- · Women account for 51 per cent of Etihad Airways’ 13,000 employees
- · 51 per cent of all UAE nationals in Etihad Aviation Group are female
Abu Dhabi, UAE – 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.
Women comprise 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 today.
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. Her Highness, the
mother of our nation, is the champion of our success, securing our
indispensable role as an active driving force in the nation’s sustainable
development.
“As a company, we foster
the talents of our women and men; we encourage them to work together to promote
innovation, to mentor their junior colleagues, to volunteer in the community and
to give to charity. In a corporate environment, it is also important we stand
together to develop not just our company, but the UAE and our society.”
Guest speaker Dr.
Khawla al-Saadi, Chairwoman of the Emirates Autism Society, will address staff
at a special workshop on 29 August. This workshop will explore the notion of
giving through showcasing successful female leaders and managers, both within
the company and outside, who, despite the challenges of balancing career and
family, also devote time to mentoring young women as they embark on their
careers.
Speaking about Emirati
Women’s Day, Dr. Khawla al-Saadi said: "The women of our beloved country
have delivered remarkable successes under the leadership and support of Her
Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the UAE General Women’s
Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and Chairperson
of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for women’s issues and
aspirations.
“‘Women are Partners in
Giving’ is not just a slogan. It conforms with our capacity to implement the
directives of our leadership in the past and today. Our role is not only to
take part in building our nation, but to play a vital role in its evolution
too. We will always promote giving around the nation and abroad, and to reach
out to people who need help wherever they are.”
Etihad Aviation Group employs
2,859 Emiratis – 1,462
women and 1,394 men – in the UAE and around
the world.
-ENDS-
About Etihad Aviation Group
Etihad
Aviation Group (EAG) is a diversified global aviation and travel group
comprising five business divisions – Etihad Airways, the national airline of
the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways Engineering, Etihad Airport Services,
Hala Group and Airline Equity Partners. The group has minority investments in
six airlines: airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, and
Virgin Australia.
From
its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to, or has announced plans to serve,
more than 110 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa,
Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of over 120
Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with 204 aircraft on firm order, including 71
Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777Xs, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. For more
information, please visit: etihad.com
For
further details:
Duty
Media Officer
Etihad
Airways
Tel:
+97150 818 9596
Email:
dutymediaofficer@etihad.ae
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