Boeing launches new platform inspiring women in the Middle East to explore opportunities in aerospace

Boeing has launched  'Pick Up Your Wings and Fly', an Instagram community designed  to inspire young women in the Middle East to explore opportunities in aerospace. 
The platform features female role models from the region’s aerospace industry sharing their personal and professional journeys. Their stories will help raise awareness of the many career paths the industry has to offer and will provide practical advice for young female graduates to make informed career choices. 
'Pick Up Your Wings and Fly' was unveiled during the ‘STEM Major Exploration Fair’ organized by Amideast and Boeing in Dubai, which brought together about 150 students from the UAE.  
Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central Asia, said: "We are incredibly proud to launch this dynamic community aimed at inspiring the next generation of female leaders in the Middle East to choose aerospace. At Boeing, we are deeply committed to driving female participation in STEM and advancing gender diversity, especially in aerospace. By following the UAE’s example of empowering women and championing their growth, we hope to help shape a future where women lead and innovate in this exciting industry."
Women are significantly underrepresented in the aerospace industry, and in the Middle East they represent just 5% of aviation professionals, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). 
Supported by government efforts, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and youth employability programs, the Middle East is seeing encouraging strides towards greater female representation in aerospace. 
Governments in the Middle East are implementing initiatives to ensure equal opportunities for women in various economic sectors, including aerospace. In the UAE, 15 companies, including Boeing, signed the UAE Gender Pledge, aiming to achieve a 30% representation of women in leadership roles by 2025. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 promotes women’s leadership and economic empowerment. Similarly, Egypt is enhancing access to aerospace training in line with the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030. In addition, Qatar is spearheading educational initiatives to boost female participation in STEM fields.
“'Pick Up Your Wings and Fly' aims to compliment and accelerate these concerted efforts by showcasing inspiring stories and offering young women practical guidance as they consider their future in our dynamic industry”, said Zeina El Hakam, communications manager at Boeing Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central Asia.
About Pick Up Your Wings and Fly 
‘Pick Up Your Wings and Fly’ is a new Instagram community by women in aerospace, dedicated to inspiring and encouraging more women to pursue lifelong careers in the industry.  
Powered by Boeing, the community features female role models of various professions from the Middle Eastern aerospace sector, who share their personal and professional journeys. Their stories resonate with young female students, raising awareness of the countless career paths in aerospace, and offering practical advice for informed career choices. 
Follow and support @pickupyourwings. To be featured or to nominate a role model send us a DM on Instagram.