Renowned Advocate Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak’s Biography

7 months ago / by Swarnendu Biswas
Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak
Image credits: John’s Love of Nature via Flickr

Champion of Women’s Rights

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi is a renowned advocate of women’s education and empowerment from the United Arab Emirates. She is also referred to as the Mother of Sheikhs and as the Mother of the UAE.

Born in 1943, in Al Ain, an island oasis city in the United Arab Emirates, the age of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak is 79 years. She is the only daughter of her parents.

She comes across as a strong voice for women’s rights in the UAE  and she has also translated that voice into tangible results.  She is the Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation in the UAE and in the foundation of the Abu Dhabi Society for the Awakening of Women in 1976 she made immense contribution.

Also known as The Mother of the Nation Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has some significant achievements to her credit. While discussing about Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak we can know that she also founded UAE’s General Women Union of which she is the Chairwoman too. According to its website, the objective of the organization is to serve as the national mechanism for the empowerment and entrepreneurship of women in the UAE. 

Education for Girls

She can also be credited for a campaign across UAE advocating girls’ education. She is also the President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

Any good biography of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak should highlight the fact that she actively supports endeavors pertaining to adult literacy and free public education for girls in the UAE.

Since 2005, Sheikha Fatima Award for Excellence has been presented in her honor.  It is being bestowed to female students for outstanding academic performance and commitment to the environment and world citizenship.

Committed to Sportswomen

The visionary lady’s unwavering support towards women in sports is amply reflected in her introducing an award named Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award for Woman Athletes. She also established a women’s sports academy in Abu Dhabi, which is named Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Academy. It is a not-for-profit government entity of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

According to the website of Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Academy, under the generous patronage of Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, the FBMA strives to make sports an element of daily life for UAE’s women of all ages, background, and physical condition; to encourage Emirati women to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle, and to further establish the values of sportsmanship in the public consciousness of the UAE.

Plan and Recognition

On March 2021, she also launched a National Action Plan on women, peace and security, which is the first national action plan developed in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country. It has the objective of empowering and supporting women globally by promoting the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

In 1997, five different arms of the United Nations (UNICEF, WHO, UNIFEM, UNFP and UNFPA) awarded her for her significant endeavors for women’s rights. The UNIFEM observed that “she is the champion of women’s rights.”

She was also awarded the UNESCO Marie Curie Medal for her initiatives in education, literacy and women’s rights. She is the first Arab recipient of the coveted award.

Some people may be interested in knowing the net worth of her. Though we know that she is enormously rich but we couldn’t get any authentic information of her exact net worth in 2022.

FAQs

What is Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak known for?

She is renowned for her commitment to women’s rights and women’s empowerment in the UAE.

How many children do Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak have?

She has six sons and two daughters. Sheikh Mohammed, the current President of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, is one of her sons.

Who was the husband of her?

She was the third wife of SheikhZayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the Founder and first President of United Arab Emirates, and also the late Emir of Abu Dhabi.