Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 27 August 2026: Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, today announced that more than 188 women have joined the company since Emirati Women's Day 2025, including 79 UAE Nationals.
EGA today employs 833 women in the UAE, including 462 UAE Nationals. More than 408 women at EGA hold operational roles, with Emiratis representing over 44 per cent of women in operations.
The company continues to expand opportunities for women across all areas of the business, including operations, technical roles, leadership positions, and corporate functions, supporting the UAE's vision to increase female participation in the industrial sector.
EGA also continues to advance gender diversity beyond its own operations through the Challenger Programme, a collaborative initiative launched by EGA in 2023 that brings together leading industrial companies to address common barriers faced by women in industry and accelerate meaningful change across the sector.
Through the Challenger Programme, participating companies are working together on practical initiatives that support inclusive recruitment, career development, retention, and workplace culture. Recent efforts have included the development of shared resources and tools to help companies implement best practices for fostering more inclusive industrial workplaces.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: "Emirati Women's Day is an opportunity to recognise the remarkable contribution of Emirati women to EGA, our industry, and the nation. We are proud of the progress we have made in gender diversity at EGA, particularly in operational and technical roles. Our ambition is not only to increase participation but also to ensure women have the support, development opportunities, and environment they deserve to succeed and thrive. Through our own initiatives and collaborations such as the Challenger Programme, we remain committed to helping build a more diverse and inclusive industrial sector for future generations."
In 2022, EGA opened to women for the first time its long-standing National Training programmes for front-line roles in industrial operations. In the first full year following the change, women accounted for some 20 per cent of new joiners. By 2025, over 40 per cent of new National Trainees were women.
EGA is a signatory to the United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles and remains committed to advancing gender diversity across its business. Through attracting, developing, and supporting female talent, EGA continues to champion women's participation and leadership in industry, contributing to the UAE's vision for a more inclusive and competitive economy.