EWEC Celebrates Women Driving UAE's Clean Energy Future

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Women engineers and technical specialists are playing crucial roles in supporting the UAE's path towards a clean energy economy and water security objectives, according to the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) in celebration of International Women in Engineering Day 2026.

Aligned with this year’s global theme global theme of "Engineering Intelligence," showcases the innovation, technical expertise and problem solving skills engineers possess in creating a more sustainable world. EWEC noted that Women are still an important part of its operations, including renewable energy development, water desalination, data science, system planning and grid management.

According to EWEC, women represent approximately one-quarter of its workforce, with around one-third of them serving in engineering and advanced technical positions. Their expertise is helping Abu Dhabi strengthen its water and electricity infrastructure while accelerating the transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy systems. Women are also taking on more leadership roles across the UAE’s evolving energy sector.

Key Highlights

• Women engineers support renewable energy and water security goals.
• Female talent drives innovation across critical infrastructure systems.
• EWEC expands leadership opportunities and technical development programs.

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EWEC reported that its female engineers are contributing to the creation of more intelligent operational systems, the development of more accurate weather forecasts, and the reliability and efficiency of water and electricity networks in Abu Dhabi. They are contributing to major national initiatives such as the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035, the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy, and the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036.

Eng. Mahra AlKhaja, Senior Vice President of Data Management and AI at EWEC  highlighted the growing importance of engineering expertise in shaping the future of the utility sector.

“Through data management and artificial intelligence, we are able to turn complex information into practical insights that support decision-making across Abu Dhabi’s water and energy network,” she said.

Mahra also noted the increasing presence of women in leadership and technical roles across the industry, adding that they are playing an essential role in the development of the nation’s infrastructure.

“The UAE’s energy transition is moving forward quickly, and women engineers are playing an important role in making that happen,” she added.

Women engineers are also contributing to the planning and execution of major infrastructure projects aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability. Eng. Zainab AlHaddad, Specialist Water System Optimisation Engineer at EWEC, explained that her work focuses on maintaining the efficiency of Abu Dhabi’s water network while supporting the integration of large-scale reverse osmosis desalination facilities.

“We constantly analyse system data to balance supply and demand, improve efficiency and reduce the energy used in water production,” she said. “It is rewarding to know that the work we do contributes directly to securing the UAE’s water supply.”

EWEC reiterated its plans for nurturing female engineering talent by providing mentoring initiatives, leadership growth, and technical upskilling and development in renewable energy, desalination technologies, grid reliability, and system operations. The company also highlighted that to reach the UAE's vision of a sustainable and low-carbon future, the advancement of women in engineering has continued to be a critical area of focus.