- Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) announced that Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) has enrolled in its Challenger Programme
- The project aims to increase gender representation in traditionally male-dominated sectors
- The ruling is part of ongoing attempts to expand the chances for women in the UAE's manufacturing and industrial sectors
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the UAE's biggest industrial company apart from oil and gas, announced today that Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) joined its Challenger Programme as the latest company to do so.
Launched in November 2023 under the patronage of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the initiative has a vision to expand gender diversity in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
Its vision is to unite top industrial partners to drive best-in-class equitable and inclusive recruitment practices, empower women in the workplace, and create future-looking workplace cultures.
ENEC is also a strong advocate of gender diversity, and women hold 20 percent of the jobs—one of the widest proportions in the global nuclear power sector.
Women play important roles in engineering, operations, nuclear safety, and leadership within ENEC. It also initiated the Barakah chapter of ‘Women in Nuclear’ in 2014 and now chairs the Middle East chapter of the global organization.
EGA itself has 714 women working for it in the UAE, over 330 of who have operating positions. Explaining the news, Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO at EGA, stated: "Attaining gender diversity in heavy industry is the key to unleashing the full power of our industry.
The Challenger Programme was established to bring together companies with a similar vision to support and accelerate joint progress. We are delighted to welcome ENEC on board and learn from them."
His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO and Managing Director of ENEC, welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the importance of the contributions of women at Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant and to the development of the UAE's energy industry.
Challenger Programme has nine of the UAE's top industrial companies. The programme also collaborates closely with NAMA Women Advancement, which provides strategic guidance and knowledge partnership.
