FEMALES ARE PART OF SPACE HISTORY

The space industry was once known to be the most male-dominated fields around the world, but, Emirati women are breaking barriers and are leading the way in UAE’s thriving space industry.

One of the founding members of the UAE Space Agency, Sheikha Al Maskari, is currently working as the chief innovation officer and revealed that 40 per cent of the agency’s staff are females, majority of whom are Emiratis.

Al Maskari said that when she and the other founding members were recruiting members for the agency, she ensured that females were part of that list.

“The Space Agency was formed during a golden time for women because the foundation for women empowerment was already there. When we started the agency and were recruiting staff, we always had the mindset that we give a fair chance to females to be part of the workforce. Looking at the space agency as an initiative, it’s a historical one. Whoever joins us, is going to be part of writing history and we wanted to make sure females were part of that story,” Al Maskari said.

“We have Emirati women working in all departments in the agency, including those working in space regulations, on strategies for space agency and future plans, and a great group are working as engineers on the Hope Probe and other projects. They are all very passionate about the work they do.”

We always had the mindset that we give a fair chance to females to be part of the workforce.”

Sheikha Al Maskari, Chief Innovation Officer, UAE Space Agency