Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation: General Women's Union

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak was born in Al Hayer, Al Ain, and married Sheikh Zayed in 1960. She sponsored the first UAE women's society in 1973 and became the first chair of the General Women's Union in 1975. She was named Mother of the Nation on 21 March 2005.

Updated October 2026 · Facts checked 22 October 2026

At a glance

At a glance
Item	Detail
Name in Arabic	الشيخة فاطمة بنت مبارك
Born	Al Hayer, Al Ain
Roles	President of the General Women's Union; Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation; President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood
Title	Mother of the Nation, since 21 March 2005

Source: General Women's Union: Biography of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak¹

Women's organisations

She sponsored the founding of the Abu Dhabi Women's Development Association on 8 February 1973, the first women's society in the UAE. As similar societies opened in other emirates, the General Women's Union was set up on 27 August 1975 to coordinate them, with Sheikha Fatima as its first chair.¹

Recognition

Mother of the Nation, 21 March 2005
Honorary doctorate in humanities, University of Algiers, 12 March 2005
Extraordinary Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, October 2010

Source: General Women's Union: Biography of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak¹

Sources

General Women's Union: Biography of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak

Facts checked 22 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information.

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak