A Remarkable Journey in Architecture: Badria Kafood
A Remarkable Journey in Architecture
Badria Kafood
The Story of Qatar’s First Female Engineer
In the bustling Doha neighborhood of Al Mansoura, Eng. Badria Kafood sits with her team in the meeting room of her Architecture and Interior Design firm, meticulously reviewing the progress of their latest projects. Attentive to every detail, she engages in discussions with the team, ensuring no aspect is overlooked. By the end of the meeting, she suggested needed adjustments to some project plans and assigned new tasks to a few team members.
After the meeting, Badria returned to her computer, made a few edits to one of the designs, saved the file, and turned her attention to us. We were there to learn about her remarkable 40-year career, during which she became Qatar’s first female engineer and solidified her reputation as an architecture pioneer. Her journey has been instrumental in changing societal perceptions of women in nontraditional fields. Throughout our conversation, she shared the key lessons she learned, discussed the significant challenges she overcame, and offered invaluable advice to young people aspiring to build successful careers in engineering.
Will Power
When Eng. Kafood graduated from high school, Qatar’s education landscape was vastly different, particularly regarding women’s education and employment opportunities. Female students could only study abroad on government scholarships if accompanied by their husbands. Eng. Kafood met this condition while traveling with her husband, who was assigned as the medical attaché at Qatar’s Embassy in London.
As a young girl, she always dreamed of becoming an engineer, a vision primarily influenced by her father. He often took her to work in real estate and land development and allowed her to help with simple tasks. Her passion for architecture and engineering slowly took shape, fueled by her father’s constant praise of her skills and intelligence. She had a clear vision of the career she wanted, but there was just one major obstacle. At the time, women in Qatar were not allowed to pursue careers in engineering, as it was considered an unsuitable field for ladies. She decided to study medicine, but it was not among the options available in London. She was left with two choices: jewelry design or interior design. She chose the latter, believing it was the closest she could get to her true passion.
After weighing all her options, she enrolled in a four-year interior design program at the American College in London. However, just one semester before her graduation, she received a phone call from the cultural attaché at the Qatari embassy, delivering shocking news: her university was not recognized in Qatar. Once again, the young lady was left with two choices: to return to Qatar and seek employment with her high school degree or start over at a new university.
Her father was determined that she would complete her final term, covering the costs himself so she could earn her bachelor’s degree. Meanwhile, he petitioned the Minister of Education, seeking an exception for her to study architecture. Supporting his case was a letter from an architecture university addressed to Qatar’s cultural attaché in London, confirming that Badria was more than qualified to pursue a degree in the field. His persistence paid off, and she was approved to become the first Qatari woman to study architecture.
She joined the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA), a prestigious institution known for its innovative and experimental approach to architectural education, with a strong emphasis on fostering the students’ creative thinking and practical experience. Among its notable alumni is the late, celebrated Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. After three more years, she encountered yet another setback. The embassy informed her that her new university was unrecognized in Qatar. She was at a familiar crossroads once again and had to start all over.
“I refused to return to Doha. Instead, I transferred to Westminster University, known then as Polytechnic of Central London. Determined to achieve my dream of becoming an architect, I persevered. After years of hard work, I earned my bachelor’s degree and returned to Doha with my family, proudly as an architect, after 15 years in the UK,” she recalls.
Her Career Journey
Despite finally becoming an architect, new challenges awaited her. Opportunities in her field were scarce, which was unsurprising given the historical barriers women faced when studying engineering. She was offered a teaching position that she quickly declined, determined to work in her chosen discipline. After a long wait and persistent appeals to the authorities, she was finally appointed as an architect in the Building Engineering Department at the Ministry of Industry.
“I was the first woman to work in the ministry. Everyone was surprised. For them, engineering was a man’s world. They tried to dissuade me, exaggerating the difficulties I might face. But I was determined. I left no room for arguments, and in the end, they had no choice but to hire me,” she says.
The next challenge came in the form of field assignments. Eng. Kafood was assigned projects far from Doha, which she saw as another attempt to push her toward resignation. “They gave me projects far away from Doha, like constructing a transmission station and building a cemetery wall in Al Shamal. I could only work on these projects thanks to my husband, who drove me daily to the sites. Once again, I pushed to change the situation, and requested a driving license. I was persistent. To my surprise, I received a special approval, becoming one of the first women in Qatar to be allowed to drive,” she excitedly explains.
The young engineer quickly demonstrated her talent, gradually taking on more responsibilities and achieving remarkable success in developing several projects.
Balancing her career aspirations with her family responsibilities as a mother and wife made her journey even more challenging. Through resilience and perseverance, she navigated every obstacle, reaching one milestone after another. Her inspiring story and achievements made her a role model for aspiring female students eager to pursue careers in fields once deemed unconventional for women. Eng. Kafood’s dedication earned her a transfer to the Minister’s Office. There, she was tasked with overseeing the development of municipal projects and took on additional responsibilities across other important initiatives. She also made a significant internal impact by implementing new operational procedures within the Ministry. She endured multiple cabinet changes, but deep down, her passion for architecture remained strong, eventually transitioning back to her true calling by joining the engineering department, now known as ‘Ashghal.’ And once again, she left her distinctive mark by leading the development of various major projects.
A New Beginning
Having spent years working on government projects, Eng. Kafood boldly decided to step away from the government job and pursue her long-held dream of establishing her own architecture and interior design firm, where she can build projects that reflect her unique vision. It was a daring risky move, but she was confident in overcoming any challenges.
The process was frustrating and slow. She nearly despaired at times, but her resilience never wavered. After months of waiting, she finally secured the license to launch her business.
Starting with just one employee in a small office, she gradually built a diverse team of specialties, expanded the business, and moved to a larger space. Over nearly a decade, she ensured that every design bore her distinct artistic and architectural touch.
Early Guidance Is the Key
Throughout her career, Eng. Kafood deeply valued education and lifelong learning. This belief drove her to instill a love of knowledge and a strong work ethic in her children, encouraging them to pursue their passions and never abandon their ambitions. She firmly believes that family support is crucial for career success.
“My father was a real estate trader, and he used to take me to his workplace, allowing me to help with simple tasks. He encouraged me and praised my abilities when he noticed my excellence in mathematics and love for engineering. From that moment, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. Throughout my academic and career journey, the support of my father, husband, and entire family played a crucial role in overcoming challenges and advancing my career. I wouldn’t have achieved anything without their support and encouragement,” she says.
“Schools also play a vital role in discovering students’ talents at an early age and guiding them to explore career fields they are passionate about, in line with their capabilities. Investing in the youth’s potential and utilizing it effectively is key to building a prosperous future for Qatar,” she adds.
On Engineering
There is a growing demand for engineers in job markets and other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) specializations. Governments have been trying to promote these fields and make them more appealing to students, recognizing their significant impact on future economic growth. Eng. Kafood believes that an excellent way to attract students to engineering is by introducing them to its various specializations early on. If they show interest in a particular field, they should be given opportunities to gain hands-on experience working alongside real engineers. This approach helps them get a clearer picture and better determine whether their passion for the field is genuine.
Eng. Kafood suggests that: “youth centers could implement such activities during the summer, similar to how they organize art or sports programs. Students could explore fields like mechanical engineering through visits to equipment or car repair workshops and hands-on training.”
Meanwhile, the veteran architect cautions students against choosing a career in engineering solely for its social status. She asserts that without passion for the field, they will lack the motivation to keep learning and overcome the challenges they may encounter. She also encourages young engineers to actively seek well rounded practical experience early in their careers.
“What you learn from books alone is not enough. If you don’t work with your hands, engage in fieldwork, learn to solve on-site problems, and understand every detail of your job, you won’t be able to develop as an engineer. You shouldn’t seek comfort in offices or chase administrative positions right after graduation,” she says.
Additionally, she believes universities should put more effort into instilling a love for hands-on work among students. At a personal level, her field experience and time spent on-site helped her advance her career and equipped her with the necessary expertise needed to run her business efficiently. “I still draw, design, and oversee every detail in our projects. Architecture is the world where I truly find myself and realize my ambitions. When I sit down to work on a design, I become completely immersed and lose track of time. It’s a passion that never fades,” she adds.
Today, Eng. Kafood’s office boasts a solid client base, yet her dreams remain boundless. She hopes to expand her business further and elevate her firm’s ranking to work on larger projects that carry her distinctive architectural touch and leave a lasting legacy.
* Watch Eng. Badria Kafood telling her inspiring story during an interview with Al Rayyan TV in 2013: Click Here
