Typology of career development for Arab women managers in the United Arab Emirates

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to explore how women managers in the United Arab Emirates account for and construct their career development. Design/methodology/approach - A narrative approach is adopted for analyzing in-depth interviews with 15 women managers in the United Arab Emirates. Findings - The study produced a typology distinguishing four types of career development among women managers in the United Arab Emirates: progressive, moderate, facilitated and idealistic. The results suggest that social status and family connections can play a significant role in women's career development. Originality/value - The value of this paper is two-fold. First, it contributes to the previously under-researched topic of the careers of Arab women managers. Second, it emphasizes the importance of societal context when studying women's careers in the Middle East.