Compiled by Oxford Strategic Consulting the report helps shed light on aspirations and employment views of women across the region.

The report which surveyed women of Saudi Arabia Qatar Oman and UAE found that while they are striving professionally across key industries they expressed strong dislikes for particular industries and also expected specific difficulties related to (re)entering the workforce. The surveyed women demonstrated a clear preference for working in the banking and finance industry as well as in non-traditional roles like aerospace and HR.

Fifty seven per cent of Saudi women 33 per cent of Qatari women and 29 per cent of Emirati women considered banking and finance to be their industry of choice (compared to 35 per cent 23 per cent 20 per cent and 11 per cent men of respectively).

As for non-traditional roles Saudi women were twice as likely than men to aspire for a job in the aerospace industry. While 11 per cent of Qatari women preferred working in the human resources sector as compared to just one per cent men. Perceptions of GCC women regarding medical industry were mixed.

Qatari women were five times more likely than men to aspire for a job in the medical industry and women in the UAE were three times as likely than men to consider a career in medicine. In Saudi Arabia 34 per cent women were significantly more likely than men to want to work in a hospital than men (17 per cent).

Meanwhile Omani women were four times less likely than men to consider working in the medical industry. Saudi women were significantly more likely than men to feel that the pay was too low for available jobs (40 per cent vs 24 per cent) whereas the most common gripe among Omani women concerned long working hours.

One of the main findings of Oxford's research into women's employment over the years is that rather than women being the problem it is actually a lack of understanding and in some cases fear amongst employers that limits women's employment and careers.