The new companies join existing members ADNOC, Ducab, EMSTEEL, ENEC, Strata, TAQA, and TechnipFMC.

Founded by EGA in 2023, the Challenger Programme focuses on shared challenges ranging from encouraging more women to work in science, technology engineering and mathematics fields, to promoting inclusivity in industrial workplaces, to mentorship for young women in industry.

EGA has championed gender diversity in industry snice the start of this decade, setting itself ambitious goals to increase women’s role in the company’s workforce. Today EGA employs over 830 women with more than 60 per cent working in operational roles.. A quarter of all supervisory roles at EGA are held by women, a goal EGA set itself in 2021 to achieve by the end of 2025.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer at Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Diverse organisations perform better, making increasing the role of women at traditionally male-dominated industrial companies a business improvement opportunity as well as the right thing to do for society. We can make even faster progress if major industrial companies work together on this, so I am glad to welcome more of the UAE’s industrial champions to the Challenger Programme.”

Amel Chadli, Cluster President, Gulf Countries of Schneider Electric : “Building a more inclusive industrial sector requires collaboration and shared commitment. Through the Challenger Programme, we are proud to work alongside leading organisations across the UAE to develop inclusive leaders, share best practices, through coaching & Mentorship and create more opportunities for leaders to thrive. Together, we are helping shape a stronger, more diverse industrial workforce for the future."

Abdallah Massaad, Group CEO, RAK Ceramics, said: “Creating an inclusive workplace is not only the right thing to do ,  it is essential for building stronger businesses and stronger communities. RAK Ceramics is proud to join the EGA Challenger Programme and work alongside like-minded organizations to advance gender diversity across the industrial sector. Through collaboration, shared learning, and collective action, we can create more opportunities for women and shape a future where our industry reflects the diversity of the society it serves.”

Thierry Dezenclos, CEO Veolia UAE, said: “Veolia is proud to support the EGA Challenger Program and its focus on inclusion and diversity for women in heavy industry. At Veolia, we believe that the future of industry must be built with diverse talents, perspectives, and leadership, and that women have a vital role to play in shaping a more innovative, resilient, and sustainable industrial sector."

Romain Crouzit, Managing Director of Delta Plus Middle East, said: “It is a true pleasure to be part of the Challenger Programme, alongside some of the UAE’s most reputable and visionary organizations. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn, collaborate and contribute with such an inspiring network, and I look forward to the progresses we can achieve together as we continue to support leadership, women empowerment and positive impact to the society.”

Paul Button, CEO of Knauf GCC, said: “Real progress is achieved when diverse perspectives come together with a shared purpose. KNAUF is proud to join the Challenger Programme and reaffirm our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact.”

Since the Challenger Programme’s launch, EGA has worked closely with NAMA Women Advancement to develop initiatives tackling industry challenges and encouraging more women to join the STEM fields.

One such initiative is a gender assessment toolkit, which enables industrial companies to evaluate policy, workplace culture, talent development, and inclusion practices, helping identify opportunities to advance gender diversity.

The Cross Mentorship initiative supports women in heavy industries by providing access to mentorship opportunities. Pairing candidates with professionals and leaders from amongst the Challenger Programme members, participants develop the critical industry skills required to succeed in their fields.

Last year also saw the launch of the DEI Cultural Toolkit, a sector-aligned framework that provides organisations with practical strategies, resources, and tools to support making industrial workplace more inclusive.

Alongside these initiatives, the Challenger Programme members commissioned a research study in close collaboration with American University of Sharjah to better understand the challenges faced by women in heavy industry.

Released in February 2026, the study explores the barriers impacting women in the sector, best practices for creating more inclusive workplaces, as well as guidance on future policies and initiatives.

EGA achieved the target it set itself back in 2021 to reach 25 per cent gender diversity at supervisory levels by the end of 2025. Women then held just 18 per cent of supervisory roles at EGA.

In 2025, more than 200 women joined the company, including 113 UAE Nationals. EGA now employs over 830 women. More than 60 per cent working in operational roles focused on engineering.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Advancing women’s role in industry is essential to building a future-ready workforce that drives excellence. The progress we have achieved reflects our belief that diverse organisations perform better. That’s why we are focused on creating an inclusive environment, and why we will continue to create opportunities for women to contribute, grow, and lead EGA’s and the UAE’s long-term success.”

Last year, EGA recruited 199 young UAE nationals, including 95 women, into the company’s National Training and Graduate Training programmes. EGA’s National Training programmes prepare high school graduates for technical and administrative positions in the company’s industrial facilities and administration.

EGA aims to increase women’s representation to 15 per cent of all roles by the end of 2026, with women currently accounting for 12 per cent of the total workforce including frontline operators.

In early 2025, EGA launched Ershaad, a mentorship programme for female UAE students to encourage careers in industry, particularly in STEM fields. Through mentoring by EGA experts, the programme provides industry exposure, career guidance, and access to professional networks to help young women shape their future careers.

In 2023, EGA launched the Challenger Programme, bringing together leading industrial companies to collaborate on advancing gender diversity across the sector by addressing shared, practical challenges.

EGA has worked with the American University of Sharjah to research barriers to women’s participation in the heavy industrial workforce and find solutions to achieve systemic inclusion.

EGA established its Women’s Network in 2020, providing women at all levels of the company a platform for connection, leadership development, and mutual professional support.

EGA currently employs 714 women in the UAE, including 445 UAE Nationals. More than 330 women work in operational roles at EGA, over 50 per cent of them Emiratis.

EGA continues to drive gender diversity progress across UAE industry through the Challenger Programme. Launched in 2023, the programme brings together leading industrial companies to promote gender diversity in industry by addressing shared practical challenges.

Together, Challenger Programme member companies are delivering joint initiatives that promote inclusive recruitment, empower female talent, and foster progressive workplace cultures. Recent projects include the development of a gender diversity toolkit. which aims to define inclusive policies and behaviours across the employee lifecycle in heavy industry.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Gender diversity is key to the future of EGA and our nation’s industrial success. At EGA, we are proud to provide opportunities for women to thrive, not just in our offices but in the heart of operations. Through initiatives like the Challenger Programme, we are working with our peers to build a more inclusive industrial sector that empowers the full talent of the UAE. There is more to do, and we are committed to continuing this progress together.”

EGA today launched Made by Many, a new campaign that celebrates the contributions of Emirati women to the UAE’s industrial sector. Made by Many highlights the success stories and the social support systems that have enabled resilience and achievement, reflecting the spirit of the UAE’s Year of Community.

On Emirati Women’s Day, EGA’s senior leaders attended an event organised by EGA’s Women’s Network to discuss how to make further progress on gender diversity.

EGA Women’s Network held the summit at the company’s headquarters in Al Taweelah, hosting VIP guests from participating companies as part of EGA’s Challenger programme, an initiative dedicated to promoting gender diversity across UAE industry.

This included representation from leading UAE companies such as ADNOC, DUCAB, Technic FMC, Strata Manufacturing, as well as partnership agencies, Nama and Impactiv.

The summit’s opening keynote was facilitated by Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, who touched upon the vital role of men as allies to gender equity. A panel discussion was also held exploring how women in heavy industries drive change rapidly, aligning with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Accelerate Action.’

EGA aims to have women hold 25 per cent of supervisory roles by the end of 2025, and 15 per cent of all roles by the end of 2026. Currently, women hold 23.3 per cent of supervisory roles and 9.6 per cent of all roles at the company.

EGA hired some 200 women during the past year of which110 were UAE National women. This accounted for more than half of company’s Emirati intake for the year.

The company has increased the number of women within its workforce by 131 per cent since launching its gender diversity programme, growing from 291 women in April 2022 to 673 by the end of last year. This reflected an increase in representation across the entirety of EGA’s workforce at different levels of the organisation.

Some 65 of the women joiners were in EGA’s National Training programmes, which prepare high school leavers for technical and administrative roles in the company’s industrial facilities and administration. The majority of EGA’s 2024 graduate trainee intake was also women.

H.E. Maryam AlHammadi, Minister of State and the Secretary General of the United Arab Emirates Cabinet said: “Starting my career as the first Emirati woman working in the UAE's first aluminium smelter in the former Dubai Aluminium (Dubal). I have witnessed first-hand the UAE’s remarkable transformation in gender equality. Today, Emirati women are not just participants in progress—they are leading it, shaping the future across all sectors. Our journey is built on a legacy of empowerment, visionary leadership and bold legislative reforms. Our commitment remains unwavering: investing in women is investing in a prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive future for all.”

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “EGA is a champion on gender diversity in industry because we know that diverse organisations perform better. We aim to increase women’s participation across all levels, ensuring our workplaces reflect the full talent and diversity of the UAE. By taking tangible steps, like inclusive policies and leadership development, we are accelerating progress toward a truly gender-equitable industrial sector."

EGA continues to invest in modernising its infrastructure across its operations, ensuring ample facilities are present for its ever-expanding female workforce. The implementation of awareness training and support programmes have become the foundation of EGA’s inclusion practices, leading to diverse teams operating under the vision that all can equally contribute to the growth of the organisation.

Women at EGA have successfully integrated themselves across several traditionally male-dominated areas — from holding junior roles on the shop floor to fully-fledged fire fighters operating with EGA’s emergency response teams.

During the seminar, EGA highlighted the latest development from ‘Break the Mould’, an initiative which aims to inspire young women with an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to follow in the footsteps of pioneering women who have contributed significantly to the UAE’s industrial sector.

In 2023, EGA launched the Challenger Programme, bringing together leading industrial companies to promote gender diversity in industry by addressing shared practical challenges.

Since its inception, the initiative has advanced research examining the participation of women in STEM-related industries. Women in STEM fields within the global industrial workforce stand at 28.2 per cent with the greatest representation in utilities, oil, gas and mining, and infrastructure.

In the UAE, 56 per cent of UAE government university graduates in STEM are women representing a strong talent pool for heavy industries.

The new safety signage highlights the growing role of women in heavy industry, and is already installed in EGA’s Casthouses and potlines. It will now be rolled out across EGA.

EGA is also making the designs for the new signage available to any industrial company that wishes to follow EGA’s example.

The new signage is the latest initiative from ‘Break the Mould’, a campaign that aims to inspire young women with interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to follow in the footsteps of pioneering women who have contributed significantly to the UAE’s industrial sector.

This initiative advances gender equity and inclusion in traditionally male-dominated industries, reinforcing the momentum behind this year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Accelerate Action.’

EGA today employs over 670 women in the UAE in total, including 305 in operations. The company aims to have women hold 25 per cent of supervisory roles to be held by women by the end of this year, up from 23.3 per cent today, and 15 per cent of all positions by 2026.

EGA hired 110 UAE National women in 2024, more than half of company’s Emirati intake for the year.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Creating a truly inclusive workplace means ensuring that all employees feel represented and valued. At EGA, we are committed to fostering an environment where talent thrives, regardless of gender. Our dedication to diversity strengthens our organisation, drives innovation, and enables us to attract and retain the best people to lead our industry into the future. By cultivating an inclusive culture, we empower our employees to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to EGA’s long-term success.”

Launched on Emirati Women’s Day 2024, Break the Mould promotes the unique experiences of the women who have risen to leadership positions and made significant contributions to the UAE’s industrial sector. At the centre of the campaign are the ‘Heavy Lifters’, a collective of extraordinary women who established themselves as pioneers across their respective fields.

In January 2025, EGA partnered with the United Arab Emirates University’s (UAEU) College of Engineering to engage with aspiring STEM Talent. Heavy Lifters comprising representatives from EGA and Strata Manufacturing met with students, sharing their experiences of working and flourishing in heavy industry.

A special mural by UAE artists, Fatima Al Hammadi and Wesal Al Ali, was commissioned by EGA and presented to the University, serving as an inspiring symbol of the role of women in heavy industry.

The programme aims to further encourage and equip young women to pursue careers in industry, and is particularly focused on students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Ershaad focuses on enhancing critical skills for professional development through dedicated mentoring with EGA experts. EGA mentors will offer the students industry exposure, career guidance, and access to professional networks that will empower students to shape their future careers.

The programme also includes networking events and group interactive workshops focussed on practical training, organisational culture, and financial acumen.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “The UAE is one of few countries in the world where more women than men graduate from university in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Empowering young people to pursue careers in industry is one way EGA can contribute to the development of a knowledge-based economy and the achievement of the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial growth strategy. Our goal is to inspire today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators, and I am pleased to see young women engage in EGA’s Ershaad programme.”

EGA has partnered with the American University of Sharjah, the Sharjah University, the United Arab Emirates University, and Khalifa University to enrol students in the Ershaad programme.

EGA aims to grow the future national industrial workforce of the UAE through many student outreach programmes including Engineer the Future, EGA’s Ambassador Programme, and an Al Robot competition for university engineering students.

The Engineer the Future programme reached more than 7,300 students from 29 schools in the 2023-2024 academic year, and over 30,000 since the initiative was launched in 2017. The programme encourages interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by explaining their real-world industrial applications.

EGA is a significant employer for science, technology, engineering and mathematics professionals, employing around 1,500 people in these fields including over 500 UAE Nationals.

EGA now employs over 550 women in the UAE in total, including more than 195 in operations. The company is aiming for 25 per cent of supervisory roles to be held by women by 2025, up from around 20 per cent today, and 15 per cent of all positions by 2026.

EGA marked Emirati Women’s Day with the launch a new initiative dedicated to promoting gender diversity across UAE industry.

EGA’s Break the Mould initiative aims to inspire young women with an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to follow in the footsteps of pioneering women who have made significant contributions to the UAE industrial sector.

The UAE is one of only a few countries in the world where more women than men graduate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “At EGA and in the UAE industrial sector, pioneering women are making significant contributions and inspire many more women to follow in their footsteps. Emirati Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate their achievements in our industry and our nation. We believe that diversity leads to improved business performance, and we are committed to creating more opportunities for women and to inspire the next generation of women leaders and innovators in the UAE.”

On Emirati Women’s Day, EGA’s Women’s Network organised an event for all women at EGA to showcase the progress made so far and discuss how to further accelerate gender diversity.

In 2022, EGA opened the long-standing National Training programmes for front-line roles in industrial operations to women for the first time. Some 20 per cent of the programmes’ new joiners were women in the first full year since opening the programme for females.

Last year, EGA launched the Challenger Programme, which brings together leading industrial companies to make quicker progress on promoting gender diversity by addressing shared practical challenges.

EGA is a signatory to the United Nations’ Women’s Empowerment Principles and committed to promoting gender diversity throughout its business as well as advocating for women’s role in industry and society.

The event brought together women from leading organisations in the UAE including ADNOC, Ardian Limited, CCI France UAE, EDF Energy, ENOC, Ducab, Mastercard, Miral, MENALAC, Nama Women Advancement, Siemens, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and WiSER.

The group discussed collaboration opportunities to advocate for the empowerment of women in the workplace in line with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Inspire Inclusion’.

EGA employs more than 470 women in the UAE, including 160 women in operations. EGA has set goals to increase the proportion of women in supervisory positions to 25 per cent by 2025, compared to over 22 per cent at the end of 2023, and 15 per cent of all positions by 2026.

The majority of EGA’s current graduate trainees are women. Some 20 per cent of participants in EGA’s National Training programmes, which prepare high school leavers for technical and administrative roles, are women just over a year after the company opened these programmes to women for the first time.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Promoting gender diversity is a priority for EGA and is part of our bold aspiration to become a talent driven organisation. We have made significant progress but there is still more to do. Our commitment to achieving our targets will contribute to the UAE’s long-standing national objectives to increase the participation of women in the economy and society.”

Last year, EGA launched the Challenger Programme in partnership with Aurora50, which brings together leading industrial companies to make quicker progress on promoting gender diversity by addressing shared practical challenges.

EGA is a signatory to the United Nations’ Women’s Empowerment Principles and committed to promoting gender diversity throughout its business as well as advocating for women’s role in industry and society.

The EGA Women’s Network was launched in 2020, and provides women at all levels of the company a platform for mutual professional development support.

The Challenger Programme, under the patronage of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, brings together major industrial companies in the UAE that are traditionally male-dominated and share the goal of promoting gender diversity. The first companies joining EGA in the Challenger Programme are ADNOC, Ducab, Emirates Steel Arkan, Siemens, Strata, TAQA and TechnipFMC.

EGA has set itself ambitious goals for gender diversity. The company aims to increase the proportion of supervisory roles held by women to 25 per cent by 2025, and for 15 per cent of all positions at EGA to be held by women by 2026.

The goal of the Challenger Programme is to make quicker progress on gender diversity by sharing innovation and best practice on practical challenges all the companies face, from redesigning worker accommodation to amending policies and procedures, and together advocating for more women to join industry.

The Challenger Programme was launched at Aurora 50’s Inclusion Summit in Abu Dhabi.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, said: “As a responsible global energy provider, ADNOC is committed to driving gender diversity. We are very pleased to join The Challenger Program which will help accelerate gender diversity and build a more inclusive workforce across the energy industry.”

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said, "Diversity drives business performance, and is also good for society. Promoting gender diversity is an important priority at EGA as part of our bold aspiration to become a talent-driven organisation. I am convinced that we can make even faster progress working together with like-minded companies, and I thank all our partners for joining EGA in the Challenger Programme.”

His Excellency Abdulla Ali Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary of Domestic Worker Affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, member of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said: “The launch of the Challenger Programme supports the ministry’s strategy to accelerate gender diversity in workplaces. The UAE has emerged as a global leader in gender balance in light of national legislations and government initiatives that support diversity and equality.”

His Excellency added: "The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation won the fifth edition of the Gender Balance Index for the Federal Government. The award reflects the ministry’s focus on implementing polices that reduce the gender gap in the workplace. Our goal is to drive updated practices to further women’s participation in different sectors as well as their economic contribution."

EGA currently has 471 women working at all levels, including over 160 in Operations. Some 100 UAE National women joined EGA last year.

Two members of EGA’s Executive Committee are women, and EGA has appointed women to nine positions on subsidiary boards within the group. Last month, EGA hired women as utility operators - frontline non-supervisory roles in Operations - for the first time. EGA opened its National Training Programmes, which develop UAE National high school leavers for technical positions, to women in 2022.

EGA became a signatory to the United Nations’ Women's Empowerment Principles in 2022.

Mohammad Almutawa, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ducab, said: “Ducab is committed to fostering gender diversity, recognizing its fundamental value in driving innovation and progress within industries. Understanding the importance of diverse perspectives, Ducab advocates for inclusive environments that empower women in these sectors. Acknowledging the untapped potential, the company believes in collaborative efforts among businesses to advance gender equality, and strives to break gender barriers and stereotypes, and encourage women's participation in technical roles. Indeed, women now account for 24 per cent of the group's management roles, distributed between top and middle management, as well as 21 per cent of its engineers and 24 per cent of office staff.

“Embracing diversity not only enriches the workforce but also enhances decision-making, driving industry transformation. Ducab believes that a collective effort is essential to accelerate gender diversity in these industries.”

Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Steel Arkan, stated: "Emirates Steel Arkan's commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment characterised by diversity, equality, and empowerment is resolute. Our participation in the esteemed Challenger Programme alongside other Founding Members exemplifies this dedication. Within the UAE's heavy industry, we take pride in leading by example, actively attracting and retaining highly skilled female professionals, championing gender diversity within our organization, and serving as a beacon of inspiration for more women to enter this sector. Undoubtedly, the Challenger Programme will play a pivotal role in advancing and significantly enhancing gender balance throughout the entire industrial ecosystem."

Helmut von Struve, the Chief Executive Officer of Siemens in the Middle East, said: “We are proud to join 'The Challenger Program,’ led by EGA, to drive gender balance in the UAE’s industrial sector.  At Siemens, we recognise the underrepresentation of women in our workforce, and we're committed to systemic change with a goal for at least 30 per cent female leadership by 2025. This initiative fits with our global strategy to build a diverse foundation to drive future innovation and growth.”

Ismail Ali Abdulla, Head of UAE Clusters, UAE Investments Platform- Mubadala, and Managing director & Chief Executive Officer of Strata, said: "Joining the Challenger Programme is a testament to Strata's commitment to breaking barriers into new industries. At Strata, we believe that diversity isn't just a metric, it's a powerful catalyst for innovation, progress, and strength. We at Strata stand firm in the conviction that it's our responsibility and our privilege to foster a culture of inclusivity. By collaborating with other industry leaders, we aim to rewrite the narrative, proving that when we come together, we can truly accelerate the pace of change for diversity in advanced industries.”

Jasim Husain Thabet, Group Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Director, said: "At TAQA, we believe in the power of diversity, equity and inclusion and its role in driving the company’s growth and excellence. We believe that through our collaboration with the Challenger Program, we will further encourage a culture that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and forward-thinking. As industry leaders, we are committed to enhancing gender diversity and ensuring fair opportunities within our sector. A more diverse workforce, supported by inclusive and equitable working practices will help improve decision-making, enhance performance, and drive innovation and creativity, each critical in our efforts to reinforce our position as a leading low-carbon power and water champion.”

Thierry Conti, President, Surface Technologies, TechnipFMC, said:  "At TechnipFMC, our purpose is to drive real change in the energy industry. We know that how we do business is as important as why we do business, and we strive for a culture that is diverse, inclusive, and forward-thinking. We are proud to be part of the Challenger Programme and together with other Founding Members, look forward to making a positive impact to the gender diversity challenge facing our industry."

The move is part of EGA’s commitment to promote gender diversity at all levels of its business. By 2026, EGA’s goal is that 15 percent of all positions at the company held by women. EGA aims to increase the proportion of supervisory roles held by women to 25 percent by 2025, from around 20 per cent today.

Utility operators are frontline non-supervisory employees in EGA’s industrial operations. EGA is a pioneer in recruiting women for these types of roles in the Gulf, and this required new international recruitment strategies.

EGA already has over 470 women working at all levels, including more than 160 in Operations but none at the utility operator level.

EGA has deployed significant resources to facilitate greater gender diversity, from developing new strategies for worker accommodation, to building facilities for women in other parts of the company’s plants which were not originally constructed with them.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: ”Diversity drives business performance and is also good for society. We are charting new paths for women into roles throughout EGA. As we embrace this transformative approach, we align ourselves with the broader objectives of the UAE and set a benchmark for others to follow.”

In 2022, EGA opened National Training programmes for technical roles in industrial operations to women for the first time, with 11 young UAE National women joining during the year.  

The company currently has 75 graduate trainees, 49 of them women. Graduate trainees complete 18 or 24 months of training for supervisory positions in corporate functions or in industrial operations.

EGA has appointed women to nine positions on subsidiary Boards in recent years, and is a partner of Aurora50, a UAE organisation which helps prepare women for Board-level roles.

The Women's Network at EGA provides a platform for women at all levels of the company to share their successes and challenges and foster growth and development.

EGA is aiming for women to hold 25 per cent of supervisory positions at EGA by 2025, and 15 per cent of all positions by 2026.

Over 400 women work at EGA around the world today, in roles from shift technicians to executive leadership.

The UAE is one of only a few countries in the world where more women than men graduate in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, all essential skills for EGA.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “Diversity drives business performance, and is also the right thing for society. Heavy industry is traditionally male-dominated, and our goal is to change that. On International Women’s Day, I celebrate all the incredible women already working at EGA and look forward to many more joining our company.”

EGA is a signatory to the United Nations’ Women’s Empowerment Principles and committed to promoting gender diversity throughout its business as well as advocating for women’s role in industry and society.

EGA is a partner of Aurora50, a UAE initiative to build the pipeline of women with the required experience for board-level positions. Women have taken nine subsidiary Board positions within EGA since 2020.  

EGA’s gender diversity hiring policy is tied into a wider programme of Emiratisation. In 2022, EGA recruited over 220 UAE Nationals, including 100 women.

United Arab Emirates, 8 February 2023: Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, today signed an agreement with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (NAFIS) to share the company’s best practice in Emiratisation with the private sector.

EGA has one of the highest Emiratisation rates of any major company, when accounting for the high number of blue collar roles in heavy industry. Under the agreement, NAFIS and EGA will cooperate so private sector companies can benefit from EGA’s more than four decades of experience in Emiratisation.

The agreement was signed at EGA’s Al Taweelah site in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, by His Excellency Ghannam Butti Al Mazrouei, Secretary General of NAFIS, and Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA.

During the visit, His Excellency Dr. Al Awar greeted several hundred newly-recruited Emiratis at EGA.

The recruits are amongst the more than 220 UAE Nationals EGA hired last year, including 100 women. The average age of EGA’s 2022 Emirati intake was 23 years old. While EGA recruits mid-career experts, the company focuses on attracting and developing young people who are starting their careers as talent for the future.

NAFIS is a Federal Government initiative that aims to raise the competitiveness of Emirati citizens and provide them with job opportunities in the private sector, including through recruitment, training, and salary and benefits support. NAFIS is projected to allocate around 24 billion dirhams to provide benefits to 170,000 Emirati citizens within five years of its initiation.

EGA finished 2022 with an in-focus Emiratisation rate of 42 per cent.

His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation said:

“Meeting the talented young Emiratis starting their careers at EGA was a true pleasure.

 EGA has always been at the forefront of Emiratisation over the past decades, with local talent the foundation of this UAE industrial company’s global competitiveness. All private sector companies can benefit from EGA's expertise as we work to drive Emiratisation in our national economy."

His Excellency Ghannam Butti Al Mazrouei, Secretary General of ETCC, said: "We are honoured to partner with EGA as a key member of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, NAFIS, in alignment with the government's efforts to establish strong partnerships and create a supportive environment for Emiratis to excel in the private sector. Our partnership demonstrates our commitment to promoting collaboration for the benefit of private sector employees through the NAFIS programme and its empowering initiatives. We commend EGA for its unwavering dedication and comprehensive programme to cultivate productive Emirati human capital in the private industrial sector."

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Recruiting and developing UAE Nationals has been a priority at EGA since we began production in the late 1970s. Emiratisation at EGA ensures we have the talent we need to succeed, as well as creating opportunities for local men and women in line with national priorities. We look forward to working closely with NAFIS to support its work to accelerate Emiratisation across the UAE’s private sector. I was honoured to introduce His Excellency to some of our new recruits.”

Iman Al Qasim, Executive Vice President of Human Capital at Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “The agreement with NAFIS will enable us to share our knowledge and experience on recruiting and developing UAE Nationals to succeed in the private sector. Partnership with NAFIS will also support our own further Emiratisation through the recruitment and development of UAE Nationals.  As our own goal is to continuously improve our Emiratisation performance at EGA for the future success of the company as well as the nation.”.”

EGA’s National Training programmes develop young UAE Nationals for operational roles in EGA’s industrial facilities and in administration. More than 5,000 UAE Nationals have graduated from the programmes since they were first established in 1982, with many pursuing long and successful careers at EGA and some reaching the highest levels in the company.

Almost 1,200 UAE Nationals now work at EGA. Over 700 of EGA’s Emirati employees are under the age of 35.