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no male and females are not equal in the work place, one factory i just visited has over 800 people working in various operating units.None are female based on corporate policy.

its worth mentioning this factory is the premier quality manufacture in this sector, within the middle east area and the second largest.

they are committed to excellence,learning and the environment.

its also their corporate policy "to never displace a worker related to any business or production improvements.

Some of the factories here, are better managed then operator's based in America.

Pay scales in general, you really cant compare to America or Canada.Good firms pay well for talent and pretty much hire everybody under contract.

I don't know what work you are in, and of course each place is different, and we can't generalize.

I can only talk about my experience:

Since I've moved back to Egypt, I think the one thing I notice the most is that things in the work place are very personal rather than professional. Relationships are very close, personal space is non existent, and issues can either compound and become huge, or disappear like nothing happened, depending on whether or not ppl like you and accept you. For example, your attempt to improve something, may be taken as a personal insult, instead of a chance to improve. Another example, hours can be spent discussing politics, a new hair do, or food, and this is perfectly normal. As long as the work gets done. ;)My advice: be friendly, nice, get to know your fellow collegues well, you will actually find the environment then quite enjoyable. Decisions should be made slowly and carefully.

Another thing is connections, it is unfortunate but yes, an employee with "connections" to the higher admin will be treated differently, with more caution and care for example, or sometimes the opposite, he/she is despised. They may also have higher pay.

Employees of the lesser educated tier will often not do their work unless you follow them remind them bother them and admonish them. The best way to solve that is a form of documentation for their work, and incentives every time they do it well.

As for gender differences, I haven't heard of different pay for men and women, but I do see gender "preferences". For example, a department will prefer to hire women, because all the employees are already women, or the opposite. I don't think its sexism as much as a comfort level and an attempt to prevent what they might see as (ahem) "issues".

(There are however some jobs that are for some reason gender specific, like secretaries for example. No idea why but they always seem to be women.) 

Once again, that's my experience only. Good luck!!