For Emirati Women’s Day 2024, the Emirates Group and Dubai Airport (DXB) are honoring women from the UAE who have made significant contributions to the aviation industry.
According to Emirates, around 38 percent of the group’s workforce is female and the company was able to recruit a record number of Emirati women into its workforce in the last financial year.
Over the past 20 years, the Group has provided mentoring and training programs for Emirati female professionals to enhance their professional growth and career opportunities. They have access to leadership programs from Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GE Aviation and many other companies. Over the past 12 months, more than 70 Emirati women have completed one or more of these programs.
In 2023, Emirates also sponsored three Emirati female employees to pursue their postgraduate studies abroad at three of the world’s top 100 universities.
Meanwhile, Dubai Airports, the operator of DXB, is honoring three Emirati women who have played a critical role in supporting the airport’s sustainability goals.
Sara Al Abdulla, Senior Manager of Commercial Sustainability
Thanks to Dubai Airports’ waste management, a remarkable 60% of all DXB airport waste is diverted from landfill. Al Abdulla spearheaded this initiative by mobilising the entire airport community around a common goal.
“Sustainability is not just a destination; it is a journey we take together. By building a community that shares knowledge and works together, we create a future that benefits everyone,” Al Abdulla said in a statement.
Maryam Alawadhi, Energy and Sustainability Engineer at Dubai Airports
Alawadhi’s key projects included the refurbishment of the lighting and building systems, which saved 47,000 tonnes of the airport’s carbon dioxide emissions – the equivalent of planting more than a million trees annually.
“Every project I contribute to, no matter how big or small, is a step towards a more sustainable world. The energy savings we achieve are more than just numbers; they make a tangible difference to the future of our community,” said Alawadhi.
Najla Alghammai, Director of Category Management
Alghammai has led the way in integrating environmentally sustainable practices into Dubai Airports’ procurement processes. Alghammai’s leadership in developing Dubai Airports’ Green Procurement Policy has resulted in a 49% increase in green purchases compared to 2022.
In addition, their support in implementing a paperless policy at Dubai Airport has drastically reduced printing – from thousands of pages in 2018 to zero in 2024.
“Sustainable procurement is not just about choosing the right products. It is about setting a precedent for responsible, ethical decision-making that impacts the entire industry,” said Alghammai.
The United Arab Emirates celebrates Emirati Women’s Day every year on August 28. This is the day on which the General Union of Women of the United Arab Emirates was founded. The day is observed to recognize the efforts of Emirati women and to celebrate their dedication and achievements in shaping the United Arab Emirates.
The day was first celebrated in 2015, three years before women were legally allowed to drive in the United Arab Emirates (including the city of Dubai).
