August 28, 2016 marks the second annual Emirati Women’s Day, celebrating the local ladies that make this country great.
It was said by the UAE’s founder himself, Sheikh Zayed: “The woman is half of the society, any country which pursues development should not leave her in poverty or illiteracy. I am on the woman’s side.”
In celebration of the country’s women, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai tweeted:
On Aug. 28th we celebrate the Emirati woman, our pride and our Partner in building the country #EmiratiWomansDay
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 27, 2016
Sheikh Mohammed went on to point out how women make up a large portion of the UAE government, as well as cabinet and university graduates:
Women empower the UAE society today as: 2/3rds of government employees & university graduates & 1/3rd of our Cabinet
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 27, 2016
Sheikh Mohammed also tweeted yetserday in Arabic: “Tomorrow, we will celebrate Emirati Women’s Day: Our partner of development, the maker of generations, the mother of martyrs, the pride of the emirates and the just souls”.
“We are not enabling women, we are enabling the whole society with women”.
“Tell them: You are the most beautiful, the best, the strongest. With your efforts, our country will remain the most beautiful, the best, the strongest. God bless you and bless the emirates”.
This isn’t the first time Sheikh Mohammed has praised the UAE’s women. An ardent campaigner in introducing gender equality in the region, he has previously mentioned how “Emirati women continuously affirm their presence and active participation in the march of development,” and that “it is not strange for a UAE woman to be an ambassador; she who proves herself merits praise and encouragement”.
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Sheikh Mohammed has also spoken about his ratio of men to women in his office, saying: “An Emirati woman’s great role in our society is a source of pride, 80 per cent of the employees in my private office are females”.
Emirati Women’s Day is only in its second year – founded back in 2015 by H.H. Sheikha Datima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union.
Images: Instagram/@hhshkmohd
