Maria AlAwadhi Makes History with McLaren Racing Role

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Tuesday, 7 July 2026

American University of Bahrain (AUBH) has declared that its student Maria AlAwadhi has been selected for a one-year international internship with McLaren Racing.

The internship program will be conducted at the renowned McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Surrey, UK, giving Maria an exposure to an innovative motorsport team. This experience will definitely allow her to learn about international best practices, cross-departmental teamwork, and high performance working environment, thus enabling her to develop invaluable skills and knowledge of the global industry.

Maria is presently in the last year of her Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resources Management) at AUBH. After graduating in June this year, she will go down in history as the first Bahraini female to be a part of the McLaren Racing Team, thus marking a historic moment not just for the university but also for the entire country of Bahrain.

This internship program represents a strategically planned collaboration between AUBH and McLaren Racing, both being part of the Mumtalakat Holdings portfolio. This joint venture reflects the long-term plan of Mumtalakat to build synergies within its portfolio of companies and to train the human capital of Bahrain. The main objective of this program is to build a connection between excellent students and outstanding firms in order to prepare highly skilled employees for the future of Bahrain.

Key Highlights:

• AUBH student becomes first Bahraini woman to join McLaren Racing
• Maria AlAwadhi secures prestigious one-year internship at McLaren Racing
• AUBH-McLaren partnership opens global career pathway for Bahraini talent

Maria is set to commence her international internship for one year in September 2026 in England, where she is going to be part of the dynamic operational culture of McLaren Racing. In the process, Maria is set to get first-hand experience in the business processes, culture of high performance, and world-class operational standards of McLaren Racing. As an intern at McLaren Technology Centre, working alongside other professionals in the industry, she is set to gain experience in business operations and strategic cooperation.

Considering her appointment, Maria spoke highly of the privilege she enjoys in joining McLaren Racing as a turning point in her academic and professional career path. In appreciation of her appointment to such a reputable organization, she said that the internship provides her with a rare chance to develop her capabilities, increase her international outlook, and obtain experience in such an exemplary institution.

Additionally, she gave credit to AUBH for the part it has played in making her a competitive individual internationally. She further said that she hoped that her accomplishment would encourage other Bahraini young women to venture into international careers.

Commenting on the achievement, Dr. Wafa Almansoori, Interim President and Provost of the American University of Bahrain (AUBH), stated, “The University takes immense pride in AlAwadhi’s selection for this prestigious placement at one of the world’s most iconic racing organizations. This achievement is a testament to the academic excellence maintained by our students and reflects the growing international confidence in the professional competencies fostered at AUBH. The University remains deeply appreciative of its strategic alliance with Mumtalakat, a partnership that is vital to broadening the professional scope for our students and catalyzing their success within the global marketplace.”