Women’s Day in UAE: Meet the Emirati woman who founded Dubai Airport’s legal department

Women’s Day in UAE: Meet the Emirati woman who founded Dubai Airport’s legal department

She joined the company as a fresh graduate, and her determination, work ethic helped her climb the ranks to script a success story within a few years

Published: Mon 6 Mar 2023, 5:53 PM

When Mona Al Abdoli joined Dubai Airport in 2004, she had no idea how she would be influential in shaping the future of the organisation. The Emirati lawyer, who joined as a fresh graduate trainee, went on to form the airport’s legal department.

“It has been a very interesting journey,” she said. “There has been a mix of good and bad times, but now when I think back about the bad times, I realise that it all happens for a reason. I have learnt so much from it, and I have learnt to convert my challenges to opportunities.”

Today, Mona is Senior Vice President of Corporate Assurance at Dubai Airport and has three departments reporting to her. “It is a very intense job, but I enjoy it, and I love the team that works for me,” she said.

Single-handed determination

As a young student, studying law had always interested her. Mona changed three universities to find the branch of corporate law she sought. Armed with a fresh degree and a few months