Women Now make up 42% of the Aviation Workforce in UAE

In the UAE, the aviation industry employs about 27,000 women, accounting for 42% of the workforce, according to Mervat Sultan, President of the Middle East Chapter of Women in Aviation, speaking at the organization's 10th-anniversary conference.

"You must first develop a generation if you want to construct a nation. The advancement of civilization depends on the empowerment of women. Women's education and training are more crucial in this regard. Regarding job chances in aviation, we also need to educate parents and kids”, the speaker stated.

Women work in aviation in different capacities, not only as pilots. There are more lawyers, engineers, doctors, and air traffic controllers, among other professionals, she noted.

The 22nd edition of Airport Show, which began on May 9 in Dubai for a three-day show amid a brighter outlook for a full and sustainable recovery, growth in passenger demand, and a focus on future mobility, sustainable infrastructure, and innovation, is hosting the Women in Aviation 10th Anniversary Conference as a co-located event.

Speaking during the ceremony, Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Al Maktoum, First Lieutenant Pilot, Dubai Police Airwing, said the gender gap in aviation is still significant and that a practical plan is required to address it.

In order to encourage and assist women working in the aviation business, she claimed to have founded Shehana, a Women in Aviation Association. Shehana's mission is to promote gender equality in the aviation sector via partnerships and international cooperation.

Shehana was founded as an international non-profit organization with the mission of luring and empowering women into the aviation sector, assisting them in achieving leadership roles and serving as a representative of the sector at international events. The organization seeks to establish new structures, rules, and regulations to eliminate obstacles and provide incentives for the participation of more women in the industry through partnerships and sponsorships.

"Women in the UAE are respected and included, in addition to being heard and seen. Sponsors, the government, and organizations that promote women in aviation must work together to enhance gender equality”, she added.

Kuljit S. Ghata-Aura, President of Boeing Middle East Turkey and Africa, gave the guest of honour speech. She noted that the UAE has made considerable progress towards empowering women in the aviation business, with approximately 27,000 women presently engaged there, accounting for 42% of the workforce.

"Boeing has taken action to promote gender equality at work in the UAE. We joined 15 other private sector organizations in the UAE in signing a commitment in December 2022 to improve gender equality in the workforce by pushing the proportion of women in leadership positions to 30% by 2025. This promise provided us with a crucial chance to increase our efforts and better connect them with the UAE's gender balance policy”, the official added.

Women now make up 24.6% of the Boeing workforce globally, thanks to enhanced hiring and retention initiatives. "Here in the UAE, we are also proud to partner with the government and other stakeholders in promoting gender equity in the aviation sector," the man stated.

"We are dedicated to growing the number of women in leadership positions throughout the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, not just in the United Arab Emirates.”

“We have made great progress in the last year, with women making up 33% of our new employees in the region as opposed to 26% in 2020. At the occasion, significant players and leaders were honoured.”

Suzanne Al Anani, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), received the Innovative Leader Award in Women in Aviation. Mona Al Abdoli, Senior Vice President of Corporate Assurance at Dubai Airports, received the Women in Aviation Leadership Award. Boeing received the Most Supportive Company for Women in Aviation International - Middle East Chapter for the past 10 years Award.

The Most Sustainable Company in Aviation Award went to Etihad Airways, which was accepted by Nasser Al Mansoor, Manager of Government Affairs. The best Educational Institution in Aviation went to T3 Aviation. Kuljit S. Ghata-Aura, President, Boeing Middle East Türkiye and Africa, accepted the award on behalf of his company. Captain NadhemAlHamad, Chief Executive Officer of T3 Aviation Academy, accepted the honour.

Dynamic Advanced Training won the prize for the best training institution in the aviation industry. The honour was given to Mark Kammer, Dynamic Advanced Training's director of operations. Reem Hussain Ismail Al Saffar, Senior Manager - Aerodromes, UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), received the Most Recognised Women in Aviation Award. The Air Inuit flight instructor Nour Utayim, a first officer aboard a Dash 8 aircraft, received the Highest Achieving Women in Aviation Award.

The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Dubai Airports, and dnata support the RX Global-organized Airport Show, which is sponsored by ADB Safegate, Smiths Detection, and HADID International Services.