Emirati women have a strong allegiance to the nation, are ready to support humanitarian initiatives, value education and are serious about making in-roads in the workplace, said an expert.

“Without exception, Emirati women expressed a strong sense of belonging to the UAE. When it comes to humanitarian activities like blood donation, donation of goods or spending time with the needy, 72 per cent mentioned doing so in the last three months,” said Steve Hamilton-Clark, CEO of TNS Mena, the world’s largest custom market research organisation.

The survey also confirmed that academic achievements of local females continue to rise, with 57 per cent of respondents aged between 25-34 years holding a university degree or technical diploma, compared to just 20 per cent over fifty.

“Emirati women are fast establishing themselves as an integral part of the nation’s workforce with 55 per cent of young women between 25 and 34 years of age currently employed, and eight out of ten happy with the career trajectory offered by their current position,” Hamilton-Clark said.

He also observed that in an age where safety of women is a concern in many parts of the world, the results from the UAE were particularly comforting.

“Emirati women revealed a high degree of comfort when it comes to personal safety with 97 per cent of respondents stating that they were either satisfied or very satisfied, prompting a 91 per cent consensus appreciating the overall quality of life.”

The research findings are an extract from a representative survey into the attitudes and perspectives of UAE nationals conducted by TNS in 2012 across the UAE.

“It’s safe to concur that Emirati women possess a strong sense of national identity and humanitarian duty, continue to reach the higher echelons of academia and workforce, and are highly satisfied with their overall quality of life and safety,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service