New book pays homage to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak's mission to empower women

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance, leads tributes to the Mother of the Nation at book launch

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance, has paid tribute to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak as a new book is released in her honour. Leslie Pableo for the National

A new book delivering a 'love letter' to the Mother of the Nation, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, is celebrating her pioneering mission to empower women across the country.

The 148-page collection of messages from regional leaders, academics and dignitaries - including first ladies from across the Arab world - is dedicated to the sterling efforts of Sheikha Fatima to help women unlock their potential.

The book, called Mother of the Emirates: A Story of Giving from Abu Dhabi, was launched by the Al Mubaraka Foundation and the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

It contains a wide variety of letters paying homage to the wife of the late Founding Father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed.

Sheikha Fatima has won praise for her roles as Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, President of the General Women's Union, and Chairwoman of Motherhood and Childhood Supreme Council.

The book includes missives from Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the first wife of the King of Bahrain, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai and Wedad Babiker, wife of the Sudanese president.

“It embodies our pride in the role of the mother of the nation,” said Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, the UAE's Minister of Tolerance, during the event.

"The Mother of the Emirates is a role model, who taught us that social development is a noble national accomplishment, and that launching related initiatives will benefit the UAE’s sons and daughters and prepare them to successfully deal with the realities of the age, to achieve the development and advancement of the community.

"She also taught us to think positively and be confident about the future, which requires the capacity to succeed, loyalty to the nation, and pride in its leaders and legacy, which will enable the UAE to advance and develop and attain a prestigious stature among the world’s countries.

"I appreciate the book’s contents, which contain heartfelt messages for the Mother of the Emirates, which were written sincerely by the UAE’s sons and daughters and the sons and daughters of the Arab world, who are expressing their own messages of gratitude and respect to the Mother of the Emirates for her role in achieving pioneering and excellence and advancing the community and people."

Sheikha Moza bint Mubarak Al Nahyan, honorary chairman of the Al Mubaraka Foundation, said that the book chronicles Sheikha Fatima’s journey in supporting and empowering women.

In a letter featured in the book, Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa hailed the growth of the UAE and the role Emirati women have played in its rapid development.

One chapter of the book, entitled A story of virtue from Abu Dhabi, outlines the various initiatives led by Sheikha Fatima, starting with her establishment of the women's union in 1973 and adopting humanitarian projects in different countries from 1998 to 2014, in partnership with the Emirates Red Crescent charity.

Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein said in her note that Sheikha Fatima knew that allowing women to have a greater stake in shaping the country was key to its development.