‘Emirati women can be proud of their achievements’

ABU DHABI: Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), has congratulated all Emirati women on the occasion of the Emirati Women’s Day, which will be held this year under the theme, “Women on the Course of Zayed”.

In a speech addressing the occasion, which falls on 28 August each year, Shaikha Fatima said that Emirati women have the right to be proud of their outstanding achievements, stressing that this year’s celebration is a celebration of the martyr’s mother, wife, family and children, as the martyrs of the nation, along with their families, have set a national example, an exemplary model for the concept of loyalty and belonging, and demonstrated a real translation of national duty.

Shaikha Fatima attributed the stunning progress of Emirati women to the sincere efforts of the country’s founder and builder of its cultural renaissance, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who avidly supported women’s progress, adding that the late Shaikh Zayed made every possible effort to support the Emirati women and to develop social conditions which encourage women’s advancement to fully participate in public life.

The Mother of the Emirates also commended the efforts of the UAE’s wise leadership in supporting women’s empowerment by offering education, employment, and training opportunities.

She noted that UAE women constitute 66 per cent of government staff, 30 per cent of which are decision-making positions, in addition to the private sector. She noted that more than 23,000 Emirati business women in the UAE were investing more than Dh40 billion. Shaikha Fatima added that Emirati women account for about 70 per cent of students in government tertiary-level institutions.

The Mother of the Emirates also highlighted the efforts of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who have continued to pave the way for women’s empowerment.

She also stressed that the empowerment of women in all fields of work was complete and comprehensive after the state announced that it had achieved gender balance and all members of the society enjoy equal rights and duties. She pointed out that the right empowerment that is fair to women was to remove obstacles facing them and allowing them to express their capabilities and talents.

Shaikha Fatima called on all Emirati women to continue on their progress and achievements, stressing her confidence in the Emirati women’s ability to contribute to the progress and advancement of the country.

— With inputs from WAM