social environment Executive Summary 2pages (single space)
Social Environment - Carly Holden
Population demographics:
The United Arab Emirates has an estimated population of 8,106,000, as of 2012. This percentage is dispersed among urban and rural areas. The majority of the population, 80%, lives in the urban areas. Abu Dhabi is the capital, while Dubai houses millions as a center for business and culture. Abu Dhabi has experienced tenfold growth over the last 36 years and is the most populous (UEA interact). These two cities comprise the largest populations for the United Arab Emirates (Britannica encyclopedia).
The Gender ratio is divided with reportedly 70% male and 30% female. This is mostly due to the patriarchal society and the value placed on men over women (United Arab Emirates Population). However women are expected to live longer, reaching 78 years while men are projected to only reach 73 (Britannica encyclopedia).
An interesting fact is that only 15% of inhabitants in the Emirates are citizens. The majority of those living in the United Arab Emirates are immigrants and workers from other Arab and Southeast Asians countries, making the labour force and business environment very diverse. The worker mindset makes the majority of the population rather young, falling within a range of 15-64 years 78% (United Arab Emirates Population). There is now a push to have larger families and increase the youth since the economy is booming. Currently the growth rate is set at 1.6%.
Education is an important factor to the country providing primary education for free to students. At the university level, women far outnumber the men in terms of seeking education. However, the literacy rate for the entire country is quite high and 90% of men and 89% of women have been deemed literate (Britannica Encyclopedia).
In terms of health, hospital service is free to nationals within the country. Over the years, government funding for health care has also increased. “The major causes of death are cardiovascular disease, accidents and poisonings, and cancer” (Britannica Encyclopedia).
Language Spoken:
Modern Standard Arabic is the national language. “A number of languages are spoken among the expatriate community, including various dialects of Pashto, Hindi, Balochi, and Persian. English is also widely spoken” (Britannica Encyclopedia).
Religious Beliefs:
The national religion is Islam is taken very seriously throughout the country and garnering a very devout following. The majority of religious individuals claim to be Muslim, which is separated into several different branches. The most common is Sunni branch of Islam, but there are a large number of followers of the Shīʿite and Al-Shāriqah branches as well. According to research there are also a growing number of Christians and Hindus emerging in the country (Britannica Encyclopedia).
Social Norms:
The United Arab Emirates still holds to a very traditional culture. Although much has changed since the finding and exportation of oil, the country still holds to traditional Islamic values; these include a patriarchal culture. While women have been gaining more equal rights in education, there is still a social divide that exists in the workplace. However, there are also changes being made to offer more options to a woman for a marriage partner during an arranged marriage.
The dress code is still strictly enforced with Muslim tradition. Women must cover their heads with a shawl and wear a traditional dress. Men similarly also wear an ankle length gown and cover their heads with a head covering, a ghuṭrah. These outfits can be worn in different colors and embroidered very intricately. For those IA intending to work in the business world of UAE it is important to recognize these social differences. (Encyclopedia Britannica).