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29 March 2024

Why women in UAE earn more than in US, Singapore, HK…

Published
By Shuchita Kapur

The UAE has been rated as one of the best countries for career-orientated women, ahead of other global expat hotspots like the US, Singapore and Hong Kong.

This is according to new data from the 2015 HSBC Expat Explorer survey. GCC peer Qatar comes right behind the UAE in the global survey of expat women who rate the financial side of life as most important.

Nearly 10,000 expat women from 25 countries participated in the survey, with those in the UAE (58 per cent) and Qatar (56 per cent) being the highest globally to highlight that financial incentives such as income, savings and careers are the most important reasons for moving abroad from their home countries.

The two GCC countries rank high when it comes to earnings and the potential to save.

The rankings reveal that career-orientated women thrive in Qatar, which expat women chose as the best country for both increased earnings (57 per cent) as well a greater ability to save money (73 per cent).  

The data also highlights the work environment in the UAE. Four out of 10 women (40 per cent) in the country said that they earn more here than in their home country, nearly a tenth above the global average of 31 per cent.

Additionally, more than half the UAE respondents (54 per cent) said they were able to put aside more money here.

The financial benefits of living in the region are also apparent as expat women rank Qatar (88 per cent) and the UAE (87 per cent) as the best globally for the benefits they are provided by their employers.

The best countries for career-minded international women

Percentage of expat women who rate the financial side of life as most important for expat life

Global average - 35%  

1. UAE 58%     

2. Qatar 56%      

3. USA 45%   

4. Singapore 42%     

5. Hong Kong 42%
 
Receive benefits from employers

Global average - 62%

1. Qatar 88%   

2. UAE 87%        

3. India 87%   

4. China 86%  

5. Thailand 85%
 
Earn more than in their home country

Global average - 31%            

1. Qatar 57%   

2. Switzerland 56%         

3. Hong Kong 52%     

4. UAE 40%

5. Singapore 48%
 
Save more than in their home country

Global average - 46%

1. Qatar 73%

2. Thailand 67%

3. China 63%

4. Hong Kong 57%

6. Singapore 56%

The findings show that Asian countries rank the highest in terms of career development prospects for women.

Nearly two-thirds of female expats (63 per cent) say Hong Kong is a good place for expats to progress their career, followed closely by China (59 per cent) and Singapore (56 per cent).

Almost half of expat women in the UAE (49 per cent) associate with this view, far above the global average of 38 per cent.