Emirati women interested in entering the technical side of oil & gas sector face a tough range of challenges, from a lack of knowledge of jobs available for women in the oil & gas field, to gender stereotyping and the difficulty of balancing the family role with work.
“I think women face multiple challenges entering the oil & gas sector, such as gender stereotyping, a glass ceiling, and not being able to be part of the male network. This is very visible in UAE because of the conservative culture, as well as women’s family commitments as mothers and wives. There is also a lack of the required technical skills, a reluctance to work in technical fields, a lack of motivation and coaching and a lack of a proper career development plan,” said Alyazia Ali Al Kuwaiti, manager Evaluation, Executive Division, IPIC.
According to Mahra Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of Horizon Energy, and Al Kuwaiti, schools in the UAE should be promoting technical oil & gas jobs from grade 10 and 11 and discussing the benefits of technical jobs with female Emirati students.
“I think uncertainty about what lies ahead when you are in the school system; that is the biggest barrier for women. Education we have, being able to travel, we have, being more open minded than what we were, we have. The infrastructure is there. Once you are in the schooling system, before university, it is essential to understand what is out there in the oil & gas field and what the incentives are for you as a woman,” she said.
In the technical field at Zadco, there are incentives for women employees, such as more flexible hours, that allow women to have a proper family life/work life balance.
Up to 70% of students on science courses in MENA are female, meaning that oil & gas companies are going to have to develop female friendly hiring practices, more flexible working hours and better maternity leave and benefits to attract and maintain the best and brightest young engineers.
“Every industry, energy included, is constantly looking for ways to upgrade its corporate environment, best work practices, benefits programmes etc, to ensure that it garners the best talent, and if women are occupying 70% plus of science courses in the Middle East and North Africa regions, then clearly the oil & gas industry needs to adapt to their needs and expectations if they want to attract and retain the best talent that they can get,” said Dyala Sabbagh, partner at Gulf Intelligence.
Al Kuwaiti says that to encourage more women into the technical oil & gas sector, companies must offer a clear and well-defined career development plan, as well as mentorship by other successful female figures in the industry.
“It is important to encourage women to understand the male networks in the UAE and to access those networks through the right approach. Being creative and innovative will get women everywhere,” she said.
Facts:
– 70% of students on science courses in the MENA region are female
