Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi
| Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 1943 (age 82–83) Al-Hayer, Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue |
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| House | House of Al Nahyan (by marriage) | ||||
Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi (Arabic: فاطمة بنت مبارك الكتبي; born c. 1943) was the third wife of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder and inaugural president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Early life
Sheikha Fatima was born in Al-Hayer, Al Ain Region, as the only daughter to her parents.[1] Her family is Bedouin and religious.[2]
Politics
Sheikha Fatima is a supporter of women's rights in the UAE.[1] She heads the UAE's General Women Union (GWU), which she founded in 1975.[3][4] She is also the President of the Motherhood and Childhood Supreme Council.[2] At the end of the 1990s, she publicly announced that women should be members of the Federal National Council of the Emirates.[4]
Awards
In 1997, five different organizations of the United Nations had awarded Sheikha Fatima for her significant efforts for women's rights.[5] The UNIFEM stated, "she is the champion of women's rights."[5] She was also awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of November 7th by the Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on 26 June 2009 for her contributions to raise the status of Arab women.[6] She was also given the UNESCO Marie Curie Medal for her efforts in education, literacy and women's rights, being the third international and the first Arab recipient of the award.[5]
On March 16, 2005, she received the Athir Class of the National Order of Merit of Algeria.
Marriage and children
Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi married Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan when he was the ruler of the Eastern region in 1960.[2][7] Sheikh Zayed met her in a mosque.[8] They moved to Abu Dhabi when Sheikh Zayed became the ruler in August 1966. She is the mother of Sheikh Mohamed, the current President of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Hazza, Sheikh Tahnoun, Sheikh Mansour, Sheikh Abdullah, Sheikha Shamma and Sheikha Alyazia. They are the most powerful block in the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, the Al Nahyans.[9]
References
- 1 2 Swaroop, Sangeetha (June–July 2002). "National Heroine and International Champion of Women Rights". Al Shindagah (76). Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Biography". Arab Youth Awards. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ↑ "Civil Defence honours Mother of the Nation" (PDF). 999 (484): 10. April 2011.
- 1 2 Bruce Maddy-Weitzman (2002). Middle East Contemporary Survey: 1999. The Moshe Dayan Center. p. 629. ISBN 978-965-224-049-1.
- 1 2 3 Isabell A. Claus; Diana Abad; Kasim Randeree (2009). Leadership and the Emirati woman: Breaking the glass ceiling in the Arabian Gulf. LIT Verlag Münster. p. 15. ISBN 978-3-643-10251-5.
- ↑ "Tunisian President confers Grand Cordon of Order of November 7 on Sheikha Fatima" (PDF). Almojtama (22): 7. July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ↑ Anthony, John Duke (30 August 1999). "Succession in Abu Dhabi" (PDF). NCUSAR. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ↑ "Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan". The Telegraph. 4 November 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ↑ "Abu Dhabi's family business". Financial Times. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2013.