UAE President awards Zayed Medal to Sheikha Fatima

Sheikh Khalifa honoured Sheikha Fatima for her contributions to the nation and to society, and her work to help empower women.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, presents the Zayed Medal to Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, who received it on behalf of Sheikha Fatima, widow Show more

ABU DHABI // Sheikh Khalifa, the President, has awarded the Zayed Medal to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, for her national and social roles.

The honour is in appreciation of Sheikha Fatima’s standing by the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, as she devoted her life to serving the country through cultural, social and education contributions, according to Wam, the state news agency.

The award came as the UAE celebrated Mother’s Day on Monday, which UAE leaders marked by praising the contributions of Sheikha Fatima, who is also Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

Sheikha Fatima was honoured in song by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, with lyrics he wrote in a poem called Maker of Men. A video of the song was posted on his Twitter account.

He and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, attended a ceremony in the capital on Monday honouring the Mother of the Nation.

Sheikha Fatima is being celebrated this week at the Mother of the Nation festival on Abu Dhabi corniche, which starts on Thursday and runs until April 2. Historical displays, art markets and sport performances will be among activities on offer.

Other leaders also praised Sheikha Fatima and UAE mothers, reported Wam.

“Words cannot describe how great mothers are,” said Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, describing Sheikha Fatima’s “unlimited and permanent sacrifices”.

She always supported the late Sheikh Zayed, Founding Father of the UAE, said Sheikh Hazza, “in the good and hard times, and could manage to be a shining symbol of the beginning and continuity of the dream”.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, praised Sheikha Fatima’s efforts towards empowering Emirati women, saying that she was an ideal mother.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco issued a statement in which he expressed his appreciation and pride for Sheikha Fatima, whom he shared familial relations with alongside the late Sheikh Zayed.

Also on Monday, the foundation stone was laid for the Sheikha Fatima Children’s Hospital in the Kosovo capital of Pristina. It will provide emergency care for mothers and children when it opens in 2018.