Beyond Income: Rethinking the Feminization of Poverty in the Middle East

The problem of poverty in the Middle East is a serious, multidimensional issue making it vulnerable to political instability, economic inequalities, and extended conflicts that occur disproportionately in the vulnerable populations. To overcome these structural weaknesses, sustainable policies that are focused on short term relief and long-term resilience should be addressed. The current study aimed to examine the phenomenon of feminization of poverty in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Emirati women. Employing a descriptive research design, data were collected through a questionnaire administered to a random sample of 60 women representing various nationalities, socio-economic backgrounds, and employment statuses within the United Arab Emirates. The findings highlighted that feminized poverty is a widespread issue across the Arab region, largely influenced by factors such as the shift from extended to nuclear family structures, increasing rates of family disintegration, and rising divorce rates. Moreover, the results indicated that no statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of feminization of poverty across nationalities, including Emirati, Moroccan, Palestinian, Jordanian, and Egyptian participants. Among the most impactful proposed solutions were the eradication of gender-based discrimination in Arab societies and the advancement of gender equality in both rights and responsibilities—measures deemed essential for addressing the underlying drivers of poverty among women in the region.