In UAE, women earn more than men: Report

Women in the UAE at the same level, company and function earn more than their male counterparts, according to a report.

On an average, women earn 18% less than men globally. But the UAE is bucking the trend, according to a pay gap analysis by Korn Ferry Hay Group.

The survey looked at more than 8 million employees in 33 countries. In most countries, women earn less than men as fewer women are employed for highly paid roles. Even though women make up 40 per cent of the global workforce for clerical jobs, only 17 per cent women are hired for executive roles. However when males and females are working at an identical level and function within the same company, the pay gap reduces, but still favours men by 1.6 per cent.

Women in the UAE on the contrary, at the same level, company and function actually earn 2% more than their male counterparts. In 2014, 13% of the women participate in the workforce in the UAE, according to the report. In Britain, the share was 46%.

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According to their 2016 salary forecast, wages are expected to rise globally, with a modest outlook for the Middle East. Workers around the world are expected see real wage increases of 2.5 per cent - the highest in three years. However in the GCC region, the report states that businesses will focus on driving profitability by reducing their fixed costs, due to lower oil prices.

"In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, workers can expect a real wage increase of 2.3 per cent."

Vijay Gandhi, Regional Director for Productized Services at Hay Group said: "As 2015 draws to a close we can look back on a year of continued growth in GCC. However we have seen a gradual slow down, due primarily to lower oil prices which have impacted the economies in our region."

• UAE