Riyadh – Mubasher: The Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) has appointed two women architects, Alaa Al-Tiami and Shatha Sharaf Al-Deen, to design its airports.
The hiring comes as part of the kingdom’s drive to increase women’s participation in its various sectors including architecture and engineering.
Commenting on the appointment, Al-Tiami told Saudi Gazette that what prompted GACA’s managers give her this position was how she was able to impress them previously.
“I used to be the only architect in a previous project and I submitted a design within a few days. They were impressed and they gave me a bigger responsibility,” Al-Tiami told the newspaper.
Meanwhile, Sharaf Al-Deen had worked for GACA as a designs supervisor on several different projects. She had been part of GACA’s team responsible for expanding the Abha Airport in the Asir province of Saudi Arabia.
"The authority provides an extremely comfortable working environment for me as a woman. I feel encouraged and empowered to do more everyday," Sharaf Al-Deen noted.
"I aim to design the best airport in the Kingdom. I graduated from Princess Noura University and began working for the authority's field projects,” Al-Tiami further stated.
