Muslim Emirati young woman Mariam Al Safar has become the first female train driver qualified to get behind the controls in the whole of the Middle East.

The 28-year-old woman is from Dubai and works as a train driver for the city's Metro system.

The network, known as the most advanced one in the world, is primarily an unmanned automatic driving system, which is operated from a centralized control room.

“I am always open to challenges and I am not afraid to take risks. I work hard and my job is my top priority,” said Al Safar.

“Being a train attendant has helped me understand how to interact with people and staff from different nationalities and different cultures. This has empowered me to tackle different kinds of situations with ease,” she added.