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In a field where only 0.2% of female applicants are admitted to ATC programs, Jouhayna Almheiri is making waves
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After the difficult situation of having to be the sole breadwinner of the family, Jouhayna Almheiri has risen to a position where she has started representing Emirati women on global platforms. A true warrior in every way, her story is one of sheer courage, determination and dedication.
Almheiri, the son of an Emirati father and a Tanzanian mother, studied in Sharjah. Bullied for being mixed race and not knowing Arabic, she had to transfer schools three times. However, one thing has remained constant throughout her life: her work ethic.
Almheiri was assisting her in her mother’s veterinary clinic even before she could speak clearly. “My responsibilities have grown as I have grown,” she said. “Soon I started picking up calls and making appointments.”
Towards the end of high school, she didn’t know what career path to pursue, but she knew she needed to contribute to the family’s income. In her position where she must be the family’s sole breadwinner, Almheiri desperately seeks a plan that will help her quickly.
“I applied for a number of jobs and scholarship programs that we Emiratis are fortunate to have,” she said. “They pay you while training you and ultimately guarantee you a job. The pay for the scholarship program increases over a short period of time. .”
However, she faced a major challenge. “As a biracial person, my parents talked to each other in English, and I was fluent in English, so I had to find a program that worked for me,” she said.
“Air traffic control is one of the only programs that doesn’t require me to speak Arabic,” she said. “And, it got the highest reward.
So my interest was purely based on my need to support my family. I decided to pursue a project and decided I had no choice but to succeed. “
Thus begins the first chapter of one of the greatest challenges of her life. The global acceptance rate for air traffic control applicants into the ATC program is only 1%. For women, that shrunk to 0.2% in male-dominated fields.
After 2.5 years, Almheiri made history. She became the youngest and second Emirati woman to successfully complete the ATC training programme at the UAE Regional Control Centre.
Currently, she is living the life of her dreams. “I represent Emirati women at global events and am the first woman to chair a global air traffic management conference at the Dubai Airshow,” she said.
She has also participated in school events to spread awareness of air traffic controller career options and recently spoke for students on the TEDx stage. “I really enjoy working with young people and giving back to young people,” she said.
However, she admits that her job is challenging. “As we all know, air traffic control is one of the most stressful jobs in the world,” she said. “Every time we plug in at work, we are responsible for hundreds of lives.
For example, an Airbus 380 is certified to carry 840 people, and that’s just one plane during my shift. My job is to keep these aircraft on the correct flight path and at a safe altitude throughout the United Arab Emirates airspace. “
Almheiri is also an on-the-job trainer, training future air traffic control officers. As an Emirati woman, she considers herself a role model for the industry. “I feel like I have a responsibility to every woman who walks the same path as me,” she said.
“I give them as much advice and support as possible because it’s not easy to get through such a field. It’s an absolute honor and I don’t take it lightly.”
She also had an inspiring message to other Emirati women. “To delay action is to betray greatness,” she said.
“So, believe in yourself, don’t say I’ll do it one day, but actively make it your first day toward a better future.”
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