H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the wife of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and President of the Emirates Gender Balance Council, expressed her pride at the overall achievements of Emirati women.
DUBAI, (Pakistan Point News - 27th Aug, 2018) H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the wife of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and President of the Emirates Gender Balance Council, expressed her pride at the overall achievements of Emirati women.
On the occasion of the 4th Emirati Women’s Day, she stressed that the prominent international stature of Emirati women is due to the methodology of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who respected and appreciated women and supported and empowered them to perform their role in building the community and contributing to the UAE’s comprehensive development, since its establishment in 1971.
She also congratulated the "Mother of the Nation," H.H. Sheikha 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), on the occasion while praising Sheikha Fatima’s academic, social and professional support for Emirati women, and congratulating all girls and women.
Sheikha Manal stated that allocating a day to celebrate Emirati women is an initiative conceived by Sheikha Fatima. Emirati women have accomplished many achievements and contributed to the country’s development, making it a leader in world competitiveness indexes, she added.
She further added that Sheikh Zayed elevated the position of women and gave them respect, in light of his belief that the UAE cannot become a leading country if all its citizens, both men and women, do not contribute to its success.
"In continuation of the approach of the Founding Father, Emirati women are today receiving the unlimited support and encouragement of the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces," Sheikha Manal said.
She then highlighted the fact that the UAE is a leader in female literacy, with a rate of 95.8 percent, and young Emirati women represent 70 percent of university students and 56 percent of IT, engineering and mathematics graduates.
She further added that Emirati women have proven their worth in the roles they have taken and are still continuing to advance with persistence, in light of the unlimited support of the wise leadership while noting that women now represent 46.6 percent of the labour market, 66 percent of government employees, including 30 percent in leading positions, and 15 percent of academic and specialist positions.
Women are also reinforcing their presence in the police and the armed forces, and represent 30 percent of diplomatic and consular employees and 20 percent of the Federal National Council, FNC members, and have proven their success in managing and establishing private projects, as well as in the areas of energy, space, aviation and justice, she said in conclusion.
H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, declared August 28th as the Emirati Women's Day to celebrate the birth of the General Women's Union and recognise the important role played by women in supporting the UAE’s progress and development.
