Around 50 percent of women employees in the Gulf aspire for leadership positions in companies during the next seven years of their careers, a survey has found.

Pearl Initiative, a GCC-based private, non-profit organization, found that women occupy just 12 percent of CEO positions around the world.

Alarmingly, the number of women who have now stopped progressing in their career is two to three times more than that of men, according to the report.

However, international employment rate was found to be even between men and women.

Despite challenges, women in GCC countries appear to understand the importance of education and, therefore, have big ambitions when it comes to career.

Sixty-two percent of the respondents said they aspire to reach administrative positions, while 86 percent said education was a significant factor in their success and career progress.

The survey found 71 percent admitting their families had played a key role in their success at work.

On the other hand, 34 percent said they are unwilling to propel their careers at the cost of commitments such as family and children.

The report stated that 45 percent of the respondents believed there is some sort of acceptable flexibility to balance between work and social life, while 64 percent believed that society does not yet accept the idea of a working wife and mother.

The report was revealed during a regional forum held in Dubai recently which brought together Pearl Initiative and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).

The results and recommendations of the report are in line with many initiatives for the global empowerment of women.