Insights Women at work in the Middle East
The Middle East is undergoing huge, positive change. With ambitious programmes such as Saudi Vision 2030, we are set to see a huge shift in the approach to diversity, inclusivity and sustainability in the area. This approach will make the Middle East a leader in many industries, attracting professionals from across the globe and promoting Middle Eastern countries as great places to live and work.
In this article, we explore how the Middle East is changing, how women are driving positive change in the area and the opportunities available.
How is the Middle East changing?
2016 was a pivotal year in the future of the Middle East region. The 2015 launch of the Saudi Vision 2030 outlined ambitious changes that are considered necessary to eradicate the area's dependence on the oil industry. This is seen as important due to the shift towards renewable energy sources and the increasing costs of oil extraction.
The successful execution of this vision will require ambitious, intelligent and forward-thinking women to join the workforce. This is partially due to a growing awareness of the importance of diversity and equality, but also due to concerns that typical household income is likely to reduce significantly as the shift away from oil happens.
This is a move away from the traditional and widely accepted values of the Middle East. For example, in Saudi Arabia, women made up just 20.5% of the workforce in 2019. However, there is already a considerable success in this space. In fact, the same report highlighted that the percentage grew to 33.6% by just the first quarter of 2022.
Women are driving positive change in the Middle East
It should come as no surprise that a growing female workforce is and will continue to have a positive impact in the Middle East. Here at AtkinsRéalis , we are seeing this through the fantastic work that our female team members are conducting in the area. In fact, we have many valued female team members in every part of our Middle Eastern business including engineering, architecture and project management.
For example, Deema is a project manager for Faithful + Gould, located in Saudi Arabia. Her passion for architecture and design makes her a huge asset to the company. In her role, she has had the opportunity to make a positive contribution to exciting projects such as Al Balad, which is located in the Historic District of Jeddah (a world heritage site).
Opportunities for women in the Middle East
One of the most exciting parts of women moving into the workforce in the Middle East is the huge opportunities and world-leading projects that they will have the chance to work on in the coming years. Many of these projects have been announced through Saudi Vision 2030.
For example, the Red Sea Project is seeing a huge investment in developing a currently undeveloped area between the cities of Umluj and Al Wajh, along the western coast of Saudi Arabia. There are many opportunities to work on projects in this area such as airports, tourism centres and large-scale waste management plants.
Other key projects from Saudi Vision 2030 include an area dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation and a large-scale project to improve the quality of life of Saudi residents (ROSHN).
Why equality, diversity and inclusion matter to us
It is clear that there are growing opportunities for women to start and progress a fulfilling and lucrative career in the Middle East. In fact, with multiple investments and projects in the pipeline, now could be the best time ever for women to get involved in the Middle East construction industry.
Here at AtkinsRéalis , we have some fantastic opportunities for women that want to build their careers in the area. Our approach to work fits seamlessly with the new Middle Eastern commitment to innovation, diversity and sustainability.
You can find out more about our current vacancies in the Middle East here. Alternatively, you can join our talent community or sign up for job alerts to get all the latest direct to your inbox.
Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis
Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests
Our articles
Preview
USAContent type
BlogsPublish date
05/02/2024
Summary
The structural engineering market is experiencing rapid changes, with Net Zero goals, advanced technology, and environmentally conscious building practices becoming the new bread and butter of t
Preview
USAContent type
BlogsPublish date
05/01/2024
Summary
Hydraulic engineering is a branch of civil engineering that specializes in building hydraulic engineering designs—‘hydraulic’ stemming from the Ancient Greek word for water. Hydraulic power, the
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/30/2024
Summary
In an ambitious and far-reaching declaration, Saudi Arabia has proudly announced 2024 as the 'Year of the Camel', a tribute to these timeless creatures that embody the heart of Arabian heritage
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/29/2024
Summary
As a hub of diversity and multiculturalism, the UAE boasts a thriving economy with rapidly growing infrastructure. Steering away from a reliance on oil and toward cutting-edge innovation, the UAE is
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/29/2024
Summary
Meet Tom from our D&AT (Design & Advanced Technology) team. He's an associate at AtkinsRéalis who has built an exciting career on diverse and career-defining projects, including work on the Lo
by
Shailaja Mantha
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/26/2024
Summary
By implementing reforms in the public sector and wider society, the KSA’s Vision 2030 has greatly improved government efficiency, bringing about new growth and investment opportunities. What is Visio
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
In the ever-evolving landscape of professional endeavours, finding a workplace that feels like your safe space is a rare gem. AtkinsRealis stands as a beacon in this regard, where talents not only
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
In the ever-evolving landscape of urban drainage modelling, AtkinsRéalis stands as the leaders with large highly skilled urban drainage modellers. Our focus on serving our clients around urban dra
Preview
CanadaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the skill of managing constantly changing environments has become more and more important. New construction project management software offers innovativ
Preview
AustraliaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/24/2024
Summary
In a momentous shift, SNC-Lavalin has transitioned to AtkinsRéalis, marking a new era of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in engineering consultancy. With this rebrand comes a fresh persp
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/23/2024
Summary
As Mumbai continues to evolve and expand, the demand for sustainable infrastructure and cutting-edge technology has never been more pressing. At the forefront of this transformative journey is Atk
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/22/2024
Summary
Hi there! I'm Paul, a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience specializing in networks and drainage engineering. My role at AtkinsRéalis spans managing projects, directing major initia
by
Shailaja Mantha
AtkinsRéalis
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We’re devoted to growing the diversity of our people, promoting an inclusive culture, providing everyone with an equal voice because simply put, it’s the right thing to do. Click to learn more.
Find out more