Empowering Arab Women Pilots With Scholarships

New Scholarship Empowers Arab Women Pilots with 500,000 Dirhams

In the United Arab Emirates, the Women in Aviation Middle East scholarship program has been launched to specifically target Arab women who have been unable to pursue a career in aviation due to financial difficulties. Supported by the Intercontinental Aviation Academy (IAA), this initiative aims to help break down barriers that have kept women out of the cockpit.

Globally, only five percent of pilots are women, but the region is witnessing positive change: some airlines and aviation organizations employ up to 48 percent women. However, the IAA believes that there's still a long way to go to achieve gender balance, especially in technical and pilot positions.

What does the scholarship program offer?

The program, starting in 2025, consists of two main pillars:

A full scholarship worth over 385,000 dirhams, covering complete training including flight practices required to obtain the Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL).

Ten fully funded scholarships for the Fundamentals of Aviation course, totaling nearly 128,000 dirhams, providing foundational knowledge for young women new to the industry.

The IAA not only provides financial support but also mentoring and internship opportunities, so that the selected participants receive proper training and can enter the profession prepared. The program's mentors are experienced industry professionals who guide participants throughout their training. Additionally, the academy collaborates with industry partners to provide internship and potential employment opportunities to high-performing scholarship recipients.

Why is this scholarship important?

According to 2021 data from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), women comprise only 4.9 percent of pilots, air traffic controllers, and maintenance workers globally. In response, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) launched the '25by2025' initiative to increase women's presence in underrepresented and leadership positions by at least 25 percent by 2025. The IAA scholarship program aligns closely with this global effort by addressing the largest barrier—financial limitations.

When can you apply?

Official applications for the scholarship program open at the end of May 2025. Selected participants will be announced during the Annual Women in Aviation Middle East Meeting in November 2025. All training will take place at the IAA facilities located in the UAE.

Summary

This new scholarship program is not just about financially supporting women but about transforming the industry's face and proving that aviation is not exclusively a male privilege. Passion, determination, and ability are what truly count, not gender. With this initiative, the IAA is opening new doors for talented women in the region who choose the sky as the scene for realizing their dreams.

(Source of the article: Press release from Intercontinental Aviation Academy (IAA).)