Why Emirati Women Leave and What It Takes for Them to Stay: An Inquiry into Motivation, Culture, and Belonging in the UAE’s Private Sector

This study explores the lived experiences of Emirati women working in the private sector in the United Arab Emirates, with a focus on understanding how these experiences shape perceptions of long-term career sustainability. Despite national efforts to increase private-sector participation among Emirati nationals, retention of Emirati women remains a persistent challenge. Adopting a qualitative, phenomenological approach, the study draws on in-depth interviews with four Emirati women with experience in private-sector organizations. The findings reveal that participants are initially attracted to the private sector due to opportunities for professional growth, exposure, and meaningful work. However, these benefits are often accompanied by structural and cultural challenges that influence long-term engagement. Key themes include the role of organizational culture and leadership, access to career development opportunities, work–life alignment, and sense of belonging. In particular, the findings highlight how demanding work structures and limited flexibility become increasingly difficult to sustain as personal circumstances evolve, especially following life transitions such as motherhood. The study suggests that Emirati women do not disengage from the private sector due to a lack of ambition, but rather due to a perceived misalignment between workplace structures and their evolving personal and cultural priorities. These insights highlight the importance of aligning private-sector structures with the evolving needs of Emirati women in order to support long-term retention and meaningful workforce participation.

Author dc:creator

• Amna Alshamsi

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Preston V. L. Lindsay, PhD

• Organizational Behavior and Theory

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/62973

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.upenn.edu:20.500.14332/62973