By Competing In The A2RL Drone Championship, Technology Innovation Institute’s Aaesha AlShehhi Is Breaking New Ground For Emirati Women In Tech
“My message to all Emirati women is to be patient, be strong, [and] work hard. You are the author of your story—make it remarkable.”
When Aaesha AlShehhi took to the global stage at this year’s Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) Drone Championship, she carried more than the weight of competition—she also stood as the only Emirati woman on her team.
A senior researcher at the Technology Innovation Institute’s (TII) Autonomous Robotics Research Center in Abu Dhabi, AlShehhi works on developing reinforcement learning controllers for high-speed mobility drones—systems powered by artificial intelligence (AI). That expertise earned her a place on the TII Racing lineup at the A2RL championship’s second season, where her team notably secured first place in the AI Speed Challenge.
But AlShehhi’s presence on the winning team carries particular resonance, owing to her being an Emirati woman competing in one of the world’s most advanced tech arenas. It’s a significance she acknowledges in an interview with Inc. Arabia—and one she hopes will encourage others to pursue similar paths. “My message to all Emirati women is to be patient, be strong, [and] work hard,” she told Inc. Arabia. “You are the author of your story—make it remarkable.”
Hear more from AlShehhi in our full video.
