The UAE Space Agency actively tries to recruit women through awareness programme and initiatives held in schools and universities around the nation

Abu Dhabi - 46 per cent of the female staff at UAE Space Agency are currently working on the Hope Probe, as the agency celebrates its third anniversary

The UAE has the most number of female employees working in the space industry in the world, at 40 per cent, compared to international entities which have an average of 12 per cent female staff, said UAE Space Agency officials.
"The number of women employees in the UAE space sector is the highest in the world," said Sheikha Al Maskari, chief innovation officer told Khaleej Times. "We try to recruit women from day one. I was there from the foundation of the space agency, one among only three women on the staff back then."
Al Maskari said the organisation actively tries to recruit women through awareness programme and initiatives held in schools and universities around the nation. "We try to encourage more women and motivate them about what we are trying to do in space."
Al Maskari said that she was at first disappointed with the number of women in the industry. However, she witnessed the numbers rapidly grow, as interest developed. "I was ashamed and thought we had such a small percentage of women, but more women soon jumped on board.
"We met with international space agencies and realised that the UAE is the best one globally - having 40 per cent of women contributing to the space sector - whereas the largest number of female workers in other global space sectors is only 12 per cent."
She also pointed out that 46 per cent of the female staff at UAE Space Agency are currently working on the Hope Probe.
"The female work force wasn't used to being into a very 'hard sector' like space, but we are seeing a change and a lot of women join us. This means that women are not afraid to be part of something different, the perspective is shifting and that makes me happy as a woman."
Naser Al Rashidi, director of Space Policy and Regulations, also said he is proud to see women in the UAE raise the bar in the international space sector. "The UAE has conducted statistics in female employment numbers in the space sector and we were rated the highest in the world."
He stressed that female employment in the sector is not just in administration work, but also the technical, scientific and engineering roles. "A huge percentage are women, who contribute highly to every part of the UAE space sector."
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com
 

UAE Space Agency celebrates 3rd anniversary