Biography
Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak is the spouse of the UAE founder, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may Allah bestow mercy upon him. Her Highness is regarded the pioneer of women’s work in the UAE and the supporter of women’s rights and advancement.
Since the sixties of the last century, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak paid special attention to women’s issues, for Her Highness believes that upon women’s empowerment and advancement rests the renaissance of the entire society, and thus Her Highness is keen on following up women’s affairs on the local, regional and international levels.
Since the establishment of the Union, Her Highness contributed with the founder of the State, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to encouraging women to educate and to join work, which was a daily and practical system that helped the UAE political leadership to realize women’s advancement on all levels.
Due to her robust vision, wisdom and leading initiatives that allowed women to have equal opportunities with men and that promoted their potentials to face life, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak is considered an exceptional woman.
This is actually an achievement by the UAE in the field of the Emirati women’s empowerment, for Her Highness founded the first women’s assembly ever in 1973, which was followed by the establishment of the Women’s Union in 1975 and the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood in 2003 and the inauguration of the Family Development Foundation in 2006.
Her Highness’ initiatives and work throughout four decades contributed to promoting women’s status on the social, economic and political levels.
The National Strategy for the Advancement of Women which was started in 2002 is considered a direct result of women’s advancement in the UAE, which was indefatigably led by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Her Highness resolutely struggled for women to engage in the public and private spheres as key partners and players. Those relentless efforts of Her Highness culminated in international recognition by the Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum 2014, which issued a report on the world’s social development indicators. According to this report, the United Arab Emirates is now at the forefront in regards to women’s rights: maintaining their dignity and enhancing their societal standing.
The active role of Her Highness has been a vital component in the formation of the Arab Women Organization and the establishment of the Refugee Women's Fund, in cooperation and coordination with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Her Highness also spearheaded efforts to create a website addressing the issues of Arab expatriate women.
In addition, Her Highness is the chairwoman of many regional organizations and entities. Locally, Her Highness is the chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, and the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the Family Development Foundation and the Business Women Council. Her Highness is also the Honorary President of the Emirates Red Crescent.
Regionally, Her Highness has been the chairwoman of prestigious organizations such as the Arab Women Organization and the Regional Coordination Committee for Women Work in the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula.
Her Highness’ continual efforts for women’s empowerment whether in the field of education , economic participation or political life have contributed to realizing society’s and community’s peace and stability. In addition to that , her humanitarian efforts to help women and children worldwide to achieve their goals have been instrumental in realizing development, stability and peace for their society.
These continual efforts have indeed made Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak a woman worthy of respect and honoring, so Her Highness has been awarded more than (500) awards and certifications of appreciation given by local, regional and international agencies and organizations.