Women account for 36 per cent of Etihad Airways’ employees

Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) is celebrating the third annual Emirati Women’s Day with a series of events to highlight this year’s theme, ‘Women are Partners in Giving’, in line with the UAE’s 2017 Year of Giving initiative.  A statement from Etihad said women comprised 36 per cent of EAG’s nearly 26,000-strong workforce, working alongside men […]

Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) is celebrating the third annual Emirati Women’s Day with a series of events to highlight this year’s theme, ‘Women are Partners in Giving’, in line with the UAE’s 2017 Year of Giving initiative. 

A statement from Etihad said women comprised 36 per cent of EAG’s nearly 26,000-strong workforce, working alongside men in what are traditionally regarded as male professions such as engineering, the flight deck and cargo. 

Emirati women are also well represented in these functions, with several of them sharing their experiences at panel discussions held at the Etihad Airways headquarters recently.

Technical Engineer Mariam Al Obaidli’s talent and passion were identified by the company four years ago when she was offered the opportunity to join the Etihad Airways Technical Engineer Programme, as part of the airline’s investment in the development of UAE national capabilities. 

Today, she is one of 42 Emirati women completing their two-year, on-the-job training in order to obtain their GCAA Aircraft Engineering licenses. 

Nowadays Mariam wakes up at 4am to be at Etihad Airways Engineering for the daily meeting at 5.30am and she couldn’t be happier. “You should see the engineers’ expressions when they see local women working hard in such extreme conditions, and knowing that we want to be here – they’re amazed by it,” she recounted for the audience. 

Mariam was joined on the panel by an Etihad lawyer, pilot, and airport manager, who shared their own experiences of partnership with the audience.

Amina Taher, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Our constitution declares that men and women are equal in their rights and obligations. It provides equal access to education, healthcare and jobs. 

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in Abu Dhabi, is the second-largest airline of the United Arab Emirates (UEA) after Emirates.