ABU DHABI, H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), and the “Mother of the Nation”, said that Emirati Women’s Day, which is celebrated on 28th August, is a reminder of the pride and joy that Emirati women bring to the nation, through their successes and contributions to the country’s achievements.
In her speech marking this special occasion, Sheikha Fatima affirmed that the UAE and its leadership will continue supporting women to achieve leadership and excellence, building on their firm belief in women’s invaluable role in society, highlighting the immense efforts of the insightful Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in equally supporting the education and empowerment of women, and their contributions to the UAE’s sustainable development.
“The late Sheikh Zayed worked tirelessly to support women, established female empowerment as a pillar of the country, and made women’s rights protection a strategic goal, through laws and legislation that support gender equality and promote it as a common practice, while also encouraging women’s integration in the labour market and providing a safe and conducive environment to develop their professional capabilities,” she explained.
Sheikha Fatima also highlighted the first steps taken towards female empowerment, particularly the establishment of the first UAE women’s society, the Abu Dhabi Women’s Development Association, in 1973, which paved the way for future efforts to educate women and promote gender equality.
She further underscored the GWU’s efforts and initiatives, which reshaped the world of working women in the UAE by cementing a progressive approach that ensures the constant development of relevant practices, according to international standards, to the point where gender equality became a top priority for the UAE government, contributing further to supporting female talent and celebrating the creative outputs of Emirati women across all sectors.
Speaking of the great achievements made by Emirati women, Sheikha Fatima explained that the Emirati woman has become a role model to women around the world, noting that the number of female members in the Federal National Council (FNC) rose from 9 to 20 out of 40, accounting for 50 percent of the total, the world’s highest rate of women in parliament.
Women also occupy 27 percent of the UAE Cabinet seats, with the UAE having nine female ministers, she said, highlighting that women also account for around 30 percent of the total in diplomatic service and 64 percent in the education and healthcare sectors, with 23,000 female entrepreneurs managing projects with a total value of over AED 50 billion.
“I hope that each and every woman works to reach her dreams and achieve excellence to help in supporting their families and communities, and so, I would like to express my appreciation to all women who have shown dedication in driving their countries’ development and bringing about a brighter future. I also salute women who have worked to excel as members of their families or mothers who help raise the world’s future generations,” Sheikh Fatima said, in conclusion.
Source: Emirates News Agency