Girls in STEM are redefining the future, but their journey is anything but easy. Fatima had always been fascinated by the stars. As a child in Riyadh, she would sneak onto the rooftop at night, tracing constellations with her fingers, wondering what lay beyond the sky. Her father encouraged her curiosity, bringing home books about astronomy, but outside her home, things were different. Teachers told her science wasn’t a natural path for girls. Relatives asked why she wasn’t focusing on something “easier,” something “more suitable.” By the time she was ready for university, she had to fight, not just for a seat in an engineering program but for the right to dream beyond the limits society had set for her.
Fatima’s story is not unique. Girls in STEM across the Middle East and North Africa face similar challenges, setting their sights on careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, only to be met with invisible roadblocks.
The MENA Paradox: Where Are the Women in STEM Jobs? roadblocks
The numbers paint a complicated picture. MENA has some of the highest rates of women pursuing STEM degrees in the world, with up to 57% of STEM graduates in Arab countries being female. In the UAE, women make up 61% of STEM graduates, while in Tunisia and Algeria, they account for nearly half. These figures surpass those of many Western nations.
But here’s the paradox: Despite these impressive graduation rates, girls in STEM across MENA hold less than 20% of STEM jobs. They study engineering, science, and tech yet struggle to break into the workforce. Those who do enter the field often find themselves sidelined when it comes to promotions and leadership positions. The pipeline is full, but somewhere along the way, women disappear.
More Than Just a Job: The Systemic Barriers Keeping Girls in STEM Out
The gap between education and employment in STEM for women in MENA is not about intelligence or ambition. It is about access, opportunities, and the unspoken barriers that dictate who gets to thrive and who gets left behind.
Many girls in STEM across the region grow up believing that science and technology are not for them, not because they lack interest but because they rarely see women excelling in these fields. From textbooks that feature mostly male scientists to a cultural emphasis on traditionally “feminine” careers, the idea that engineering, coding, or physics is a “man’s world” is embedded before they even finish high school.
Without role models, their dreams remain just that, dreams. Even for those who push through, the journey is not easy.
In many MENA countries, gender norms still dictate career choices. Girls in STEM face a societal pushback that questions why they want to work in industries dominated by men. Some workplaces are still reluctant to hire women for fieldwork, engineering roles, or tech positions, often using “logistical” reasons to justify these exclusions. Others impose conditions that make it difficult for women to advance, such as expecting them to work late hours without considering safety or family responsibilities. The workplace culture itself can be unwelcoming, with few mentorship opportunities, a lack of support networks, and little encouragement to pursue leadership roles.
Shifting the Narrative: The Women in STEM Defying Expectations
Despite the challenges, change is happening. Across the region, girls in STEM are breaking barriers, pushing back against outdated norms, and proving that science and technology are not just spaces for men.
In Saudi Arabia, under Vision 2030, female workforce participation has surged, creating more opportunities for women in science and technology. More Saudi women are stepping into roles once deemed unreachable. Hayat Sindi, one of the first Saudi women to earn a PhD in biotechnology, is pioneering affordable medical innovations for low-income communities. Her work in biosensors has transformed global healthcare, and she continues to advocate for women in science, proving that expertise knows no gender.
In Egypt, girls in STEM are making strides in engineering and IT, leading innovations in digital transformation. Nehal Abdelfattah, a software engineer and AI specialist, has developed machine learning models that help businesses in the region optimize their operations. Through her work, she is shaping the way companies adopt artificial intelligence, reinforcing the idea that women are integral to MENA’s digital future.
In the UAE, girls in STEM are playing leading roles in space exploration, with figures like Sarah Al Amiri overseeing the Emirates Mars Mission. She is not alone. In February 2021, the UAE made history as the first Arab nation and the fifth country to successfully reach Mars. Women played a significant role in this achievement, making up 34% of the overall team and an impressive 80% of the science team. Figures like Hessa Al Matroushi, the mission’s Science Lead, are proof that Emirati women are not only participating in space science but leading it.
Across Lebanon, Tunisia, and Jordan, girls in STEM are also changing the game. In Lebanon, Aya Mouallem, an electrical engineer and researcher, co-founded All Girls Code,” giving hundreds of young girls access to coding workshops and STEM mentorship. In Tunisia, Dr. Salma Zouaghi, a nuclear physicist, has been instrumental in research on nuclear energy and its applications in medicine. In Jordan, Dr. Rana Dajani, a molecular biologist, has led groundbreaking research in genetics and founded initiatives that bridge the gap between science and community development.
These women are not just exceptions; they are the beginning of a shift that is redefining what’s possible. As they carve paths in STEM, they make it clear that the future of science and technology in MENA will not be written by men alone. The movement has begun, and there is no turning back. Here, I say happy International Women’s Day to them especially.
Mentorship: The Game-Changer for Girls in STEM
One of the key drivers of this change is mentorship. Programs that connect young women with successful female professionals in STEM are proving to be game-changers.
When girls in STEM see women leading AI research, launching satellites, and building tech startups, they start believing in their potential. Initiatives like “All Girls Code” in Lebanon, founded by Aya Mouallem, are creating spaces where girls can gain hands-on experience in STEM, surrounded by role models who look like them.
Across MENA, universities and private organizations are stepping up, offering scholarships, coding boot camps, and tech accelerator programs designed specifically for women. The shift is slow, but it is happening.
Workplace Evolution: Are Companies Finally Listening?
Workplace policies are also evolving, though there is still much work to be done. Some companies are introducing flexible working hours, remote work options, and better maternity leave policies to help women balance career and family. Others are actively working to close the gender gap in leadership, setting quotas for women in executive roles and ensuring they are represented at the decision-making table.
Governments are also playing a role, implementing regulations that encourage diversity and pushing for more inclusive hiring practices. But having policies on paper is not enough, companies need to actively enforce and champion these changes to make a real impact.
The Fight Isn’t Over: What Still Needs to Change?
Yet, despite these advancements, the fight is far from over. Girls in STEM across MENA still face hurdles that their male counterparts do not. They still earn less than men for the same work. They still struggle to get promoted at the same rate. They are still underrepresented in high-growth sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and fintech, industries that are shaping the future.
Until these gaps are closed, the region will continue to miss out on the full potential of its brightest minds.
Beyond Equality: The Fight for a Smarter, More Inclusive Future
This is not just a fight for gender equality; it’s a fight for a smarter, more advanced, and more inclusive world.
This International Women’s Day, let’s stop asking if girls in STEM belong. They do. Let’s stop questioning whether they are capable. They are. Let’s start asking how we can ensure that no girl in the MENA region has to fight alone to turn her dreams into reality.
The answer? By taking action—real, immediate, and transformative action. Because the future of STEM is not just male. It is bold, diverse, and undeniably female.
