The Arab Women in Maritime Association (AWIMA) has finalised a five-year regional strategy and action plan aimed at improving female participation across the maritime industry in the Arab world.
The plan was developed following a regional workshop held in Alexandria, Egypt. The event was co-organised by the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with backing from the World Maritime University (WMU). The new strategy will now be reviewed by relevant authorities before implementation.
More than 30 women officials from across the Arab region took part, representing national maritime authorities, transport ministries and maritime training institutions. The workshop was seen as a significant step forward in encouraging leadership roles for women within the regional maritime industry.
Opening the session, Louise Proctor, IMO Deputy Director of the Technical Cooperation and Implementation Division, outlined the organisation’s wider goals. “Let us keep in mind our global vision: a maritime sector that is safe, secure, environmentally sound, and inclusive, where women and men can contribute equally and lead confidently.”
Rear Admiral Hussien Mostafa Elgezery, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety, said: “We firmly believe that the participation of women in all fields, from maritime operations to management and administration, will lead to positive results and sustainable development that will reflect across all areas of the maritime industry.”
The workshop addressed key issues that women face in the maritime sector across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. These included limited gender-sensitive policy development, exclusionary hiring practices, a lack of gender-disaggregated data, and deep-rooted social barriers such as bias and stereotypes.
Participants worked on identifying solutions aligned with IMO’s global Women in Maritime programme. Ideas included improving visibility for women in senior roles, advocating for inclusive recruitment reforms, and using IMO’s technical assistance alongside partnerships with maritime training bodies. These approaches have been incorporated into the new regional plan.
Attendees also toured Egypt’s AIDA IV training ship during the workshop.
AWIMA concluded the event with its Annual General Meeting, during which a new President and Governing Council were elected. Members also began drafting a new AWIMA Constitution and by-laws, intended to ensure transparent governance going forward. Each national chapter will now nominate representatives to help deliver the strategy and monitor progress.
AWIMA is one of eight regional Women in Maritime Associations (WIMAs) created by the IMO, representing 152 countries and dependent territories, with nearly 500 participants. These networks are dedicated to improving gender representation across the maritime industry.
