Women Make Up More Than 80% of SAP’s Recent Emirati Graduates, Dubai Event Hears

Women accounted for more than 80% of recent Emirati graduates of SAP’s Young Professionals Programme, a figure reported in 2024 and cited at an event in Dubai on 14 September, where senior women leaders and young Emiratis met to discuss how early access to technology careers turns into seniority.

The event was convened by the SAP Business Women’s Network and the SAP Youth Council with Dubai Internet City, part of TECOM Group, under the theme “Intelligent Leadership – Women Driving AI, Digital Transformation & Sustainable Innovation”. It paired an executive panel with an interactive Youth Circle run on a World Café format, putting established leaders and entrants into the same room rather than separate programmes.

Recruitment figures of the kind SAP reported are increasingly common across markets from Ireland to India, where graduate intakes have evened out while senior technical and engineering leadership has not. The question the Dubai panel returned to was progression, and what employers owe people once they are through the door.

“Emirati women have already demonstrated what they can achieve across government, business, science and technology. As AI changes the way we work, we need to ensure women have the skills, exposure and support to take advantage of the opportunities it creates,” said H.E. Sarah Alzaabi, Director General at Ras Al Khaimah Government, who gave the keynote address and joined the panel. “That starts with young women being able to develop relevant skills, meet role models and see clear pathways into emerging fields.”

The sharpest argument of the session came from the education side, where the degree is losing its position as the single credential that opens a technology career. Dr Amina Abdulrahim, Executive Director of ICT and IT Security at American University of Sharjah, said the requirements are shifting underneath both universities and employers.

“As educators and employers, we need to create environments where young Emiratis have the opportunity to learn, contribute and prove themselves,” she said. “We are moving beyond the traditional degree towards continuous learning through micro-credentials. Curiosity, adaptability and empathy will be important for the next generation of technology leaders.”

This year’s Emirati Women’s Day observance runs for a full month from 28 August, after H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, extended the celebration under the theme “We Emerge Stronger and Better”. A longer calendar makes single-day corporate activity harder to pass off as a programme, and companies operating in the UAE will be measured on what runs in the other eleven months.

“As AI and technology continue to reshape industries, creating opportunities for Emirati women to develop their skills, build networks and progress in their careers is increasingly important,” said Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial at TECOM Group and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City.

Mouza AlMansoori, an Emirati AI Advisor at SAP and President of the SAP Youth Council, moderated the panel. “Working in AI, I see how important it is to have the opportunity to learn, gain practical experience and hear from people who have already built successful careers,” she said. “Bringing senior women leaders and young Emiratis into the same conversation gives us a chance to learn from each other and consider how we can increase women’s participation as technology continues to evolve.” SAP also runs University Alliances partnerships with institutions across the country.