Emirati Women’s Day: AUS alumna inspires others to pursue their dreams

The United Arab Emirates celebrates Emirati Women’s Day today, August 28, in recognition of the integral role women play in the country as drivers for development and prosperity. Held under the theme “Inspiring Reality…Sustainable Future'', this annual celebration highlights some of the greatest achievements of Emirati women in challenging and unconventional environments. An example of this can be seen in the achievements of American University of Sharjah (AUS) alumna Wineyya Abdulla, who has shown that investing in women’s education can transform nations and build strong economies.

Abdulla exemplifies  the evolution of Emirati women in engineering roles, which are traditionally dominated by men. She is a plant superintendent in Ducab’s aluminum facility, one of the UAE's leaders in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper and aluminum wire and cable products. Her core responsibilities are to lead operation teams to maximize productivity and manufacturing efficiency, work with sales teams to meet customer requirements, and research and evaluate the best health and safety practices to improve the conditions at the factory.

After graduating from AUS in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Abdulla decided to build a career in manufacturing, a male-dominated field, following several inspirational discussions she had with her faculty advisor.

“I was interested in engineering because it allowed me to see how principles are applied to design. You operate on two levels in engineering: basics of science and practical application. For example, I can search and learn about a problem related to cable design as a theory, but at the same time, it is very satisfying to work practically on developing cables that can have an immediate impact on society. I was inspired by my professor to get a job in manufacturing. I got a chance to join Ducab in 2008 as a manufacturer engineer and since then I’ve stayed in the field because I liked being part of the production process where components come together, turning into a finished product that I can see and touch,” she said.

Abdulla’s career flourished, marking several milestones that made a real impact on the leader she has become today.

“In 2016 and after several years in manufacturing, I got a chance to join the assigned team for establishing Ducab’s aluminum plant. I was involved in the business meetings that were conducted with the machine manufacturers in the United States. The most important day for me was the opening ceremony when I took His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, on a factory tour,” she said.

Abdulla added: “In the same year, Ducab promoted me to become superintendent for the newly opened plant. This role gave me a broader perspective on all manufacturing processes and maintenance activities. It also helped me learn how to motivate people, support teamwork and understand people while supporting business objectives. Ducab also provided me with several training opportunities, including Six Sigma and Lean manufacturing. All my experiences shaped me to become the leader I am today, and I keep learning and improving every day.”

Abdulla reflected on her career and her future aspirations saying: “Ducab gave me the opportunity to grow and utilize my soft skills such as emotional self-awareness, empathy, conflict management and teamwork, which really gave me the competitive advantage as a woman in this field.”

She added: “For the future, I look forward to taking on more responsibilities. I would like to become known as an expert in this industry, and I would love to support and motivate new women graduates to take this career path. My message to women in general and Emirati women, in particular, is to believe in yourself, keep learning, work hard and use every opportunity to develop yourself.”

Abdulla continued to seek more experiences to support her work in the field. In 2015, she obtained a Master of Science in Engineering Systems Management from AUS while working.

“Reflecting on my time at AUS, my education helped me a lot in developing and improving my technical and personal skills. I learned how to work in a multicultural environment and gain the knowledge and expertise I need to improve my career growth. I also found student organizations at AUS to be important. I was a member of the Emirati Cultural Club at AUS, and that experience was important to improve social networking skills and gain leadership skills that help in future career paths,” she said.

AUS has been actively empowering women by advocating for diversity and uniting resources to encourage academic, leadership, professional and personal excellence.

"AUS is aligned with the UAE’s commitment to inclusivity and empowerment. We strive to support and actively showcase the contribution of women across all fields, and continuously work to foster female talent. We are proud of the strong Emirati women who have graduated from AUS and are now playing a pivotal role in society. Their achievements are a testimony to their determination, leadership skills and academic accomplishments, which has seen them thrive in some of the most challenging of environments. With the unwavering support of the UAE government, we see Emirati women proving themselves capable of creating change in every field they join. From engineering and medicine to the arts and foreign affairs, Emirati women today continue to break stereotypes and become a source of inspiration and pride,” said Dr. Susan Mumm, Chancellor of AUS.

For more information about what AUS has to offer, visit www.aus.edu.