Sky Pioneers: The 100-Year Journey of Arab Women in Flight

Today, on International Women’s Day, we take a moment to celebrate a century of Arab women’s achievements in aviation: 10 Decades, 10 Countries, 10 Pioneers

Since the early twentieth century, female pioneers across the Middle East and North Africa have systematically dismantled both cultural and institutional barriers, proving that the flight deck is an arena for all who love to fly. What began as the thrill of early biplanes has evolved into the command of supersonic fighter jets and orbital spacecraft. There are so many Arab women who have contributed to aviation history, and all should be celebrated. Here is a timeline of just a few of the regional firsts who redefined the skies.

1930s | Lotfia Elnadi | Egypt

The Milestone: Absolute first female pilot’s licence in the Arab world, achieved in 1933.

Defying her father’s traditional expectations, Elnadi traded administrative work as a telephone operator for flight lessons at Almaza Airbase. She participated in an air race and won, but was later disqualified. Her flying established aviation as a stage for women’s rights.

1940s | Josephine Samaan Ibrahim Haddad | Iraq

The Milestone: First Iraqi female aviator to command an aircraft in Baghdad in 1949.

In the immediate post-war era, she provided a Levant counterpart to the North African pioneers, transitioning women from individual recreational flying into the highly regulated professional sector.

1950s | Touria Chaoui | Morocco

The Milestone: First female aviator in the Maghreb, qualifying at age fifteen in 1951.

Training at a flight school initially reserved for French military personnel, her presence was an act of anti-colonial friction, thus transforming the aeroplane into a symbol of national independence. She founded the Royal Aero-Club, also becoming involved in an association for literacy and vocational training for young women.

1960s | Princess Aisha bint al-Hussein | Jordan

The Milestone: Building upon the 1962 integration of Jordanian women into the military, she set the precedent for female high-ranking command.

She was the first female from the Middle East to graduate from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the first woman in the Middle East to earn her parachutist wings. She served in the Jordanian Special Forces and championed the role of women in the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF), culminating in her promotion to the rank of Major General.

1970s | Alia Menchari | Tunisia

The Milestone: First female commercial pilot for Tunisair, completing her examinations in 1978.

She established the professional baseline for commercial aviators in North Africa, navigating a highly competitive, male-dominated corporate aviation environment.

1980s | Arbiya Benyahia | Algeria

The Milestone: First Maghreb female fighter pilot in the People’s National Army Air Force.

Serving during the Cold War era, she flew Soviet-origin jets, marking a significant departure from private civilian aviation into military combat roles.

1990s | Wadad Shujaa | Syria

The Milestone: First Syrian female commercial co-pilot, beginning her career in 1997.

Qualifying after comprehensive training in the United States, she returned to the Levant to break the commercial cockpit barrier at Syrian Airways, bridging a gap in regional aviation.

2000s | Aysha Al Hameli | United Arab Emirates

The Milestone: First Emirati female pilot in 2003, later representing the UAE at ICAO.

Moving beyond the cockpit, she became the first Arab woman to hold a senior diplomatic role in global aviation governance, actively shaping international aerospace policy.

2010s | Rasha al-Roumi | Kuwait

The Milestone: First woman to serve as Chairwoman and CEO of a national flag carrier, 2013.

She navigated the fiscal complexities of Kuwait Airways , spearheading a massive fleet renewal and proving that women could command the strategic boardroom as effectively as the aircraft.

2020s | Rayyanah Barnawi | Saudi Arabia

The Milestone: First Arab woman to reach the International Space Station, 2023.

As a biomedical scientist conducting microgravity research, her orbital mission represents the ultimate aerospace frontier, supported by state-sponsored national space programmes.

From individual rebellion to national strategy

The history of Arab women in aviation is a record of accelerating progress. What began with individual rebellion against cultural and institutional norms has transformed into institutional, state-led strategies in which female participation is viewed as essential to future industry and economic resilience. The cockpit, once a distant dream, is now a definitive platform for female ascendency in the twenty-first century.