SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The General Women’s Union has said extending Emirati Women’s Day from a day to an entire month is intended to boost long-term action to strengthen their presence across different sectors of the economy.
Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, had called on institutions to introduce greater flexibility to support working mothers and women caring for senior citizens and people of determination.
From August 28 to September 28, the UAE will mark the occasion with a series of initiatives spotlighting women's achievements and expanding opportunities on what comes next.
The union said the next phase will include strengthening legal frameworks, policies, and strategies, alongside sector-specific women’s workshops and national initiatives.
"Our priorities for the next phase focus on continuing to govern women’s affairs by strengthening legal frameworks, policies and strategies, sectoral women’s workshops, and joint national initiatives."
The month will focus on practical initiatives to expand economic opportunities for Emirati women, including employment support, assistance for women-led projects, exhibitions for productive families and a dedicated academy for Emirati craftswomen.
It will build on the UAE’s journey in women’s empowerment and coincides with the Mother of the Nation Vision 50:50, a strategic plan looking ahead to 2075 and seeking to strengthen the impact of Emirati women nationally and globally.
“The lasting impact we aspire to achieve lies in solidifying societal awareness of women’s pivotal role.”
This year’s theme also signals the next phase of women’s empowerment, with the union saying it reflects the UAE leadership’s confidence in Emirati women and their ability to take on wider roles.
That support comes from government institutions, families and communities working together to create opportunities for women and support their ambitions.
The month will focus on practical initiatives to expand economic opportunities for Emirati women, including employment support, assistance for women-led projects, exhibitions for families and a dedicated academy for Emirati craftswomen.
The GWU is also strengthening international partnerships, including the UAE-China Women Entrepreneurs Council, as part of efforts to expand opportunities across sectors.
“We aim to transform the celebrations into action-oriented events that provide real and sustainable opportunities to support women’s progress across all sectors.”
Supporting working mothers and caregivers through flexible employment policies is another central part of this year’s agenda.
The GWU said women should have working environments that recognise both their professional ambitions and responsibilities within their families.
“Flexible work policies and the development of more work practices are a central pillar of this year’s celebrations.”
Such policies, it said, can allow women to balance their careers with their responsibilities as mothers and caregivers without compromising their professional contribution.
“These policies represent a well-considered empowerment that allows women to achieve a creative balance between their career aspirations and family responsibilities.”
The benefits, according to the union, extend beyond individual women to families, workplaces and the wider economy.