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Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation,” Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, has announced “Together, We Rise Stronger and Better” as the theme for Emirati Women’s Day 2026.

In a message to the people of the UAE, Her Highness said the occasion, observed annually on 28 August, commemorates a national journey built on faith, clear vision, careful planning, determination, and hard work, while remaining rooted in the UAE’s identity and values. Marking the anniversary of the establishment of the General Women’s Union in 1975, she said the day celebrates not only Emirati women but also a nation that has long believed the combined efforts of its daughters and sons are the driving force behind its comprehensive development.

Recalling the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Her Highness said he taught that investing in people is the foundation of nation-building and that women are indispensable partners in development and a source of strength for families and society. She noted that, under the guidance of the UAE’s leadership, the country’s model of women’s empowerment has become an inspiration regionally and globally.

This year’s theme, she added, reflects the UAE’s spirit of continuous progress, looking to the future with ambition and responsibility. The celebration will extend from 28 August to 28 September 2026 as a nationwide platform for initiatives, recognition, and inspiring stories that demonstrate women’s success as part of an integrated national ecosystem.

Her Highness highlighted the achievements of Emirati women across science, business, leadership, diplomacy, humanitarian work, and development, crediting supportive families, institutions, and men who recognise that women’s success is integral to the nation’s success. She said this year’s programme will also honour inspiring stories of Emirati and resident women, alongside men who have supported women’s achievements, underscoring that strong societies are built through partnership rather than competition.

She called on national institutions to adopt more flexible policies that better support working mothers and caregivers while balancing family responsibilities with professional demands, stressing that supporting families strengthens society and fosters innovation and institutional loyalty. Her Highness further affirmed that Emirati women have carried the UAE’s values of generosity, coexistence, and peace to the world through diplomacy, humanitarian action, and international development, adding that the UAE’s commitment to women’s empowerment extends beyond its borders as a global humanitarian and development mission.

She concluded by announcing new initiatives, launched in partnership with national stakeholders, to celebrate the ecosystem that enables women’s success—including men, families, communities, and institutions—and reaffirmed that the true strength of Emirati women lies not only in their achievements but in their continuous pursuit of excellence while remaining proud of their identity and open to the future.