Women Representation in UAE Aviation Industry Sees Positive Growth
The number of women working in the aviation industry in the UAE is steadily increasing, highlighting positive progress in gender equality. Mervat Sultan, President of the Women in Aviation Middle East Chapter, announced at the Women in Aviation 10th Anniversary Conference that nearly 27,000 women are currently employed in the UAE aviation sector, making up an impressive 42 percent of the total workforce.
Sultan emphasized the importance of women empowerment for the advancement of society, stating, "If you want to build your nation, you need to build a generation first." She stressed the significance of women education and training, advocating for increased awareness among parents and children about the abundant employment opportunities available in aviation. Furthermore, she highlighted the broad range of roles occupied by women in the industry, including engineers, air traffic controllers, medical professionals, technicians, and legal staff, not just pilots.
Addressing the gender gap in the aviation field, First Lieutenant Pilot Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Al Maktoum, from the Dubai Police Airwing, discussed the necessity of an effective roadmap to resolve this issue. In response, she established Shehana, a Women in Aviation Association, aimed at empowering and supporting women in the aviation industry. The vision of Shehana is to promote gender balance in aviation through local, regional, and international partnerships and collaborations.
Kuljit S. Ghata-Aura, President of Boeing Middle East Türkiye and Africa, commended the UAE for its significant strides in empowering women in aviation. He highlighted Boeing commitment to supporting gender equality in the workplace, mentioning their participation in a pledge signed by 15 companies from the UAE private sector. The pledge aims to increase the representation of women in leadership roles to 30 percent by 2025. Ghata-Aura emphasized that globally, women representation in the Boeing workforce has already reached 24.6 percent due to hiring efforts and improved retention.
Boeing is also proud to collaborate with the UAE government and other stakeholders in promoting gender equity within the aviation sector. Their commitment extends beyond the UAE, encompassing the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa region. Ghata-Aura emphasized the progress made in the past year, with women accounting for 33 percent of new hires in the region, a notable increase from 26 percent in 2020.