Emirati women take the lead in UAE's evolving industrial sector
Khaled Al Khawaldeh (Abu Dhabi) Emirati women took centre stage in a show of leadership and capability at the Make it in the Emirates conference on Tuesday, underscoring their pivotal role in driving the country's industrial growth. Among the standout voices was Mariam Al Jaberi, Head of Production at Strata Manufacturing, who shared her inspiring journey from technician to industry leader.
Speaking to Aletihad after the panel discussion of influential female industrialists hosted by the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX), Al Jaberi reflected on her 14-year journey at the Al-Ain based aircraft component producer - one of the UAE's flagship manufacturing success stories. "I started in Strata in 2011 as a technician working on aircraft parts for the Airbus A330," she said. "Strata helped me by providing the right training - one year and a half of theory and practical work, completing 1,700 hours to become a qualified technician. Today, I lead all the business units, fabrication, shared services, and assembly."Al Jaberi's story is emblematic of a broader transformation in the UAE's industrial sector, where many Emirati women are not only participating but leading teams. The ADEX-hosted session brought together a distinguished group of women leaders from across the industrial ecosystem, highlighting the UAE's commitment to gender inclusion as a driver of economic growth.For Al Jaberi, the inclusion of women at every level of the company is not symbolic but strategic. "In Strata, we have a mix of both genders but over 78% of our staff are women. You'll find Emirati women everywhere - planning, lab, inspection, quality, HR, IT, even project managers, and even on the shop floor," she said. "Today, our CEO is Sara Al Memari. Our HR manager is also a woman. We've gone from zero to leadership. Women can be everywhere and at Strata, they already are."Strata's expansion mirrors this internal growth, with Al Jaberi noting that the production facility that began with only one line has now grown to 30. The company now supplies parts to global aerospace giants like Boeing and Airbus - an achievement that Al Jaberi said is a testament to the quality and innovation coming from its UAE-based operations."We are delivering to the US and France - some of the biggest customers in the world. Why do they come to Strata? There is something unique here. It's not just about the product. It's about passion and precision," she said. "Building aircraft parts requires attention to detail, and women excel in that. It's one of the reasons we thrive."The panel discussion echoed this sentiment, with senior figures - such as Dr. Alyazia Al Kuwaiti of Mubadala and Fatima Al Hammadi of KEZAD - emphasising how national strategies are deliberately focused on empowering Emirati women across advanced industries.In his opening remarks, Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), lauded the importance of ensuring women were the cornerstone of the national industrial strategy. "Empowering Emirati women in the industrial sector is both a national responsibility and a strategic priority," he said. "The success stories we see today reflect an ecosystem that recognises their potential and equips them with the tools to thrive."ADEX, through its financing and strategic initiatives, aims to play a key role in expanding opportunities for Emirati manufacturers - especially those led by women - to access global markets.
Looking ahead, Al Jaberi is confident that the UAE's ambitions in manufacturing have no ceiling.
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"Why not have a fully UAE-made aircraft one day?" she said.
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