Women in Working Life
Between Tradition and Progress: The Change in Women's Employment in Oman
Between Tradition and Progress: The Change in Women's Employment in Oman
There is a quote by Sultan Qaboos, in which he says: 'Uneducated women cannot raise free children, and neglected women can never properly care for others. If women are not trained for their roles, they can contribute nothing to the progress of this country.'
This shows that in Oman, women are viewed in a completely different light than in most other Arab or Islamic countries. A merit of the Sultan, who has gradually opened the country for Western values and views over the past almost five decades, without betraying the identity and beliefs of his country. He merely pointed out that women also play an important role in Islam and that it works better when they are treated as partners at eye level and not condescended to.
Women in Oman - more successful than in other Arab countries
The Sultanate on the Gulf of Oman, which is as large as Germany in terms of area, occupies a unique position in the Arab world. For example, in countries like the United Arab Emirates, where the outwardly promoted openness only applies to foreigners, women still have a very hard time.
In contrast, much has changed in Oman in recent decades. Here, for instance, women run their own businesses or hold various positions in the public service. Even a ministerial position has already been held by a woman. The development in Oman encourages the entire Arab world, as it shows that in an Islamic country, extreme gender inequality does not always have to prevail.
Progress is evident
Of course, the number of women in the aforementioned areas of employment is still lower than, for example, in Germany. For instance, in the public service, there are still almost two men for every woman. However, there are various images that complete the impression of Oman: Women confidently sitting behind the wheel of their vehicles, eating together with their male colleagues in the company canteen, or going alone to cafes and enjoying the day. Even though traditional clothing from Eastern societies still shapes the streetscape – progress is more evident in Oman than anywhere else in the Arab world.
Discover Oman with experts who have called it their home
Your dream holiday, tailor-made by experts.
We don't just know Oman from books, we visit the country several times a year to experience the culture, landscape and people first-hand.
From your first enquiry to your return home, we are there for you personally - by phone, email or WhatsApp, whenever you need us. Our trips are as unique as you are: individually planned and provided with exclusive privileges and high-quality arrangements that will make your trip unforgettable.
Experts for your Oman trip
You might also like this
Ancient times
Already in the third century, the eastern Arabian Peninsula was inhabited by the Umm an-Nar culture, whose territory extended from present-day UAE to the northern part of Oman. Important trading partners for this early culture were the Sumerians as well as the Indus Valley culture in present-day Pakistan. The land was then referred to as Magan and was limited to the present northern part of the sultanate. Little is known about the organization of this culture, aside from a mention by Naram-Sin of Akkad (2200 BC) about a victory over King Manium of Magan. Due to the existing copper deposits in...
Oman Tourism
The Sultanate of Oman on the Arabian Peninsula is continuously developing its tourism in a sustainable way. The philosophy here is fundamentally different from that of the neighboring countries such as the United Arab Emirates. In Oman, there are few hotels, which are, however, of very high standard. The image is shaped by a few luxury hotels while simple hotels or guesthouses are rarely seen. A study by the World Economic Forum (published in April 2017) ranks Oman ninth in terms of tourism growth. The character of gentle tourism remains, as the hotels adapt to the traditional image of Oman a...
Safety in Oman
Over recent years, Oman has established itself as one of the safest travel destinations in the Middle East, especially appealing to individual and luxury travelers. The Sultanate stands out with its political stability, low crime rate, and well-developed healthcare system that meets the needs of modern travelers. Ranked as the most peaceful country in the region on the 2023 Global Peace Index and scoring extremely low on the Global Terrorism Index, Oman presents a rare oasis of safety. These stable conditions create an ideal environment for relaxed, authentic travel experiences....