AUS engineering alumna influencing UAE efforts in power and water infrastructure planning

A Senior Manager at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), a dedicated mother of four children, a published scholar and a big dreamer, American University of Sharjah (AUS) alumna Salha Aldisi believes that determination, lifelong learning and setting clear objectives pave the way to success in life.

Aldisi earned her Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from AUS. As head of the Department of Development and Technical Support at DEWA, she leads a professional team responsible for the management and implementation of power and water infrastructure planning projects, particularly associated with sustainability and smart cities. Her team also makes recommendations about the feasibility of new technology advancements to top management, and reports on high-level strategy issues in the UAE and Dubai, such as the Clean Energy Strategy 2050, Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, Dubai Urban Plan 2040 and others. In her division, Aldisi also oversees the Strategy team and Corporate Excellence and champions several key corporate functions, including circular economy, agility, governance and compliance. She also led the efforts of enhancing sustainability awareness and engagement among employees. 

Her professional journey began in 2000 at Etisalat, where she worked for two years in the IT, Internet and Data Department, followed by a short break from the professional world.

“I quit my job for five years to start a lovely family then rejoined the workforce in 2005 by working in the energy sector in DEWA. At the time, I was the only female engineer in the Department of Transmission System Planning and I progressed up the career ladder until I reached my current position as a Head of the Department in Power and Water Planning Division in 2018,” reflected Aldisi on her journey.

She added: “Returning to the workforce after a five-year gap is one of my life’s main milestones because it was a fresh start in a new field. I was a graduate trainee even though I had graduated seven years before that and had two years of work experience. This motivated me to work hard and devote every possible effort to close any professional gap and I succeeded to prove myself as a key member in my department. I was promoted in a short time to a managerial position.”

Another important milestone for Aldisi was her completion of her graduate studies at AUS, which were sponsored by DEWA, and the impact that had on her career progression. “I returned to AUS 12 years after finishing my undergraduate studies. I was determined to pursue my ambition of attaining my master’s degree while working in a critical and demanding position and being a mother of three children and pregnant with the fourth. It was very challenging yet a very rewarding experience,” she said.

Aldisi spoke of the impact her AUS journey has had on her career.  

“My graduate studies at AUS gave me an opportunity to further develop my personal and professional skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, research skills and paper writing.  I was also able to deepen some of the technical knowledge I gained by experience and back it up with theory.  My graduate thesis topic focused on solving a real challenge within the Dubai power system, allowing me to put theory into practice. The conclusion and recommendations included practical solutions that could be implemented. I also published two technical papers based on my thesis.”

Aldisi believes that success can be obtained by setting life objectives and having the determination to overcome challenges that come along the way.

“At certain times in my life, I felt that my dreams were out of reach and the effort required to achieve them was daunting. However, with persistence, determination and hard work I was able to thrive.  I am grateful for all the wonderful people who provided me with any kind of support that helped me to be who I am today.  I would also like to express my gratitude to DEWA and AUS for being the main supporters for my personal, academic and professional growth,” she said.

Aldisi added: “There are some challenges that face women in particular, especially when working in a male-dominant industry like engineering. These challenges include societal beliefs about women’s leadership abilities and pervasive stereotypes such as labeling assertive women as aggressive ones.  Luckily, women in the UAE are regarded to be on par with their male colleagues.”

Reflecting on some of the key life lessons she learned along the way, Aldisi said that continuous education is key to personal and professional development, adding that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is no less important. 

“There will be times when your professional life becomes very demanding, and you can easily get dragged into completing tasks or meeting tight deadlines without a single break. This should not be the norm. Always try to respect your personal and family commitments, look after yourself and get some free time to switch off and recharge,” she advised.

As one the Middle East’s top-ranked engineering colleges, the College of Engineering at AUS continues to empower the next generation of innovators, problem solvers, independent thinkers, global citizens, entrepreneurs and leaders who will impact the future of the world. CEN efforts have led its alumni to be ranked as the top choice for employers in the UAE, according to QS World University Subject Rankings (2022).  

For more information about what the College of Engineering at AUS has to offer, visit www.aus.edu/cen.