Women in the UAE have voiced their opinion and made their views clear: they know sexual discrimination occurs in the work place and are ready to seek action if it happens to them.

When it comes to marriage, most women in the UAE have the freedom to choose their husband and if they are ever at the receiving end of spousal abuse, taking action is their first gut reaction.

Women in the UAE realise how important it is to be to financially independent and are motivated to work in order to advance their careers.

This is not to take away from the harsh reality of many whose financial burdens are what push them to go to work.

A total of 605 female UAE residents answered our questions; 57 per cent of the women were from the subcontinent (India/Pakistan); Arab expatriates constituted 15 per cent of the respondents and 10 per cent were Western expatriates.