Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week 2026: How MENA is Challenging Aviation Gender Norms

From a legacy of pioneers to 32,000 new pilots required, the MENA region is transforming its skies for a new generation of female aviators. Explore how the 2026 initiative is turning inspiration into career pathways through mentorship, global challenges, and landmark workforce shifts.

History in Flight: 116 Years of Female Pilot Licences

The 17th annual Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week (WOAW) is set to take flight from 2–8 March 2026, under the theme “Above & Beyond: Challenging Expectations.” This global initiative, established by aviation educator Mireille Goyer in 2010, marks the anniversary of the world’s first female pilot licence issued to Raymonde de Laroche on 8 March 1910.

As of early 2025, the movement has introduced over 580,000 women and girls to the skies across 77 countries, specifically targeting the “introduction gender gap” that has historically hindered female participation in the aerospace industry.

Regional Growth: UAE Outlier with 42% Female Staff

In the MENA region, the 2026 celebration will serve as a gauge of the rapid cultural and industrial transformation. While the regional average for female workforce participation is 34.4% (the lowest globally), the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a significant outlier, with women accounting for 42% of its aviation workforce.

A Century of Progress: Tracking MENA’s Female Aviators

This progress builds upon a legacy of pioneers like Egypt’s Lotfia El-Nadi, who secured her licence in 1933, and Morocco’s Touria Chaoui, who in 1951 became the youngest female pilot in the world at just 15.

Saudi Vision 2030: Opening Cockpit Doors for Women

Today’s MENA skies are defined by modern leaders like Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum of the UAE, the first woman globally to pilot the AW609 tiltrotor, and Captain Yasmeen Al-Maimani, who paved the way for Saudi women in commercial cockpits. Al-Maimani notes that since the advent of Saudi Vision 2030, “lots of doors have opened,” a sentiment reflected in the rise of low-cost carriers like flyadeal one-third of whose staff are women and which has in the past operated domestic flights with entirely female crews.

Fly It Forward: Introducing Girls to the Skies

Throughout the week of 2–8 March, local chapters of Women in Aviation International and regional flight schools host community events and mentorship sessions worldwide. These activities include the Fly It Forward® Challenge, which offers girls hands-on experience in small aircraft and simulators.

Pink Paper Planes: MENA Cities Join Global Aviation Week

The week concludes on March 8th, International Women’s Day, with the Pink Paper Plane Challenge, where participants fold a specific pink paper plane and submit a 10-second video or photo of them flying it to the iWOAW Pink Paper Plane World Map. This aims to “paint the sky pink,” to raise awareness of the gender gap, and celebrate female achievements in aviation. Previously, cities in the MENA, like Dubai (UAE) and Amman (Jordan), have participated.

Emirates’ Tradition: All-Female Flights

Major Middle Eastern carriers, such as Emirates, have established a tradition of operating symbolic all-female crew flights to mark International Women’s Day (8 March), highlighting women’s contributions to the aviation sector.

Challenging Expectations: The Future of MENA’s Female Aviators

As the Middle East prepares to recruit 32,000 new pilots by 2034, the mission to convert young women’s and girls’ aspirations into real career pathways has never been more critical.

Women in Aviation Week 2026 Activities:

If you or your organisation are planning a local aviation event or mentorship session for Women in Aviation Week or International Women’s Day, we would love to hear from you. Tell us how you are participating in the comments below.