It may be common in the west for a woman to have a higher income than her counterpart, but this is not the trend in the UAE yet, experts say.
According to a study conducted by Natasha Ridge, research fellow at the Dubai School of Government, only 27 per cent of Emirati men opt for higher education, compared with over 70 per cent of Emirati women.
While the difference may be drastic, most women do not pursue a career after graduating from university.
A BBC report states that while 65 per cent of university students in the UAE are women, they make up only 15 per cent of the workforce. This includes the expatriate population in the UAE, too.
Women continue to largely function as homemakers, regardless of their qualifications.
Dr Meenaz Kassam, an assistant professor in sociology at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), is conducting a study to understand the intricacies of women's empowerment in the UAE.
She said: "The status of women in the UAE ... to a certain extent, remains entangled in the larger debate on the role of cultural traditions."
More students
Dr Yuting Wang, another assistant professor in sociology at AUS, has noticed an increase in female students. She said: "There is no doubt that the gap between women and men in terms of income and education is closing in the US.
"In the UAE, there is an increase in [the number of] female students in schools and universities."This may translate into income growth among women in the next decade.
Wang added: "However, a gender role change is yet to be seen.
"It largely depends on ideas and beliefs rather than economics. Women in the UAE may well face the dilemma many American career women face in balancing family and work."
