STEM pioneers: the UAE women empowering the Middle East

Arab women are playing a vital role in the development of science research and innovation across the Middle East. UNESCO figures show up to 57% of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics graduates in Arab countries are women, while in the United Arab Emirates 61% of university STEM students are female.

Despite this, Alexandra Palt, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer of L’Oréal and CEO of the Fondation L’Oréal, says that women scientists face different obstacles at every stage of their career. She told Euronews, “We see women drop out at different stages of their science career… it can be that environment, the parents, the family, the teachers can be discouraging when this goes on. There's gender bias. There is discrimination.”

To raise awareness and promote women scientists’ achievements, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science Young Talents MENA Awards L'Oreal-UNESCO was held this year at EXPO 2020 Dubai. It recognized the achievements of 14 Arab female scientists from the Middle East and North Africa region, two of whom were from the UAE. They were celebrated for their ground-breaking research and fascinating discoveries in photonics and organ transplants.

One of the UAE winners, Dr. Ghasa Dushaq said, “It is a field that requires a lot of patience. The type of research that we are doing is very special and requires a lot of resources, lots of dedication from us. But being in the UAE, I've been really honoured to be amongst lots of universities that offer for us the right environment to do the research.”

Emirati women in particular are continuing to make their mark with a growing presence in medicine and make up at least 35% of health sector employees in the country. Emirati winner, Halima Alnaqbi revealed,