Dr Aaesha Alnuaimi from DEWA wins the International Solar Alliance Award and the Women in Renewables Asia of the Year Award 2020

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has made a new international achievement to highlight the role of women in solar power. Dr Aaesha Alnuaimi, Director of the Innovation Centre at DEWA, has won the International Solar Alliance Award and the Women in Renewables Asia of the Year Award 2020 for her outstanding contributions and important achievements in solar power, making her an inspiration for future generations of researchers.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, expressed his pride in this new prestigious achievement by Emirati women. He added that DEWA’s female staff show how vibrant all Emirati women are, as they work to shape a better future for Dubai and the UAE; setting an example of actively working for the UAE to build a strong and cohesive society, capable of keeping pace with rapid changes.

"The UAE's wise leadership empowers women to participate in all sectors, including the energy sector, which is no longer dominated by men. Emirati women are essential partners in the UAE's development process. At DEWA, we are working to mobilise all our resources and capabilities to realise unique achievements, preserve the gains made by the founding fathers, and sustain the path of women’s empowerment initially, paved by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and supported by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, President of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and Mother of the Nation. DEWA is committed to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to support Emirati women as a key partner in sustainable development. DEWA has 1,948 women in its workforce, 81.6% of them are Emirati. This includes 701 female engineers and technicians at DEWA. 32% of the Innovation Centre’s employees are Emirati women, with most of them highly educated with scientific and engineering degrees," said Al Tayer.

Dr Alnuaimi explained that DEWA's top management provides equal opportunities for men and women. It empowers women throughout DEWA in managerial and technical positions. DEWA is one of the largest government organisations to employ women in technical positions within the energy sector in Dubai. DEWA adopts a fair policy and inclusive environment for both women and men alike. DEWA provides proper opportunities and overcomes challenges to promote gender equality.

"Today’s achievement comes as a result of the unlimited support provided by DEWA’s top management to its female employees, and the positive and stimulating environment that encourages women to fully participate at various levels. Winning this global award also reflects the great leaps the UAE has made in empowering women across various vital sectors, including the energy sector; allowing women to work side by side with their male colleagues to further the UAE's development," added Dr Alnuaimi.

Dr Alnuaimi has eight years of professional experience in solar power. Her duties focus on anticipating the future of solar power and improving the efficiency of its technologies; contributing to building a knowledge-based competitive economy in the UAE. Alnuaimi holds a PhD and Masters of Science in Microsystems Engineering with honours from the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. Additionally, Alnuaimi is the first Emirati lady to specialise in nanotechnology for solar cell applications. She also worked on 30 peer-reviewed applied research papers in several international journals and conferences on solar power.

Dr Alnuaimi received two new awards this year to add to her record. Previously, she received numerous awards and recognitions, such as the Middle East Solar Industry Association’s Woman of the Year 2019; the Sheikh Rashid Award for Outstanding Science; the UAE Student Awards for the Advancement of Post-Graduate Education; the Young Emirati Researchers Prize by the National Research Foundation, and the DEWA Distinguished Specialised Employee.