Emirati Women’s Day: Building the future of autonomous mobility

Race circuits are the ultimate testbed

While autonomous racing may appear niche, the technologies being developed have implications far beyond motorsport. Advances in sensor fusion, autonomous navigation and real-time decision-making could eventually support sectors such as public transport, logistics, infrastructure management and emergency response.

“Racing gives us an unusually demanding environment in which to expose weaknesses and understand how autonomous systems behave under pressure,” says AlMarzooqi. “That is where technology becomes most interesting: when an advanced idea has to prove that it can work reliably in the physical world.”

“Racing gives us an unusually demanding environment in which to expose weaknesses and understand how autonomous systems behave under pressure” 

Amna AlMarzooqi, Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League

Reliability remains one of the biggest technical challenges facing teams in autonomous racing. High temperatures, constant vibration and repeated high-speed operation place considerable strain on sensors, wiring, connectors and mechanical systems. Even seemingly minor faults can have significant consequences when autonomous software relies on accurate data and precise vehicle responses.

Although the cars drive themselves, much of AlMarzooqi’s work remains rooted in traditional engineering disciplines. Her responsibilities include inspecting, diagnosing, repairing and validating systems before vehicles return to the track.

“My aviation background taught me to approach faults systematically and never compromise on safety,” she says. “Motorsport demands the same discipline, but at a much faster pace.”

Engineering requires preparation, accuracy and reliability

As engineering continues to evolve, AlMarzooqi believes perceptions surrounding women in technical careers are changing as well. More women are now pursuing long-term careers in engineering and taking on substantive technical responsibilities across industries.

“In the garage, nobody is thinking about whether a role has traditionally been held by a man or a woman,” she says. “What matters is preparation, accuracy and whether the team can rely on you.”

However, she believes more can still be done to encourage young women to enter the profession. Early exposure to engineering through workshops, internships, laboratories and hands-on projects can help students understand what engineering careers actually involve and build confidence in their abilities.

Initiatives such as ATRC’s Talent Enablement Team programmes and the A2RL STEM Competition are helping bridge that gap by allowing students to apply technical knowledge to practical challenges. These efforts build on a broader national commitment to education and opportunity championed by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, whose longstanding support for women’s advancement has played a significant role in expanding opportunities for Emirati women.

Building on innovation

Working on autonomous vehicle technology has also shaped AlMarzooqi’s perspective on innovation itself. Rather than viewing innovation as a single breakthrough moment, she sees it as the result of countless improvements across interconnected systems.

“An autonomous race car brings together mechanical engineering, electronics, sensors, computing and software,” she says. “Improving one area can affect another, so you have to understand the problem as part of a wider system.”

This systems-based mindset also influences how teams respond when something goes wrong. Solving a problem is only the first step; understanding why it happened and preventing it from recurring is what ultimately drives progress.

Looking ahead, AlMarzooqi expects future mobility advances to come not from a single transformative technology but from the convergence of several innovations. More sophisticated perception systems, increasingly powerful onboard computing and advanced AI decision-making capabilities are likely to play a central role in the evolution of autonomous vehicles.

Simulation technology is also becoming increasingly important. High-fidelity digital environments allow teams to test complex racing scenarios repeatedly and safely before validating results in the physical world. Combining large-scale simulation with real-world testing is accelerating development and helping engineers better understand how autonomous systems perform under pressure.

You do not need to know exactly where engineering will take you. Sometimes having the confidence to take the first opportunity is what allows you to discover the career you were meant to build

Embrace unexpected opportunities

For young Emirati women considering careers in STEM, AlMarzooqi’s message is straightforward: stay curious, build strong technical foundations and remain open to unexpected opportunities.

“I studied aviation maintenance engineering and never imagined that those skills would eventually take me into autonomous motorsport,” she says. “What mattered was building a strong technical foundation, staying curious and being willing to take opportunities.”

Her own journey reflects the expanding opportunities available to Emirati women in advanced technology sectors. As the UAE continues investing in innovation, research and talent development, women are increasingly contributing to the technologies that will shape the future of mobility and beyond.

“You do not need to know exactly where engineering will take you,” says AlMarzooqi. “Sometimes having the confidence to take the first opportunity is what allows you to discover the career you were meant to build.”