Time and time again, Emirati women have proven there is so ceiling to success, and this particularly rings true for Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan bin Mohammed bin Hasher Al Maktoum.
As the granddaughter of the late Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum – the brother of the current ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum – she has always been encouraged to reach to new heights (quite literally, given the trajectory of her career).
Aged only just 26, Her Highness has broken boundaries and barriers in the UAE’s aviation industry, becoming Dubai’s first royal female pilot and the first female to become First Lieutenant Pilot as part of the Dubai Police.
Here, GRAZIA introduces you to the Dubai royal, delving into her incredible career, life and advocacy for inspiring the next generation.
Who is Sheikha Mozah Al Maktoum?
Sheikha Mozah was born on December 6, 1996 in Dubai and attended Latifa School for Girls in the emirate. From a young age she was always adventurous and eager to try new things including horse riding, boxing, rock climbing and more, as it says on her official website.
“That feeling of anticipation mixed with uncertainty, culminating in an explosion of adrenaline… I am in love with that feeling,” she says on her website. “It’s always been that way, since I was a child. ”
One of her first recollections of her love for the skies was when she was a teenager, when she went skydiving aged just 13. From then her destiny for a career in aviation was set.
At the age of 17, she enrolled into Oxford Aviation Academy at Oxford Airport, in the U.K. and then went on to train at Mesa Falcon Field Airport (Arizona) in the USA.
Becoming the first Dubai royal female emirates pilot
After completing her training, the young sheikha went on to become Dubai’s first royal female pilot at the age of 19 for Emirates.
Her first official flight was from Dubai to Amman, Jordan, and there was a very special passenger on board. Her mother was there to support her on her inaugural flight, something which she reflected on recently. mother was there to support her as she took the flight from Dubai to Amman, Jordan.
Taking a trip down memory lane, Sheikha Mozah took to Instagram to share footage of from her “unforgettable” first flight in 2016 where she is seen wiping away tears, approaching her mother.
“My first passenger flight on Emirates at 19 years old,” she captioned the post which she shared with her 124,000 followers. “Mum kept her promise and came on my first flight. Unforgettable. Extremely grateful. I love you beyond words.”
Sheikha Mozah’s Groundbreaking role in the Dubai Police
Following her time with Emirates, Sheikha Mozah went on to join the Dubai Police. She became a First Lieutenant Pilot, the first female in the UAE to do so. After four successful years as First Lieutenant, Her Highness was promoted to Captain Pilot in 2023.
Sheikha Mozah’s achievements
As well as her groundbreaking roles in Emirates and Dubai Police, Sheikha Mozah has a long list of achievements. In 2019, she founded the Women in Aviation Association (Shehana) to offer assistance and raise awareness of opportunities in the industry.
In 2022, Sheikha Mozah broke yet another record, this time on an international scale. During a trip to the USA, the Dubai royal paid a visit to the Leonardo HQ, a leader in Aerospace, Defence and Security, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her Highness became the first woman to pilot groundbreaking aircraft the AW609 tiltrotor – it melds “the helicopter’s operational versatility (taking off and landing vertically) and the airplane’s performance advantages (pressurised cabin, speed, altitude and endurance abilities),” according to the Dubai Media Office.
Her Highness is also a keen polo player and founded the King Pins Polo team in Dubai in 2018. In addition to past victories, the King Pins won the Commemoration Cup for the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club in December 2019, with the sheikha serving as the playing supporter.
In addition, last year, Her Highness was listed in the Forbes 30 under 30 list.
What’s next?
The Sheikha’s future plans include working on the publication of her first book. A children’s book about women in aviation across history and from around the world.
The imminent release of her first book, which has been in the works for a while, is a children’s book about female pilots throughout history and from many countries. This kind of representation will enable a distinct type of growth based on inclusion when it is first presented in schools. She plans to deliver the book, and start a tour this fall, visiting libraries, bookstores and festivals.
We look forward to seeing what other remarkable things Her Highness does next.
