Emirati women take model approach to aviation jobs
Young Emirati women have been given a glimpse at a career in the aviation industry – a sector in which others have already made an impressive mark.
Wearing industrial goggles and gloves, they built model planes at a recent Mohamed bin Zayed Majilis for Future Generations event hosted by Strata, the Al Ain-based aircraft parts maker that already has a strong female presence.
As a part of the challenge, they had to make aircraft models ensuring they were strong and light, while also reducing costs.
Strata has had great success in attracting Emirati women to join its team.
Among them is Ghubaisha Al Ameri, a supply and quality engineer, who said about 51 per cent of the staff there are Emirati – 86 per cent of them women.
Last year, Etihad Aviation Group said 36 per cent of its 26,000 workers were women.
“Women enjoy working in the manufacturing industry,” Ms Al Ameri said. “It’s quite interesting to see a lot of women working with their hands manufacturing the parts for Airbus and Boeing.”
Strata makes parts for Airbus A380s, A330s and A350s, and for Boeing 777s and 787s.
“Strata is in the middle of the desert and the efforts of Emirati women impress everyone who comes there,” Ms Al Ameri said.
That is, in part, because the company’s management made a concerted effort to inform women about the importance of the aerospace sector.
The organisation realised that Emirati women were very enthusiastic to join the aerospace manufacturing industry and capitalised on it, with training programmes, career fairs and shows at universities.
“Once women started on the 22-month training programme, they wanted do join the workforce,” Ms Al Ameri said.
But why are so many Emirati women so interested in working in this field?
“They like the fact that it’s non-traditional work. It’s not a regular job,” Ms Al Ameri said.
“They work on the shop floor and lay out the parts and do all the technical work that you wouldn’t expect them to do. That gives them enjoyment and pleasure.
“They say they feel very proud when they see an A350 or A380, and know they contributed to it.”
Shamma Al Zaabi, 20, an avionics engineering student at Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, was busy at the workshop. She is working towards her European Aviation Safety Agency licence.
“I really love challenges and that drew me to this sector,” Ms Al Zaabi said. “I will do anything to prove that Emirati women can do anything. Aviation is interesting and I love aircraft, travelling and exploring.
“People always say find somewhere you love to work and you will never have to work again. This is something I love and I will enjoy this every day.”
Ms Al Zaabi is hoping to complete her master’s studies and work as a part of the Abu Dhabi airport management.
“Everyone has great memories of airports, so i am sure I will love working there,” she said. “Everything is developing, so why stay in the past?”
Reem Aloufi, 22, graduated as an aircraft maintenance engineer this year.
“I love working with my hands,” Ms Aloufi said. “It was not common earlier but now many women are choosing to work in this sector. I see so many young Emirati women who are keen to work in this field.
“I love mechanical work. I will continue to study aviation and may want to become a pilot later.”
Alanoud Al Blooshi, a student at Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, said that in the past, families were less comfortable about women working in manufacturing.
“Now, we have this opportunity to work in aerospace manufacturing and aviation,” Ms Al Blooshi said.
“Now the parents are opening their minds to these options. People from different parts of the globe are coming here and we need to know what’s happening in the world.”