Al Riyadh Daily - International Women’s Day Meet the Gulf Women Shaping Sustainable Solutions in Energy and Climate
Women across the Gulf are demonstrating how female leadership is helping to shape a more sustainable future for the region. Nouf Al Qadi and Fatima Behzad Afghan are part of a growing community of female climate pioneers, supported through Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WISER), an initiative by Masdar and the Zayed Sustainability Prize, that empowers women to take leadership roles in the energy transition.
Nouf, 32, an ecology and environmental scientist and WiSER Pioneer based in the UAE, is dedicated to preserving the country’s natural assets by bridging the gap between urban development and environmental conservation.
She focuses on integrating nature-based solutions and promoting wildlife conservation in harmony with urban expansion. Her work involves assessing wildlife populations and monitoring ecological changes to ensure that development aligns with the health and resilience of natural ecosystems.
“Sustainable cities are more than just energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure,” she said. “They must work in harmony with the environment, incorporating natural ecosystems to enhance resilience and improve quality of life.”
As a 2025 WiSER Pioneer, Nouf will gain valuable mentorship, training and access to global networks, allowing her to collaborate with experts, explore cutting-edge sustainability solutions and strengthen her leadership in environmental advocacy.
“WiSER provides a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, expand knowledge, enhance interpersonal skills, and grow with motivation in the STEM field,” Nouf said. “I admire its commitment to one-on-one mentorship, a rare and valuable aspect of any program.
“Providing platforms where women can exchange ideas, build skills and access real-world opportunities is critical to ensuring they are equal partners in the transition to a sustainable economy,” Nouf added.
While Nouf is reimagining sustainable cities, drainage systems design and planning engineer Fatima, 25, also a WiSER Pioneer, plays a crucial role in shaping Dubai’s drainage infrastructure. Specializing in urban development, Fatima leads the design of multiple infrastructure projects in Dubai as well as developing masterplans for stormwater, sewerage, and recycled water networks, aligning with Dubai’s 2040 Urban Masterplan and the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036.
By integrating climate-smart drainage systems that can adapt to shifting weather patterns, Fatima’s work helps strengthen Dubai’s resilience to climate change, protecting both urban communities and natural ecosystems.
“Building a sustainable infrastructure system is more crucial today than ever,” Fatima said. “Through my work in infrastructure planning and drainage system design we have adopted an integrated solutions mindset.
“In the past, a stormwater drainage solution may have comprised just pipes and concrete but today it looks more like urban landscaping to encourage infiltration, design integrated check dams to dampen storm peaks, and community engagement facilities that also serve as water reservoirs.
“Every solution is tailored to ensure a sustainable approach that will serve the city decades to come.”
Like Nouf, Fatima’s journey has been shaped by her participation in programs that empower women in climate leadership.
Through WiSER’s Pioneers program, which encourages young women to pursue careers in sustainability, Fatima will gain direct access to specialist training, global forums, and professional networks, helping her build confidence and expertise to pursue bold climate solutions.
“The WiSER Pioneers program has opened doors for me and put me in rooms alongside people crucial to my journey in sustainability-integrated STEM,” Fatima said. “Especially where I am in my career, network building and collaboration is crucial to developing the right tools and insights on how to build my blocks towards a meaningful and impactful journey through sustainability.”
WiSER’s latest white paper, which was released to mark International Women’s Day, highlights the critical role women play in advancing climate solutions, while also exposing systemic barriers that hold them back.
The report, titled Igniting a Global Sustainable Economy, reveals a persistent gender funding gap, with just nine percent of global tech investment in 2022 directed toward female-led ventures, and that diverse leadership teams outperform their non-diverse counterparts, delivering up to 20 percent higher financial returns.
It also found that artificial intelligence (AI) offers transformative potential for female entrepreneurs, helping them bridge education gaps, scale their businesses and accelerate research and innovation in the climate sector.
On this International Women’s Day, Nouf and Fatima’s stories reflect the increasingly vital role women are playing in the Gulf’s clean energy sectors, from technical innovation to policy development and climate entrepreneurship.
Through programs like WiSER, these pioneers - and many more like them – are not only shaping today’s sustainability landscape but are also paving the way for a future where female leadership drives innovation, resilience and climate action across the Gulf and beyond.
