Barriers to Pursuing Careers in Science, Technology, and Engineering for Women in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is keen to make a transition to a knowledge-based economy driven by innovative industries and entrepreneurship. But it can achieve this goal only if it builds a strong knowledge base in the fields of science, technology, and engineering (STE). Women can play an important role in this transformation if they contribute their intellectual might to this field. Using the survey and qualitative research methods, this article identifies the social, cultural, and economic factors that draw UAE women students to STE, and those that keep them away from pursuing careers in this field. The key factors that attract women students to a career in STE include financial independence, the exalted social status associated with this field, the opportunity to engage in creative and challenging projects, and plentiful work opportunities perceived in this arena in the region. The barriers that prevent UAE women from finding or even seeking employment in this field include misalignment between university programs and labor market demand, lack of awareness of what a job in STE entails, familial bias against working in mixed-gender environments, and lack of women role models who could inform women students about opportunities in these fields. The analysis also underlines the general unwillingness of the majority of Emirati graduates to consider careers outside the public sector. Findings from this study can contribute to developing policy recommendations to effectively support the development of local human capital in STE fields, which is critical for sustaining the economic transformation of the UAE.