The GCC has achieved substantial advancements in communication technology, with the increased use of telephones and Internet. This provides a fertile platform for home working to be a success, allowing women to work from home for several different departments of an organization, giving them increased flexibility when using their skills and qualifications.

Modern forms of home working have gradually evolved in parts of the West. Skilled and qualified professional women are also increasingly playing an important role in organizations. Can other countries, such as those in the Middle East, also enjoy the major benefits of home working? To investigate this question we identified barriers and solutions regarding women homeworkers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The major recommendation is that companies are set up in GCC countries to provide outsourced services to national and international customers whilst employing professionally qualified women working from home.

This article takes the following structure. We first examine the importance and benefits of increasing women's participation in work from the current Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) levels of around one-fifth (20%) to international levels of around one-half (50%). Global research suggests that this could increase the effective GCC workforce by at least 12%, allow over 2 million additional highly qualified women to enter the labor market and contribute up to 30% (US$363 bn) to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (given a total GDP of US$1,210 bn). Many of the home working services could be provided to non-GCC export markets, thus contributing to balance of trade and increasing non-oil/gas revenues. The recommendations would also reduce the costs of commuting and transport whilst retaining the national identity and culture of the GCC (Scott-Jackson, 2008) and enhance the self-worth and value of women who, with government efforts, are increasingly well-educated and qualified today.

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