Marwa Al-Mamari is an aerospace engineer from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She is working to encourage young women in the region to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Marwa is the first woman in the UAE to become an aerospace engineer. "I studied aerospace engineering without realising that I was the first woman in the country to pursue it. This surprised me at my graduation ceremony," said Marwa, who was recently honoured at the "Emirati Women Achievers 2024" awards.
From medicine to engineering
In many families in the UAE, high-achieving students, especially girls, are expected to pursue prestigious careers such as medicine. As a good student, Marwa felt pressured by these expectations.
Although she initially dreamed of becoming a doctor, her desire to do something different prompted her to choose aerospace engineering, a field she knew little about at the time. "I always wanted to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone," Marwa said.
Initially, Marwa’s family was unsure about her choice, as it went against traditional expectations. Limited resources and a lack of female role models in the industry made the path she had chosen even more difficult.
However, Marwa found support not only from her family but also from influential figures in her country such as Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Professor Dr. Ahmad Al Ali, Vice Chancellor of Emirates Aviation University. Thanks to their encouragement, Marwa confidently entered a male-dominated field.
Encouraging women to participate in STEM
Currently, Marwa works at the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority. Her duties mainly revolve around setting up training programs for operators, airport staff and stakeholders. Marwa has a Master’s degree in aviation safety from Coventry University (UK) and is currently pursuing a PhD in artificial intelligence in aviation.
She shared: "I always say that to become the person you want, you don't necessarily need to be smart, but you need commitment and resilience. When you have these two things, you can do anything and become anyone you want." The female engineer also affirmed that as long as women have determination, they will overcome all obstacles and receive the support they deserve.
Looking back on her journey, Marwa acknowledges the challenges of being one of the few women working in engineering.
“Even now, I often find myself as the only woman. This is still a male-dominated industry,” she said, noting that while the number of women in the field is growing, there is still much to be done. “Some people may underestimate your abilities, but your work will prove it all.”
Marwa wants to inspire the next generation of female leaders, especially encouraging young women to pursue careers in STEM. “I always encourage Gen Z to pursue careers in STEM,” she says. “It’s challenging but incredibly rewarding.”
She appreciates careers in media and entertainment but stresses the importance of maintaining balance, reminding young women that the world still needs engineers and scientists. "It's great to see more and more girls choosing to pursue careers in media and entertainment. But if everyone did this, who would be the engineers and scientists?"
Source: Khaleej Times, Arab News
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nguoi-phu-nu-dau-tien-cua-uae-tro-thanh-ky-su-hang-khong-vu-tru-20240923125828388.htm
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