Marwa Saeed Al Mamari has already made history as the UAE’s first Emirati aerospace engineer. Driven by a passion for discovery and a desire to go further, Mamari is expanding her academic horizons as part of the second cohort of NYU Abu Dhabi’s PhD in Astrophysics and Space Systems (PASS) program.
This is the latest chapter in an inspirational journey that has seen Mamari recognized internationally as an advocate for engineering and innovation, while empowering young people and women to enter and lead in advanced scientific and engineering fields.
When Marwa graduated from Coventry University, UK in 2008, she was the only woman in her aerospace engineering cohort, and the first Emirati woman to earn that degree. She went on to complete her Master of Science in Aviation Safety there.
Her education almost didn’t go that way. “I was tailored to be a doctor, because my family came from a medical background,” she explains. However, her curiosity about aerospace engineering — and questions such as “How does an aeroplane fly?” — led her down a different path.
But first, Marwa had to convince her parents. Studying aerospace engineering meant leaving the UAE to enter a field historically dominated by men. “And the industry is harsh for a woman,” she says. Still, she was determined to pursue what interested her: “I wanted to explore it.”
The qualification saw Marwa serving at the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), where she worked in accident investigation. She also started a new unit in accident prevention and safety recommendations, contributing to strengthening practices and systems.
Representing Emirati women in the field
Throughout her career, Marwa has combined engineering expertise with a strong commitment to aviation safety, education, and also the advancement of future generations of scientists and engineers. Her pioneering journey positioned her as an influential Emirati voice in highly specialized fields traditionally underrepresented by women.
“My story started to come across to others, especially parents, that their kids can actually achieve something in the world of STEM. I’m actually touching other lives without even intentionally doing it,” Marwa says.
As she expands beyond aviation at NYUAD, Marwa sees herself contributing to the UAE’s space ambitions and encouraging women and younger generations to pursue STEM education.
Her first research rotation concerns groups of small spacecraft that work and communicate with each other to perform tasks, known as satellite swarms, while her engineering pathway focuses on control methods for space applications, including satellite-to-satellite communication.
While her final thesis topic remains undecided, her work comes at a time when the UAE plans to double space economy revenues under the National Space Strategy 2031.
Marwa sees Emirati researchers prominent within the UAE’s wider space ecosystem. “You belong to that dream now. You’re part of achieving it. You feel that you can make changes; a small achievement is still a milestone in the space industry,” she says.
Wide range of research work at NYU Abu Dhabi
As a PASS PhD student, Marwa appreciates the range of research opportunities and topics at NYUAD. “What I liked about the course is that it gives me variety to choose and pick what I want to research about and evolve, on a personal level, academic level, on all levels.”
She adds, “I came across a lab here which is actually replicating the environment on Mars, and they are working with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) on the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt and even on the Emirates Mars Mission. So being here gives you connections to different research centres, space centres, and different authorities.”
Redefining her role
Marwa also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in NYUAD’s Engineering Department, and balances her PhD with raising - and inspiring - two children; her 15-year-old daughter is interested in marine biology while her son, aged 13, already wants to become an aerospace engineer.
Her contributions have not gone unrecognized. She was honored with the Emirati Women Achiever Award, presented under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation.
The distinction celebrates the accomplishments and impact of Emirati women - but Marwa is far from done yet. “The thing with the aviation industry, space, or even aeroplanes, is that you feel there is always more to learn about this industry, always a lot more to discover and explore,” she adds.
“It’s like a magnet. No matter how much you give, you can offer more, and you can gain more. It’s a two-way relationship, and it fulfills you as a person. I always feel I can give more, and that’s why I keep going with my education.”
