on the thoughts, feelings and aspirations of women across the region.

Key Findings

• Financial independence emerges as the top reason for working (59%) followed by the ability to support / financially contribute to the household (50%).
• Overall, 75% of respondents work in a mix gender environment.
• Personal health insurance (47%), Paid maternity leave (40%) and Transport allowance/ assistance (34%) are the top 3 additional benefits provided by the employers.
• 68% claim to be comfortable in a mix gender environment with only 5% expressing their discomfort in working with male colleagues.
• 65% of respondents claim to work as much as their male colleagues while only 9% said that their work hours are less than their male counterparts.
• When it comes to salary only 46% perceive that they are at par with their male counterparts, while 34% feel that they get paid less. Data for the ‘Working Women in the Middle East and North Africa’ survey was collected online from October 26 to November 26, 2017, with 4,053 female respondents living in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, and the UAE.