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Emirates Global Aluminium said in a statement that more than 188 women joined the company since last year’s Emirati Women’s Day, including 79 UAE nationals, as it continues to expand opportunities across operational, technical, leadership and corporate functions. The aluminium producer now employs 833 women in the UAE, of whom 462 are Emirati nationals, according to the company. More than 408 women hold operational positions at EGA, with nationals accounting for over 44 per cent of its female operations staff. The latest intake builds on a series of initiatives that have steadily increased female representation since the firm first opened its National Training programmes for front-line industrial roles to women in 2022.
According to EGA, women accounted for more than 40 per cent of new joiners to those training programmes by 2025, up from 20 per cent in 2023, reflecting sustained progress in attracting female talent to traditionally male-dominated industrial work. The company, a signatory to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles, said it remains focused on supporting UAE national priorities for greater female participation in the industrial economy. Earlier announcements from EGA showed the firm employed 714 women, including 445 nationals, at the time of the previous Emirati Women’s Day milestone.
EGA launched the Challenger Programme in 2023 alongside other major UAE industrial companies to tackle shared barriers to gender diversity, the company stated. The collaborative effort has produced joint resources, including a gender diversity toolkit that sets out inclusive policies and behaviours across the employee lifecycle in heavy industry. Through the programme EGA and its partners have developed practical approaches to inclusive recruitment, talent empowerment and workplace culture that can be scaled across the sector.
Abdulnasser bin Kalban, chief executive of Emirates Global Aluminium, said in the statement, “Emirati Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the remarkable contribution of Emirati women to EGA, our industry, and the nation.” He added that the company takes pride in the progress made in gender diversity, particularly in operational and technical roles. Bin Kalban noted the ambition extends beyond increasing numbers to ensuring women receive the support, development opportunities and environment needed to succeed and thrive.
The company has used its own initiatives and partnerships such as the Challenger Programme to help shape a more diverse and inclusive industrial sector for future generations, EGA said. Previous company data showed female hiring momentum building over multiple years, with operational roles seeing particularly strong gains in Emirati participation. The latest figures come as EGA continues to align its workforce strategy with national goals for sustainable economic development and talent development in core industries.
