The UAE has declared August 28 of each year to be commemorated as Emirati Women’s Day in recognition of the role Emirati women have played in the sustainable development of their country. The date — marking the anniversary of the creation of the UAE’s General Women’s Union, headed by Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GDW), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, in 1975 — is yet another milestone for the UAE.
The need to institute Emirati Women’s Day was perfectly expressed by Shaikha Fatima, who stated that the concept of women’s empowerment in the UAE is no longer just a term or a theoretical concept, but a reality. This is borne out by the diversity of contribution by Emirati women to UAE’s growth, which can be evidenced across the spectrum of nation-building — from aviation, military, police, science and technology, environmental sciences, government sector to banking and entrepreneurship, Emirati women have been equal stakeholders in making UAE reach the enviable position it is in today on the global stage.
As one half of a country’s human resource capital, the role of women is intrinsic to its overall progress and stability. Empowerment of women is one of the building blocks of progress and the UAE has been at the forefront of this vision from its inception — a fact that Emirates Women’s Day will reiterate every year.
