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While UAE has been dynamic in its efforts to include women in all the branches of the economy, Saudi Arabia has been lackadaisical in its approach. While in the UAE women are climbing corporate ladders and actively engaging in national affairs, women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to vote or even drive. To put the two polar government attitudes regarding women into perspective, we have two quotations from high ranking government officials in these two countries. Saudi Arabian Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi was recently quoted saying, "Women should either work from home or remain housewives, as the housewife also has a role to play in taking care of the family, especially children." In stark contrast, UAE President HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was quoted saying, "I am a supporter of women. I always say this in order to emphasize the right of women to work and to fully participate in the building of their country." It consequently comes as no surprise that Emirati women's participation in the UAE labor force leaped from 9.6% in 1986 to 22.4% in 2004, while in Saudi Arabia, opportunities for women are developing at a snail's pace despite women holding more PhDs today than men in the kingdom.
So why do these two neighbors with so much in common differ greatly when it comes to their approach to employing females? The situation is quite complex but one can definitely attribute this difference to the very conservative Sharia (Islamic) law practiced by the Saudi Royal Family as opposed to a very liberal and selective Sharia law practiced in the UAE. Sharia law was not established by the Holy Quran itself, but rather is based upon a number of beliefs of Muslim scholars and clerics over the centuries. Countries around the world differ greatly in their interpretation and application to their own jurisprudence. In Saudi Arabia a woman is forbidden to venture out unless she is accompanied by a man, and a man is not even allowed to look at a woman. With such uncongenial laws present, it is almost impossible for women to enter the business environment and interact with the opposite sex. However, undeterred by such laws, ambitious Saudi women have circumvented them by starting "Women's Only" banks and mallsâ€" providing Saudi women with an opportunity to display their business flair. But these sorts of establishments are limited and certainly cannot accommodate the growing number of educated Saudi women eagerly waiting for a chance to work. What is even more disheartening for the Saudi women is that the government today is channeling its energy toward providing young men with employment opportunities while almost completely ignoring the growing number of qualified women in the economy. Disgruntled Saudi women today are trying to make their voice heard via a series of forums that have received a lot of press coverage, but the question is: Will the government acquiesce to their requests?
Saudis must realize that they cannot depend on their finite wealth of oil forever. They need to tap into other sources of wealth quickly, as countries around the world, such as China and India are racing ahead buoyed by one economic success after the other. Saudi Arabia is vying hard to improve the condition of its economy, but it needs to expand its horizons and recognize how women can be influential in the success of its economy. In order for Saudi Arabia to realize its potential, it must take a leaf out of the development strategies of Muslim countries like UAE and Pakistan who have successfully preserved their Islamic heritage while allowing the modern woman the liberty and freedom to establish herself in society. Emirati and Pakistani women have managed to successfully participate in the business world, adhere to their Muslim traditions and values as well as take care of the family. If these women can achieve their goals in a manner that conforms to their Islamic values, then the fears that Saudi society displays are unfounded, if not merely a pretense to prevent women from entering a society traditionally dominated by men.
To instigate change, Saudi Arabia must abolish a number of its Sharia laws, especially those pertaining to the interaction of men and women. There must be a systematic condemnation of Sharia laws, and today the rebellion against these constricting laws has already begun as educated Saudi women frustrated by the lack of progress made by the government, have begun to speak out in the local press. The Quran itself preaches equality between men and women and definitely doesn't impose any ban on women entering the workplace. Moreover, Prophet Muhammad himself worked for a businesswoman before he married her. With the future of Saudi Arabia hanging in the balance, the time has come for the government to abandon its male orientated strategies and award Saudi women the rights they deserve, but have been unfairly denied. Only then will Saudi Arabia prosper like the UAE; only then will Saudi Arabia be able to match the staggering growth enjoyed by India and China; and only then will they be tapping into their most valuable resource, their infinite wealth of 'black gold': the men and women of their country.