Sheikha Fatima praises progress of UAE women

ABU DHABI // Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation, has said in an interview marking National Day that UAE women were "no longer busy claiming their rights, but exercising them". In an interview with Zahrat Al Khaleej magazine, published yesterday, she also paid tribute to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and the Rulers of the other emirates, according to the state news agency, WAM.

"UAE women have never been left out in the development plans," she said. "Since the establishment of the federation, UAE women have managed to carve out a niche and to impress the whole world." She added that it reflected on the policies of Sheikh Khalifa, who had "launched the political empowerment plans for women and opened the door for them to reach higher places in the decision and law-making processes".

"As we celebrate the achievements made by UAE women, we remember with pride the march for women's progress, started by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan," she said. "Under a wise leadership that believes investing in people is the most viable form of investments, we are confident that UAE women will make further success. "It is enough to say that the UAE women are no longer busy claiming their rights, but exercising them."

newsdesk@thenational.ae