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- At the age of 23, Sheikha Mozah stands as the UAE’s first Emirati female pilot and the first woman to join the Dubai Police Air wing
Captain Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum: “There are endless things to learn, explore and try when flying an aircraft. I've always wanted to push my limits."
Dubai, UAE: Heralding a unique ‘Game-Changer’ session at the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020, Captain Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum touched the Forum’s audience with her inspirational story of how she became not only the UAE’s first Emirati commercial female pilot but the first woman to join the Dubai Police Air Wing as First Lieutenant Pilot. During the moving session, she highlighted that the support she received from her family and the UAE’s leadership were instrumental in achieving her dreams.
“I can’t believe that something which started out as a hobby would turn my life around in such a meaningful way,” said Captain Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum. An adrenaline chaser from a young age, Sheikha Mozah first took to the skies at the age of 12 during a flight lesson in the UK with her brother. Her passion for flying blossomed over the years, and eventually landed her at the Oxford Aviation Academy when she was just 17.
“As women, we tend to create boundaries where they’re not needed. We answer questions in our heads before they’re even asked out loud,” said Sheikha Mozah. She shared how when she dared to ask a question out loud, she was met with overwhelming support from her family to study abroad alone for the first time, in pursuit of her commercial pilot’s license.
Persevering through the challenges of aviation training, Sheikha Mozah felt the need to push her boundaries and even went on to outperform many of her male counterparts, eventually taking to the skies on her first commercial flight with Emirates Airlines in 2016.
“It should come as no surprise that throughout my journey, I’ve noticed that the number of women in the aviation industry is far lower than the number of men. One of my instructors told me that he had only trained seven women throughout his 30-year career, but that all showed confidence, commitment, attitude and skills superior to the men he trained,” shared Sheikha Mozah.
“Given my experience and my love for aviation, I felt compelled to do something tangible that would accelerate the growth rate of women entering the industry,” she continued. In October of last year, Sheikha Mozah went on to establish the Women in Aviation Association, designed to increase awareness around the bounty of opportunities open to young women in aviation be it as lawyers, engineers, doctors or pilots.
She closed the session by thanking the UAE’s wise leadership for playing such a pivotal role in encouraging gender balance, and urged young Emirati women to step up to the plate and do their nation proud by representing them locally and internationally across all fields.
“I hope that my journey can serve as inspiration and encouragement to all young females still searching for a path, to show them that there is still space for women to serve our country,” Sheikha Mozah concluded.
The ‘Game-Changer’ sessions, introduced for the first time at Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020, showcased inspiring personal stories from women who have made great strides across various industries, providing insight into their journeys to success. The sessions highlight pioneering women’s diverse experiences – including the lessons learnt and obstacles overcome – as they delved into topics ranging across philanthropy, international relations, male-dominated industries, business, and more.
Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020 is organised by Dubai Women Establishment, which is led by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Building on its theme, ‘The Power of Influence’, the two-day Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020 discussed how effective policies and partnerships in four key areas – Government, Economy, Society, and the Future – can further women’s positive impact for a better future.
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About Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020:
Global Women's Forum Dubai (GWFD) 2020 is an international event being held on February 16-17, 2020 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is organised by Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) and held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.
Building on its theme ‘The Power of Influence’, GWFD 2020 offers a global platform to discuss improved policies and foster partnerships that further women’s positive impact across four key areas: government, economy, society, and future. The event aims to engage over 3,000 attendees – including global leaders, public and private sector experts, as well as entrepreneurs, academics and students – through workshops and keynote sessions.
The Forum’s Knowledge Partner is the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Alongside the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), DWE is also co-organising the We-Fi MENA Regional Summit – a side-line event that will host entrepreneurs from the region’s emerging economies.
In line with the UAE’s ongoing commitment to advance gender balance across all sectors, GWFD 2020 will drive female engagement and participation in the workforce, and is a testament to the country’s position as a global role model for the advancement of women.
About Dubai Women Establishment:
Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) was formed in 2006 as a statutory body of Dubai Government by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Ruler of Dubai. DWE is headed by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
The Establishment’s mission is to advance the engagement and socio-economic participation of women across various sectors and fields. DWE’s strategic plan 2017-2021 focuses on providing recommendations to shape policies; fostering strategic partnerships; developing capacity-building programmes; as well as conducting in-depth research and facilitating the exchange of knowledge by organising global events and leading initiatives.
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