H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation, and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, today received the former Spanish Queen Sofia who is on a visit to the UAE.

During the meeting, ways of bolstering cooperation between the UAE and Spain in women's empowerment were discussed.

Sheikh Fatima hoped that the visit would contribute towards better sharing of experiences in women's action between the two countries.

She briefed the former Spanish queen on the progress that Emirati women have achieved thanks to the support extended by the founding father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose approach is being pursued by the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Fatima stressed that the leadership of the UAE spares no efforts in supporting and empowering women who have been able to take the highest positions including as speaker of the Federal National Council, ministers and ambassadors as well as leading decision-making positions at ministries and federal and local departments.

Queen Sophia expressed great admiration of the overall progress in the UAE and noted that modernity is not displacing Emirati traditions. She noted that this was a unique mixture of modernity and authentic traditions.

She also praised the achievements that Emirati women were able to accomplish in a relatively short period of time.

Later, Sheikha Fatima hosted a dinner in honour of Queen Sophia.

The meeting and the banquet were attended by Sheikha Al-Yaziyah bint Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, wife of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Sheikha Fatima bint Sahmi; Sheikha Aisha bint Suhail bin Mubarak Al Ketbi; Sheikha Latifa bint Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikha Fatima bint Tahnoun; Dr. Maytha bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State, Maryam Al Roumi; and a number of women leaders.

Source:WAM