I am a working wife in Dubai. I am under my husband's sponsorship and it says housewife not allowed to work. No problem with that. My employer simply applied for a work permit for me. My husband had to write a letter saying he allows me to work. I also had the choice of changing my sponsorship to my employer, but would rather stay under my husband's visa.
Finding jobs here that pay well for women is hard. You are competing with alot of women from poor countries willing to work for next to nothing. I finally settled for a job that doesn't pay enough for me to support myself, but we just consider it extra money for savings as my husband's salary is enough to support both of us.