By promoting these two successful Emirati female pilots to the rank of captain, Emirates has taken a significant step in its commitment to empowering women in the aviation industry. Hanan Mohammed Jawad and Bakhita Al Mheiri have achieved a major career milestone by graduating from the Emirates Group’s National Cadet Pilot Program, which has trained numerous Emirati pilots to date.
Hanan Mohammed Jawad joined Emirates through the cadet pilot program in 2008, driven by great determination, passion, and her childhood dream of becoming a pilot. With strong mentorship support and the continuous contributions of the company’s flight operations management, she steadily climbed the career ladder to reach her current position as a captain.
Bakhita Al Mheiri, meanwhile, began her journey at Emirates in 2011 as a cadet pilot. Inspired by successful Emirati female pilots and driven by her passion for flying, Al Mheiri has achieved significant milestones throughout her career, building a strong and distinguished career at Emirates.
Hanan and Bakhita officially received their fourth stripes this year, becoming Emirates’ first Emirati female captain pilots. Both pilots are currently serving in the Boeing 777 fleet. With years of flight experience under their belts, Hanan and Bakhita are stepping into a new phase of their careers, and their ambitions still reach far beyond the skies.
Hanan Mohammed Jawad, who has logged a total of 9,253 flight hours throughout her piloting career, had this to say about her promotion: "When I was 14, I saw the United Arab Emirates’ first female pilot on television. Her confident demeanor and presence made a huge impression on me. From that moment on, all I wanted was to become a pilot. Receiving my fourth stripe is a proud milestone for me, but I don’t see it as a destination. This is actually just the beginning. For me, the sky is not the limit. The path to becoming a captain is built over time, and the years I spent as a first officer prepared me for this moment."
Bakhita Al Mheiri, who spoke about the impact of the mentorship she received at Emirates on her career, said: "The mentorship from the training captains and leaders I worked with throughout my journey at Emirates played a pivotal role in my career. Their experience, professionalism, and willingness to share knowledge not only helped me develop my technical and leadership skills but also taught me the value of responsibility, discipline, and continuous learning. One of the most important lessons I learned during this process was the importance of passing on knowledge and experience to the next generation. As a captain, I aim to carry these values forward into the future, support the younger generation just starting their aviation careers, and guide them."
Hanan and Bakhita shared the following message with young women aspiring to become pilots: “For many years, our country’s leaders have viewed women as key partners in shaping our nation’s future. Emirates is also creating the environment and opportunities for women to succeed. We will continue to take this approach even further for future generations.”