Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi is one of the leading female figures in the UAE.
Known as the “Mother of the Nation”, she is the wife of the late Sheikh Zayed, and is a renowned champion of women’s education and empowerment across the emirates and the Middle East. The UAE and the larger Arab and Muslim world have been transformed by her dedication to social justice and civic participation. With that, GRAZIA highlights some of Her Highness’ key achievements and life moments.
Who is Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi?
Sheikha Fatima was born in 1943 in Al Ain. She married Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan in 1960. Eleven year later, in 1971, the United Arab Emirates was formed with the unification of the seven emirates, and her husband Sheikh Zayed was the inaugural president of the UAE, making him known as the “Father of the UAE” and, in turn, Sheikha Fatima the “Mother of the UAE”.
Taking on a leading female role in the UAE, Sheikha Fatima has gone on to be an advocate for women’s education and rights over the last four decades. Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan when he was the ruler of the Eastern region in 1960.
Advocacy of Woman’s rights
She founded the UAE’s first organization devoted to advancing women’s equality and advancement in 1975, leading the nation’s women’s movement. Sheikha Fatima has been the chair of the General Women’s Union (GWU) since its founding, when several new women’s organizations joined together under her direction and encouragement.
A Pioneer in WOMEN’S Education
Sheikha Fatima’s main focus at GWU has been on improving the graduation and enrolment rates for girls while also establishing gender equality. According to a World Economic Forum assessment, the UAE now holds the highest ranking among 136 nations for the proportion of girls to boys in education. Additionally, it is on course to achieve all of the UN Millennium Development Goals in this area.
These improved standards has been transformative for the UAE. As a result, women are increasingly active as leaders. More than 20,000 businesses in the UAE are managed by women. Today, women occupy key positions across all branches of government, including multiple ministers, ambassadors, judges and lawyers.
The launch of Emirati Women’s Day
Marked each year on August 28, Emirati Women’s Day was introduced in 2015 by Sheikha Fatima to celebrate not only the major progress the region has made in terms of gender equality, but to empower and support women of the Emirates. It further celebrates the achievements and accomplishments of those women in the nation, and highlights the importance of Emirati women to the growth of the UAE.
The eighth edition of the holiday will lie on the 28th of August, 2023, as any other year. The date, August 28, was strategically chosen by Sheikha Fatima as it coincides with the day the UAE’s General Women’s Union (GWU) was established in 1975.
Commitment to WOMEN IN SPORTS
Her Highness is also a huge advocate for women in sport. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award for Woman Athletes was established by Sheikha Fatima in 2016. She also founded the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Academy, an Abu Dhabi women’s sports academy. It is an Abu Dhabi government organization that operates on a non-profit basis.
The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Academy (FBMA) aims to integrate sports into the everyday lives of UAE women of all ages, backgrounds and physical conditions. It is an effort to motivate Emirati women to lead active, healthy lifestyles. Additionally, it aims to solidify the virtues of sportsmanship in UAE society’s collective awareness.
Achievements and Plans
Her Highness has received more over 500 awards and certificates from national, international and local agencies and organizations. Sheikha Fatima received recognition in 1997 from five separate UN agencies for her considerable work on womens rights. She also received the UNESCO Marie Curie Medal for her work promoting women’s rights, education and reading.
In March 2021, she introduced the first national action plan created in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nation, the National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security. Its goal is to empower women all across the world by spreading awareness of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
