ABS celebrated the achievements of women in the Middle East and global maritime with an event titled Empowering Diversity: Women Leading the Way in Middle Eastern Maritime.

More than 120 representatives from the region’s maritime industries saw a panel discussion among executives from Hapag-Lloyd Middle East, Drydocks World, Bahri Ship Management and Adani Ports & Harbour Services International.

Guests of honor included Her Excellency Engineer Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, as well as the President of the Arab Women in Maritime Association; Engineer Khalid Alhammad, President of Bahri Ship Management, who delivered the event’s keynote; and Her Excellency Rebeca Perez, Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the UAE.

Moderated by Jessica Mahaffey, ABS Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, the panelists shared their experiences, challenges, and insights on diversity and leadership in the maritime sector. The panelists included:

– Dr. Carolin Stumm-Wenk, Managing Director, Hapag-Lloyd Middle East

– Fatma Al Khumiri, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Drydocks World

– Hanan Al-Amoudi, Vendor and Logistics Head, Bahri Ship Management

– Nicolai Friis, CEO, Adani Ports & Harbour Services International

The panel explored topics including the influence of female leadership on organizational culture, the benefits of diversity in the maritime industry, mentorship initiatives, strategies to promote gender inclusivity, and the importance of male allies in supporting gender diversity.

“The UAE is ranked as a leading country in gender equality in the region, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report. This achievement comes from the fundamental belief that women and men are equal partners in driving the sustainable development of their societies. In the maritime sector, women have been actively participating in advancing the sector and increasingly taking leadership roles. Inclusion and diversity are critical for shaping a sustainable and robust maritime sector. However, as government, it is our job to create an environment that unlocks womens’ full potential through education, training, and re-skilling for jobs in the blue economy,” said Her Excellency Engineer Hessa Al Malek.

“In Saudi Arabia, the concerted efforts of both the government and the private sector have opened doors for women to excel in diverse roles within the maritime industry. Through initiatives like the Vision 2030 plan, gender diversity has become a national priority, enabling more Saudi women to make significant contributions as engineers, port managers, and maritime professionals. This progress illustrates a promising future where women play a vital role in shaping the maritime sector,” said Engineer Khalid Alhammad.

“We believe in leading by example. In the Middle East, ABS has championed diversity by supporting groundbreaking achievements such as the appointment of the first Emirati female marine surveyor in the UAE, the first Saudi female surveyor in Saudi Arabia, and most recently, the first Emirati female engineer. This underscores not only our commitment to the region but to the progress we are making toward gender equality and inclusivity in the maritime sector,” said Mahaffey.